Friday, March 19, 2010
Check out what happened during Action for Refugees Week!
Here are some events that took place around Action for Refugees Week with more info about other events coming soon…
What STAR groups did
Birmingham
Birmingham did a great job even though the Equal Access Campaign stall had to be moved to a bar when it started raining! They still managed to collect over 150 signatures. Birmingham STAR also promoted their upcoming events around the university and generated lots of interest in their upcoming film night and demonstration in support of the hunger strikes at Yarl’s Wood. They are currently waiting for a response to the letter they sent to their Vice-Chancellor requesting a meeting about equal access to university for asylum seekers.
Bristol
Bristol held an event with keynote speakers and students signed the Equal Access petition. Burmese student activist Ko Aung spoke first and talked about fleeing Burma and seeking refuge in the UK. James Fisher from STAR’s national office discussed the barriers asylum seekers face in accessing higher education and STAR’s Equal Access campaign.
Cardiff
Congratulations to Cardiff STAR for the massive turnout at their Refugee Rhythms event! There were performances from bands, break dancers and Cardiff Reggae Society DJs. Over 200 people attended and the party went on until 1 am. Refugees and asylum seekers from the drop-in centre where Cardiff STAR teach English provided the food from a variety of countries including Georgia, Zimbabwe, the Republic of Congo and Iraq. Cardiff STAR raised almost £1000 and was donated to the Welsh Refugee Council’s Destitution fund.
De Montfort
De Montfort held a bake sale and raised over £100 and donated it to Red Cross food parcels. De Montfort also sent a letter to their Vice-Chancellor requesting a meeting to discuss the Equal Access campaign.
Durham
Well done to Durham on their first STAR event! Durham STAR succeeded in getting over 60 signatures for their petition in just 40 minutes! On Thursday 25th February Durham STAR marched from the Market Place to the University Library dressed in white boiler suits that had asylum facts on the back and doctor’s masks to signify the ‘voiceless’ refugees. They handed out “myth busters” leaflets to those who signed the petition. Durham STAR is now running a campaign to get staff members to endorse the Equal Access campaign.
Hull
Hull collected over 150 signatures at their Equal Access stall. The stall was visited by lots of curious students who engaged in lively debates with the STAR group. Well done to Hull STAR for successfully making an amendment to a NUS motion so that HUSU now supports our Equal Access Campaign!
Southampton
Southampton set up an Equal Access stall in the main hall of the Student Union and got over 60 signatures. The Ice and Fire event, which had performances from Actors for Human Rights in support of Southampton Winchester Visitor’s Group, was well attended with an audience of over 70 people. There was a lively debate afterwards, with people expressing an interest in the work of STAR and music from local bands.
Warwick
Debate on access to higher education for asylum seekers – Hosted on campus a few weeks ago with a talk by the CARA speaker, people from the Peace House and the Coventry Refugee Center and a debate by the Warwick Debate team.
Posted by STAR team on 19/03/2010 at 04:43 PM
in Group News
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