VIEW, Issue six, 2012


Website: viewdigital.org


Page 7 REFUGEE WEEK 2012


lways look on the bright side of life Writer Fran Barlett offers a personal look at Refugee Week 2012 in Belfast


ver the previous weeks. Everyone wanted to is day special. The games were going to happen Either way, rather than moaning and groaning e unfairness of life, everyone had chosen to the bright side. If it didn’t happen that day, then omething else would happen soon, something exciting and positive. me this is the perfect metaphor for the life of in Northern Ireland. Making the best of a long ruciating wait for official documents that will r fate. Above all, hoping for a better future. e Refugee Olympics were one of the numerous ivities organised in Belfast (June 18-24) around me: ‘Belfast… City of Sanctuary?’ week of activities was to showcase the depth of efulness, creativity and humanity of those who n invisible, despised or the subject of a page ews filler on a racist attack.


d myself sheltering from the rain under a py that was far too small for the number of le who were also trying to stay dry. Softly ping into one another, smiling, chatting, sharing nd biscuits, the coaches, organisers and athletes, art in Belfast’s Ormeau Park’s Refugee Olympics howed no sign of impatience. ot of training and organising had gone into the


world, language tasters, a football championship, and many more attractions competed for the best enter- tainment activities in Belfast. Two local individuals took the ‘Destitute Size Me’


The Refugee Orchestra, dancers from all over the


challenge, during which they kept a video diary (fea- tured on YouTube) of their experience living on the means of a destitute asylum seeker for a week: £10 and a small food parcel. Raising awareness of the plight of the refugee


and food on the table can switch channels when they see an appeal for starving children in Africa, but find there is no remote control to switch off from what is happening next door. Since Northern Ireland started developing as a


‘normalised’ European region in the late 1990s, it has naturally received a share of the refugees who seek shelter in the United Kingdom every day. It can be difficult to convince a population that


with (unfortunately) some destructive exceptions, un- derstand hardship and are open to learning more about refugees. Local organisations and companies provided a platform to facilitate the logistics of Refugee Week and share information with the local population. BBC Radio Ulster kicked off the week by airing an


community is no mean feat. Typically, most people with a roof over their heads


informative and compassionate piece; Belfast’s Lord Mayor Gavin Robinson added his seal of approval at the launch of the event; the MAC hosted two events which promoted the gelling of communities through the uni- versal medium of art. The Ozone recreation centre and other locations


across the city also played their part in spreading a message of understanding, fun and friendship. Refugee week was about highlighting not only the


has been scarred by conflict and fallen victim to a major economic crisis that it has to stretch just that little bit more, emotionally and economically, to make space for people coming from countries – that many could not point on a map.


incredibly difficult living conditions of refugees in Northern Ireland, but was also about dispelling myths and showcasing the wealth of resources this community holds and so desperately wants to share. I hope it helped and I certainly look forward to


next year’s event, come rain or shine (I might play it safe and buy a new pair of wellies). No matter what, I know there will always be a


canopy somewhere to shelter under, full of smiling peo- ple and biscuits.


But I believe that most Northern Irish people,


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