Refugee Week 2022

News | Posted on Thursday 9 June 2022

June 20-26 is Refugee Week and to celebrate this we will be holding a number of events while raising awareness of issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers and the support that’s available at the University and within the city.

Groups of people gather on Greg's Place with the University lake, Central Hall and the Physics/Electronics building visible in the background. A blue banner with white text reads 'Celebrating Diversity'.

The theme of Refugee Week 2022 is Healing and we would like to invite all members of our University community to join us in celebrating this week and learning more about the issues affecting refugees and asylum seekers along with the University's involvement in this area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIM2tgRMEus

A University of Sanctuary

The University of York is a welcoming and safe place for refugees, asylum seekers and other people who have been forced to migrate. The University is now home to students from over 150 countries. We are always working to build on this inclusive environment and we became a University of Sanctuary in September 2020.

We help sanctuary seekers access a university education by offering a range of financial support. This includes three Equal Access scholarships offered annually to asylum seekers who wish to undertake both undergraduate and postgraduate study. We also offer an enhanced bursary to students who are refugees.

Find out more about our University of Sanctuary status

Events and activities

University of York events

Breaking the Chains Celebration and Launch with Shpresa Programme and MiCLU

Monday 20 June, 14.00-18.00, University of York, PBL Suite, LMB Building

University of York East Campus, York, YO10 5GD.

Breaking the Chains is a partnership project dedicated to improving outcomes for Albanian children and young people seeking asylum in the UK.

Come join us for a celebration and launch of our Year 3 evaluation of the Breaking the Chains project as well as materials created by young Immigration Champions to support and reach out to professionals and other young asylum seekers in their asylum journey

In addition to the presentation of findings and launch of materials, the event will feature Albanian dancing and a shared meal.

Find out more about Breaking the Chains and book your place 

Map of Hope and Sorrow: stories of refugees trapped in Greece

Friday 17 June, 8pm to 9pm (online)

Award-winning author Helen Benedict and Syrian writer and refugee Eyad Awwadawnan provide us with a rare insight into the lives of refugees as they share powerful stories of resilience, suffering and hope. A York Festival of Ideas event.

Book your place for Map of Hope and Sorrow

Afghan pop-up restaurant and photo exhibition

Friday 24 June, 6.30pm

In partnership with the Yahala Restaurant, a student-led group of Afghan nationals invites you to join them for a traditional Afghan meal, providing an opportunity to taste a different cuisine, hear stories from another culture and make a difference for those stuck in conflict in another land. The evening will begin with an exhibition by Sara de Jong and Andy Barnham, entitled 'We Are Here, Because You Were There: Afghan Interpreters in UK'. There will be a number of short talks throughout the evening considering the situation in Afghanistan and the experiences of Afghan refugees settling in the UK. Food will be served at 7.15pm and the meal will act as a fundraiser, with all profits going to help Afghan nationals.

Find out more and book your table

Untold Stories: The original and unexpected stories of Afghan women writers

Monday 20 June, 1pm to 2pm (online)

Join a panel of remarkable women discussing the Untold: Write Afghanistan project that provides a platform for extraordinary voices telling their original, vital and unexpected stories. A York Festival of Ideas event.

Book your place for Untold Stories

The LGBT+ Refugee Crisis: what is happening and how you can help

Tuesday 28 June, 2-3pm

It's easy to feel depressed reading in the newspapers about the latest refugee "crisis" and what the government is doing about it. But what does this mean in real world terms, especially for LGBT+ refugees and asylum seekers, arguably some of the most vulnerable? Luckily, there are many organisations and individuals making a tangible difference to those who need it most, including Time to be Out (York) and BIASAN (Bradford).

Book your place

City-wide events 

There is a vibrant programme of events taking place within the city of York and local area for Refugee Week.

York Refugee Week programme

Related events

We Are Here, Because You Were There

Sunday 26 June

Find out more

Ways to support

You can choose to support an asylum seeking student by making a gift to the Equal Access Scholarship today. Each scholarship is entirely funded by the generosity of donors and includes a full tuition fee waiver from the University.

  • Find out more about our Equal Access Scholarships

These scholarships make a life-changing difference to a student seeking sanctuary by enabling them to access a York education. All donations are welcome, whether you want to make a one-off gift or set up a regular donation.

Resources and related links

Useful links

Watch again

You can rewatch some relevant online events on the Equality Office and the Centre for Applied Human Rights YouTube channels:

Contact us

Equality and Diversity Office

equality@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 324680
@EqualityatYork

Contact us

Equality and Diversity Office

equality@york.ac.uk
+44 (0)1904 324680
@EqualityatYork