World Refugee Day 2024: Solidarity and Community

Written By A O

The 20th June is World Refugee Day, and this year’s theme is solidarity. The day marks a good opportunity to reflect on how we can show solidarity in Glasgow with people being forcibly displaced. We must pay attention to what is happening internationally, and ensure we create and maintain a welcoming and mutually respectful community locally.


In honouring people who have been forced to flee, we cannot ignore the conflicts that cause displacement. It is never too late to learn and the better we understand the root causes of mass displacement, the better we can show up for refugees and people seeking asylum. Below are signposted some starting points for learning about some current major conflicts:

  • The Palestine Solidarity Campaign have compiled a resources about the ongoing genocide here.

  • Eyes on Sudan have put together calls to action and background reading about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan here.

  • Al Jazeera media network have written an overview of the conflict in DR Congo here. You can learn more about what is happening from Friends of the Congo here.

There are many people forcibly displaced by conflict globally, from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Haiti, and many other places. It is impossible to give an exhaustive comprehensive resource list of every reason someone may have to seek refuge, but we can learn a little more each day about the systems of oppression that are in place, and how we can work in solidarity to fight them.

In Glasgow we can also celebrate the abundance of experience, creativity, knowledge, and care that the diversity of people here bring. Find below upcoming events, and ongoing support from members, that help champion the New Scots making Glasgow their home.

Upcoming events

As part of Refugee Festival Scotland there are loads of events coming up celebrating creativity, culture and community. We have picked out events from our members and happening locally below, but you can find the full festival programme here.

Thursday 20th June (4:00am – 6:00pm): Roots of Refuge (JustCitizens and JustRight Scotland)
Hidden Gardens, 25a Albert Drive, G41 2PE
Over 10 stalls to visit, a kids’ corner, free food, live music and entertainment, art exhibitions, interactive games and activities to promote the work of some amazing projects that support refugees and asylum seekers across Scotland. Click here for more info.

Friday 21st June (12:00 – 2:30pm): The Big Community Drama Drop in (with lunch!) (Citizens Theatre)
New Gorbals Parish Church, 1 Errol Gardens, G5 0RA
Come and join the Citizens Theatre Community Collective for a taster session with lunch. Click here for more info.

Friday 21st June (2:00 – 4:00pm): Rise: To Manifest your Dreams – انهض، لتظهر أحلامك (The Wee Retreat)
The Wee Retreat, 2 Myrtle Park, G42 8QU
The event will be lead by Lababa, a Community Artist from Pakistan, currently based in Glasgow. She will be sharing her talents as a Sculptor and Storyteller, reading original work & inspiring attendees to get creative with a collaborative group sculpture. Click here for more info.

Friday 21st June (6:30 – 8:00pm): U Belong x LEAP Sports Festival Fortnight at Refugee Week Scotland 2024 (Glasgow Zine Library)
Glasgow Zine Library, 32-34 Albert Road, G42 8DN
An amazing evening highlighting the connection between sports, creativity and community solidarity as part of Festival Fortnight 2024. Click here for more info.

Saturday 22nd June (12:00 – 3:00pm): Picnic and Play at The Hidden Gardens with Licketyspit and Kin Kitchen
The Hidden Gardens, 25A Albert Drive, G41 2PE
Children aged 3 – 12 and their families are invited to a fun afternoon of discovering nature’s secrets, imaginary play, creative workshops and food. Click here for more info.

Saturday 22nd June (1:00 – 3:30pm): Threads of Home (Empower Women for Change)
Impact Arts, the Boardwalk, 105 Brunswick Street
A celebration of heritage, culture, and diversity where you can bring and share food, with an arts and crafts session. Open to all women with lunch provided. Click here for more info.

Saturday 22nd June (2:00 – 5:00pm): African Women Rise (Sharpen Her: the African Women’s Network)
Roystonhill Community Hub, 174 Roystonhill, G21 2LG
African women will share stories of women who have displayed resilience in their efforts to integrate in the community. Open to everyone, click here for more info.

Saturday 22nd June (5:00 – 7:30pm): Chez Jolie Coiffure Film Screening (Unity Sisters)
The Deep End, 21 Nithsdale Street, G41 2PZ
Screening event following the daily life of a Cameroonian hairdresser in Brussels who has been awaiting a decision on her asylum application for almost a decade. Click here for more info.

Support from our members

Many of our members run activities and events that are intentionally inclusive of refugees and people currently seeking asylum, or with experience of the asylum system. Below we have highlighted some members with more specific services. You can find the full list of our members who work with refugees and asylum seekers here, as well as useful links to other support services in Glasgow here. We also have useful resources and books in our library which centre the lived experience of refugees and asylum seekers.

Amina Muslim Women’s Resource Centre

Amina’s work aims to empower, support and educate Muslim & BME women at a grassroots level to achieve their full potential, equipping them with confidence, skills, knowledge and information to make informed decisions for themselves and their families.

Amina’s services include:

You can find out more about Amina MWRC here.

Amma Birth Companions

Amma Birth Companions is a Glasgow-based charity that supports women and birthing people experiencing significant adversity on their journey to parenthood.

Amma’s services include:

You can find out more about Amma here.

Breaking Barriers

Breaking Barriers are a specialist refugee employment charity, welcoming refugees 18+ into meaningful employment with advice, experience, and education.

Breaking Barriers’s support includes:

You can find out more about Breaking Barriers here.

Bridges Programmes

The Bridges Programmes supports the social, educational and economic integration of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and anyone for whom English is a second language, living in Glasgow.

Bridges Programmes’ services include:

  • Skills building.

  • Training opportunities.

  • Employment advice and guidance.

  • Work placements.

You can find out more about the Bridges Programmes here.

Freedom From Torture

Freedom from Torture are a UK-wide charity providing therapy and medical evidence to torture survivors living in the UK, as well as protecting and promoting torture survivors' rights.

Freedom from Torture’s services include:

You can find out more about Freedom from Torture here.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis support women and girls 13 years and older who have experienced any form of sexual violence throughout any point of their lives.

Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis’ services include:

  • The Ruby Service, support for woman/girls from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who have experienced gender-based violence.

You can find out more about Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis here.

MILK

MILK’ space is multifunctional & hosts a number of local groups, classes, workshops, and pop-up events. They have created a safe and welcoming place where women can come together, meet new friends, share ideas and learn from each other.

MILK’s services include:

  • English conversation cafes.

  • IT workshops.

  • A women’s group.

  • Practical support for women.

You can find out more about MILK here.

Positive Action in Housing

Positive Action in Housing (PAIH) is an independent, anti-racist homelessness and human rights charity dedicated to supporting refugees and migrants to rebuild their lives.

PAIH’s services include:

You can find out more about PAIH here.

Sharpen Her: the African Women's Network

Sharpen Her: the African Women's Network (SHAWN) exists to enhance the integration of African women and to empower them to reach their goals in education, employment and entrepreneurship.

SHAWN’s services include:

  • A support group to connect and share information among African women.

You can find out more about SHAWN here.

The Glendale Women's Cafe

The Glendale Women's Cafe are a charity in Pollokshields that offer a safe, warm and welcoming place for all women in the community to come together, learn new skills, get involved in what is happening locally, support each other, relax with a cup of tea, get information and meet friends!

The Glendale Women's Cafe’s services include:

  • A drop-in community space on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

You can find out more about The Glendale Women's Cafe here.

The Village Storytelling Centre

The Village Storytelling Centre are Scotland’s leading applied storytelling organisation and a centre for contemporary oral storytelling.

The Village Storytelling Centre’s services include:

  • Voices of Peace, a weekly storytelling workshop for women refugees, asylum seekers and new Scots.

You can find out more about The Village Storytelling Centre here.

Women on Wheels

Women on Wheels (SCIO) is a community cycling hub for women. A service designed and led by women, they deliver a range of cycling activities to get women back on a bike or onto a bike for the very first time.

Women on Wheels’ services include:

You can find out more about Women on wheels here.

Youth Community Support Agency (YCSA)

YCSA supports and empowers young people and their families from BME backgrounds with a variety of needs. They provide holistic, practical, and culturally sensitive support so that young people can become active and valued members of a diverse community.

YCSA’s services include:

  • A range of services and activities for black and minority ethnic and asylum seeker and refugee young people aged 10-25 years old.

You can find out more about YCSA here.

A O
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