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We Stand for Freedom of Movement, Safety & Dignity!

Writer's picture: AwaAwa

Updated: Aug 22, 2023


Dear Mindful Humans,


I hope you've had a wonderful Summer!! The Ojas Centre's Team has been working hard behind the scenes to host a humble, no- budget multi-cultural festival, here in Croydon!!


August 20th marks the day where all around the world, we fly kites to commemorate the lives of individuals who have no other chance to leave their homes and to walk all the way to a place of safety. We have the Home Office and the Refugee Council in Croydon and believe it or not, we are known to warmly welcome Refugees.


We are indeed known to be kind, caring and compassionate by the world, that's why parents give all their savings for their children to come here for a safer and brighter future. To be honest, it is easier to get Benefits in France than in the UK; however, France is internationally known as ''the Jungle'' i.e. mean, chaotic, rough, violent, indifferent, unhelpful, oblivious, rude, insensible, insulting, abusive, disrespectful, unsupportive etc... And Refugees are treated like criminals on a daily basis! It is absolutely shocking, that after all those traumatic lived experiences, some Western countries would keep inflicting more pain and trauma instead of supporting the Refugees to heal and/ or make them feel safe...


'Refugee Council' has reported: "In 4 years, the number of people from Afghanistan crossing the Channel has risen a hundred times: 80 in 2019- 8, 462 in 2023!" The government implemented a scheme with hotels to welcome Refugees. "5400 children have been accommodated in hotels since June 2021," stated the Refugee Council. Note that they are unaccompanied children for most and although I do think hotels are better places than sleeping in the streets, children in hotels mean: "being outside of the child protection system with limited adult supervision and care." (Refugee Council, UK). Now, Refugees are being evicted from hotels and hotels are closing down because they are no longer in receipt of the government schemes which results in hotels staff to lose their jobs!


I am no celebrity, just a Human Being who aspires to support as much as I can other Human Beings with my trained expertise in Mental and Physical Health as well as in the Performing Arts, I aspire to support the voices of the 'Forgotten' or the 'Invisibles' through Movement & Creative Arts to educate ourselves and to bring attention towards Social Inequalities and Ethnic Cleaning & Genocide. And if this is something that resonates with you, please do not hesitate to reach out. I'd love to hear from you!!




When I was working with the Croydon Buddhist Centre, training in sound & Movement Therapy- and especially during Lockdown, when I was working for the NHS at the Outpatients Mental Health service in Croydon (& was getting my weekly chips), I became friends with as I like to call them my 'Local Heroes' from my local chippies' shop: a group of Young men proud to be from Afghanistan and telling me about their Pashtunwali heritage. I didn't know anything about Afghanistan and I didn't really know much about 'Refugees' either.


I am a French born citizen, even my grandmother, although Black was born Parisian French married to a French man (originally from Brazil). The only thing I knew was France was (openly in your face kind of) racist but it is not until I worked for 'Play for Progress', a Music & Drama Therapy organisation for Young Refugees who assumed I knew about 'The Jungle', that I discovered how scandalous the French behaved. Honestly, I never knew how far the French could take it...


Thinking about it, I can't possibly imagine what is happening to the Romanis... But the real problem is the 'Jungle', the crossing, the wars... How can't you feel at home at home? And why can't home be wherever you wish it to be? My name is Awa and like you, I am a Human Being & I stand in solidarity with the Refugees! I believe it is unacceptable - inhumane - that children have no choice to leave home, walk all the way to the UK! How awful it must feel to not even be welcomed with kindness, generosity, compassion & in so- called 'civilised' countries refusing to make you feel safe!


As Mindful Humans, we care about people's sufferings, we refuse to be accomplice of inhumane treatments, we do not believe in parking people in containers in the middle of the sea while Western societies would 'eventually' authorise the Refugees to have the 'Right to Indefinite Leave to Remain'... Therefore, we would like to show our support; to express Refugees & Asylum Seekers are not being ignored; in fact, there are a great deal of British citizens who still care; there are amazing people out there fighting and protecting for the Refugees & Asylum Seekers' rights; others are there to support them with their Mental and Physical Health through Health & Wellbeing, Talking Therapy and Creative Arts.


We would so wholeheartedly appreciate if you could share this event with your family and friends- and anyone who would be supportive- & of course, please do let us know you are coming, by registering below:

Many many, many thanks for your support, Mindful Humans!!


Wishing you all safety, peace & harmony!


AWA!

Lecturer & Movement Practitioner

Founder of The Ojas Centre




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