Newcastle University x WERS

We were delighted to be invited by Dr. Silvia Pasquetti to deliver a series of lectures Newcastle University. In our first session we discussed real stories of journeys and crossing borders, hearing from Tarik, Khadija, Rudy and Kareem about their journey’s to the UK. Hearing about the very different ways all four of them arrived in the UK, their differing experiences crossing borders, why they left their countries and how life has been in the UK for them so far.

Next, we spent a session talking about the legal side of the complex asylum system, what can go right, what can go wrong, and how that affects the people stuck in it. We heard from Rudy how the asylum system has affected him, and from our volunteer Bob about being a Mackenzie Friend.

In our finally week of three, we explained the importance of integration and how WERS works with local communities to help refugees feel at home in the North East as well as what has been tried in other countries and how well that has worked. Aza and Yusef told us their experience of volunteering at WERS and joining in the activities programme and why these experiences are so important to refugees in the North East of England.

If was wonderful to see the room full of students listening and engaging, the questions we received at the end were well thought out and thought provoking. While the sessions at the University were spread out over three weeks, with one more still to come, we offer sessions like this for anyone in the community. From 15 minute speeches to two hour workshops for people aged 4 to 104!

These outreach sessions are an important part of WERS mission. Educating the public about the asylum system, dispelling myths and bringing the community together make a safer and more welcoming place for everyone to live. Since June 2024 we have delivered awareness raising sessions to more than 2000 people in the North East. Thank you to eveyone who has attended them.