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20 Jun 2025
Kicking off Refugee Week with films and food at Exeter Phoenix
We had a brilliant evening at Exeter Phoenix kicking off Refugee Week in Exeter on Wednesday 18th June.
We started the evening in the Secret Garden with some delicious Syrian food and refreshments prepared by Refugee Support Devon clients and volunteers. We heard from our Chair of Trustees, Helen Hartstein and then headed into the cinema.
We watched award winning short film, Goldmine by Adrian Fisk and then The Walk by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Tamara Kotevska. Goldmine tells the story of a young artisanal gold miner and his family in the Siguiri Basin in Northern Guinea. The harsh reality of their existence is exposed as we follow the family into a gold mine and witness the challenges such a life brings. The Walk is based on an extraordinary artistic endeavour in 2021 which saw a 12 foot tall puppet called Amal travel for three months across Europe, raising awareness of the plight of unaccompanied young refugees.
Both films were an eye opening, honest look into the struggles and experiences of refugees across the globe. Despite this, both protagonists shared a resounding message of hope.
This message of hope carried on thoughout the evening as floor was handed over to an inspiring panel chaired by Refugee Support Devon trustee, Emma Marshall. The panel repsonded to both films and shared insight on this years Refugee Week theme, Community as a Superpower before answering audience questions from identity to the power of creativity and storyelling and ways to show up for people seeking safety in our local community.
Thank you to our panel Adrian Fisk, Kinan Noah, Raawiyah Rifath and Aqeel Abdulla for such an insightful discussion.
This event was sold out - thank you to all who came and supported!
There's more to come!
Join us at our Community Dinner with St Sidwells Community Centre (https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1347921703099?aff=oddtdtcreator) and a Side by Side Sewing for Refugee Week Workshop at the RAAM (https://rammuseum.org.uk/whats-on/side-by-side-sewing-for-refugee-week/).
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