Refugee Week 09 Govanhill and Pollokshields Integration Network  Refugee week celebration, held on Saturday 13th June 2009 1pm – 8pm at Tramway and Hidden Gardens

The lead organisation was Culture and Sport Glasgow (SE area services arts development) working alongside: Langside College, Glasgow Storytellers, Tramway, Hidden Gardens Cultural Cookery Group, Karibu, CSG Play Services, CSG adult learning, GCC Education Services SE Cultural Coordinator, Birds of Paradise Theatre Company, Glasgow Women’s Library, and Oxfam. Cash funding for the event came from Community Planning and Unison Scotland sponsorship, with in-kind support from Langside College, CSG, GCC, Tramway and Hidden Gardens. Events included: Stalls in the ‘street’ area of Tramway taken by: Unison, CSG/Crossroads, Business Gateway, Scottish Refugee Council (Financial Literacy), and Govanhill Youth Project. Exhibitions from: Pupils at Shawlands Academy’s Bilingual Support Unit, supported by the SE Cultural Coordinator; A Sense of Place created by CSG adult learners; African Crafts from Karibu; A model of a typical home in Pakistan developed by Glasgow Women’s Library as part of their ‘She Settles in the Shields’ exhibition.  

At 2pm, there was a performance from Birds of Paradise Theatre Company called Home Sweet Home, followed by a panel discussion. The play focused on two characters, Maggie who decides to home host a destitute asylum seeker, Dalmar.

50 people attended the performance and post show panel discussion on the issues raised in the play.

While the performance and discussion took place in Stable 3 of Tramway, CSG Play Services ran a play session in the Hidden Gardens. Three play workers did scavenger treasure hunts and other games with 30 children. At 4pm, Karibu served a great spread of African food to 110 people in the Courtyard of the Boilerhouse in the Hidden Gardens. Karibu had been cooking in the Boilerhouse since 1pm, with the support of Hidden Gardens’ Programme Manager.  

At 4.30pm, there was live Irish music and readings in the Hidden Gardens watched by about 40 people throughout the gardens. The readings were excerpts performed by ESOL Learners from Langside College. A booklet entitled Home had been compiled and distributed by Langside College covering work on this subject from ESOL students.

And finally in the evening there was a Storytelling, Song and Stovies event in Stable 3 attended by 40 people. Lundi Beketch Luyeye and Sophia Kaseke told stories between more Irish music. At 7pm, the Hidden Gardens Cultural Cookery group served food, including meat and vegetarian stovies, couscous and pakora. In conclusion, the event brought together many different partners from within the Govanhill and Pollokshields Integration Network and around 260 adults and children from a wide range of communities enjoyed a varied day of activities.

In conclusion, the event brought together many different partners from within the Govanhill and Pollokshields Integration Network and around 260 adults and children from a wide range of communities enjoyed a varied day of activities.