University of Sanctuary UCC hosts 5th annual Refugee Week

2 Feb 2022

Join the interim-Registrar, Professor Stephen Byrne on February 21st at 11:00 in raising the Refugee Week flag on the Quad and check out the other events of the week here.

From 21^st to 26^th February, staff and students of UCC, working with members of the Refugee and Asylum-seeking community and their advocates, will host the 5^th annual UCC Refugee Week.

Refugee Week is an important annual event to bring needed focus to both the issues faced and the cultural and other benefits brought by our refugee and migrant populations.

Topics like health inequalities among migrant populations, entrepreneurship in the refugee community and supporting vulnerable migrants in higher education will be tackled, as well as celebrating the wealth of culture and art forms brought by a increasingly diverse national community through a variety of media, including spoken and written word, webinars, radio shows, interviews and conversations, music and film.  Events can be accessed online, in person, live or recorded, so there is something for everyone.

Highlights of the week are the opening ceremony (Monday 21^st 11:00), when two flags will be raised on the main quadrangle by the UCC Register and Deputy President, Professor Stephen Byrne – the Refugee Week flag and one from the Glucksman’s Creative Agency In Colour project, which allowed young people to explore their identity and heritage through original flag designs.  This flag will also be raised over the City Hall on Friday 25^th by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Colm Kelleher.  After the flag raising, join stall holders in the Community Market at the Hub Plaza where you can learn how to get involved in supporting refugees and migrants in Cork.  On Wednesday 23^rd, the UCC Student Union and UCC society Fáilte Refugees will hold a lunchtime rally on main campus to call for an end to direct provision.  Fáilte Refugees will host their annual Refugee Week Conference on Thursday 24^th in the Aula Maxima, where they will explore what Irish identity means today with speakers such as Femi Bankole - Co-Founder of Black and Irish, Pearl Natasha - Singer-Songwriter, Dr Naomi Masheti - Director of the Cork Migrant Centre, John Lannon - CEO of Doras and Valerie Linehan - Operations Manager of Translate Ireland.  Closing off the week on Saturday, Sanctuary Runners will gather in front of the Honan Chapel for a run.  All are welcome to join in and, while running and walking, you can learn more about the Sanctuary Runners and meet new friends as we wrap up what promises to be a very successful UCC Refugee Week 2022