DPR News
University of Sanctuary UCC hosts 5th annual Refugee Week
Health inequalities faced by refugees in Ireland, entrepreneurship in the refugee community, and supporting vulnerable migrants in higher education are some of the issues to be explored during University College Cork’s fifth annual Refugee Week, which gets underway on today. Events can be accessed online, in person, live or recorded, so there is something for everyone. From February 21 to 26 staff and students of UCC, working with members of the refugee and asylum-seeking community, will highlight issues faced by refugees, as well as the richness and diversity of modern Ireland through a variety of media, including spoken and written word, webinars, radio shows, interviews and conversations, music and film.
- Refugee Week Conference will take place on Thursday, featuring a variety of speakers.
- Sanctuary Runners’ Saturday jog closes off the week.
The opening ceremony will take place on Monday February 21 at 11am when two flags will be raised on the Main Quadrangle by the UCC interim-Registrar, Professor Stephen Byrne.
Professor Byrne said “UCC is proud to be a university of sanctuary, and to support refugees and migrants at risk. The events taking place during Refugee Week are an excellent example of collaboration between students, staff and refugee communities”.
The Refugee Week flag will be joined by a flag designed by migrant youth to explore their identity and heritage through the Glucksman’s Creative Agency In Colour project.
This flag will also be raised over City Hall on Friday, February 25 by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Colm Kelleher.
On Wednesday, February 23 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, February 24 in the Aula Maxima, where they will explore what Irish identity means today with speakers including Pearl Natasha - Singer-Songwriter, Izzedeen Alkarajeh - CEO of Izz Café, and Deborah Oniah - Lawyer, Writer, and UCC Sanctuary Scholar.
Refugee Week concludes on Saturday when Sanctuary Runners will gather in front of the Honan Chapel for a run. All are welcome to join in and, while running and walking, learn more about the Sanctuary Runners.
Specific event info can be found HERE.