Part of the Festival of Migration collection Refugee journey story – Short play by Syrian, Sudanese and Iraqi young people

About this event

The story of Fatima’s Promise is set in an imaginary place far away, but draws upon true stories, perils and dangers of forced migration, as a little band of family and friends’ journey towards a hopeful future in a new land. Created by Palestinian exiled writer Ghazi Hussein through a workshop process with a cast of migration experienced young people and adults from Syria, Sudan, and Iraq. Celine Al Zaida, who plays Fatima, had some acting experience in Iraq before leaving with her family for Turkey, for the rest this is their very first time performing.

Ghazi states: “I realised that most of local people do not understand why these “foreigners” are here, and the refugee kids can’t explain themselves well, so through this project I wanted to narrow the gap between communities. By encouraging the children to talk I found that all the kids are sharing the same worries. They talk about improving their skill, they work double to reassure the local community that they are useful and ‘’ beauty is only skin-deep! My identity is not as a refugee, this is only my experience. I believe that culture, language, and traditions safeguard our identity and our dignity, and this is the same for all cultures. All I want is for everyone’s culture to be treated with respect and understanding”.

The play is directed by multi-award winner Alan Caig-Wilson. Community Co-ordination by Zakariah Berrada.In Arabic with English surtitles approximately 45mins – suitable for age 10 and above with parental guidance. The play depicts some harrowing stories subtly presented and suitably mediated for younger audiences. After the Play we are delighted to welcome Francesca Sella From Just Right Scotland to give a 15min presentation on the impact of the Illegal Migration Bill on migrant children. “Francesca is an associate solicitor at the Scottish Refugee & Migrant Centre at JustRight Scotland. Having graduated in 2018, she moved to Strasbourg where she worked as an intern at the office of the Special Representative on Migration and Refugees at the Council of Europe. Francesca completed her traineeship at an immigration and asylum firm in Glasgow, where she gained experience in both asylum and human rights law, and qualified in the summer of 2021. At JustRight Scotland, Francesca focuses on assisting unaccompanied asylum children with their asylum and immigration issues”. There will be a chance for a short Q&A and signposting as to how to become more informed and involved in the campaign to support refugees. To read about the impact of the new Illegal Immigration or Refugee Ban Bill on children see: https://www.cypcs.org.uk/news-and-stories/uk-and-scottish-parliaments-must-challenge-illegal-migration-bill-warns-childrens-commissioner/ “This Bill treats refugee and asylum-seeking children and young people as undesirable lawbreakers, as drains on local resources, and with less entitlement to human rights than other children. This is simply wrong. They are children. They are not illegal. Their rights must not be diminished. And in stark contrast to how the Home Secretary describes them, refugee and asylum-seeking young people talk to us passionately about their desire to belong, their commitment to contribute to their local community, and the pride they take in becoming full and valued members of Scotland’s society”. (Children and Young People’s Commissioner for Scotland) —————————————————————————— About: Ghazi Hussein About Alan Caig Wilson: I began my academic life studying psychology and followed this with training as an Actor and a Physical Theatre maker, and most recently as a Theatres Director. I supplemented my income working in Arts Education. This has gradually become my main focus. In 2020 I was accepted as a Fellow of the RSA, in recognition of my work in arts and education working with people of all kinds in the search for lives that are richer, deeper, more satisfying and fairer. Click here to learn more about Alan.