Two Syrian artists with very different stories, both creating poetry in exile in Jordan and Istanbul. This episode is a special one with two parts. The first part comes from Zataari refugee camp in Jordan, with a poet called Nour al Hariri. Nour writes poetry and rap about human rights issues that are close to her heart – especially around women’s rights to education, the issue of child labour...
What motivates us to help others, and why should we help others? What does the latest psychological research show us about our brains on altruism? And are there ways we can be more effective altruists – especially for those from other countries or future generations? We ask psychologists, humanitarians and altruists what it means to them to be a good Samaritan, and how we can do better...
Poetry from the camps of Western Sahara, with my guest Sam Berkson, who together with Saharawi artist and translator Mohamed Suleiman collected translations of these poems in ‘Settled Wanderers’ (published by Influx Press). It’s the first collection in English of poets such as Beyibouh Al Haj, Mahmoud Khadri, Badi and Al Khadra, and gives us a unique insight into the...
Usman Khalid wanted to set up a coffee shop with a difference – Haven Coffee is a social enterprise, a cafe with a mission of breaking false narratives around migration. Their Laff-Uccino comedy gigs are regular events in London, with comedians of refugee or migrant background and Kryzsia, one of the comedians involved, talks comedy, migration and accents. From comedy in...
Shehab is a poet from Yemen who spent time in Napier Barracks, Folkeston in the UK. It’s one of two military sites the UK government send asylum seekers. Residents describe it as worse than a prison. Where nobody knows how long they’ll be kept there. There’s been several court cases to try and close the place down, citing poor sanitation, lack of access to adequate medical care and legal...
Delighted to bring you this second episode of Wander from Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi, with poet, musician and community activist Tresor Mpauni. LISTEN We talk about his early influences growing up in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) – including African folk tales and music – how he joined a boyband, discovered French rap music, and started writing his own music and poetry. He tells...
Wael Habbal started the Syrian Greek Youth Forum (the SGYF) in 2018 to advocate for human rights, to connect people together, to break stereotypes around migration, and to create their own opportunities in Athens. He sits down with another member of SGYF – Kareem Al Kabbani – and our reporter Bairbre Flood to talk about how activism, creativity and active citizenship intersect. You can...
Originally from Afghanistan, Parwana Amiri has written extensively about her time in Moria Refugee Camp, and now about life in Ritsona camp in Greece, where she lives with her family. LISTEN She teaches at Wave of Hope for the Future – a school founded by refugees – is a coordinator of Youth Refugee Movement and has published a collection called ‘Letters To The World...
Two LGBTQ refugees in Yalova, Türkiye, Mehdi and Nihal, are setting up their own group, From All Over. Bairbre Flood met them at their home to see why they need this group, and what life is like for LGBTQ refugees outside of Istanbul. Presenter Mahmoud Hassino also shares some of his personal experiences helping to organise a Mr Gay Syria event which was documented in a film by...
Iya Kiva is a fantastic Ukrainian poet, translator and journalist. She’s been translated into several languages, and is the author of two poetry collections – ‘Further From Heaven’ and ‘The First Page of Winter’. She’s won numerous awards for her work including at the International Poetry Festival Emigrant Lyre, the LitAccent-2019 award, and many more. Iya had to leave Donetsk in 2014, when...