Thought of the Day

August 29, 2014

In the GARAS drop in centre, today I have had the privilege of discussing and debating the approaching Scottish Referendum with a Sudanese person, an Iranian and a Turk.
And it got me thinking.  Their wide experience and thoughtfulness helps give a much wider understanding of the whole situation than we may think when we think of a vote being held by a small number of individuals in a small country.

They looked at their own countries, South Sudan in particular, having recently gone through its own referendum for independence.  They considered the level of debate and interaction of the politicians.  They contemplated the low level of corruption and complete lack of violence.  We discussed the challenges of borders and implications of barriers and also a sense of own identity.

So, whatever we may think and however the vote goes on the 18th September, we can be very grateful that live in a land where such a massive issue and potential change for those involved can be conducted in the way it has been.

Helen Bamber 1925 – 2014

August 22, 2014

It seems appropriate that GARAS should acknowledge the death of Helen Bamber and all she strove to do throughout her life.

In 1945 she was one of those who went into Bergen-Belsen, where she worked to help alleviate the suffering of those survivors in the concentration camp.

She went on to be involved in the establishing part of Amnesty International, to found the Medical Foundation for Victims of Torture and latterly to start the Helen Bamber Foundation. Her lifelong commitment to helping those who have suffered at the hands of fellow human beings has been extraordinary and we salute her passing.

In 2009, we were privileged to hearing her speak at an event in Bristol and we came away inspired by her and all she had achieved and was continuing to do at a time when many of us would be ready to retire quietly and enjoy a well deserved rest.

The following has been stated by ILPA:
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You will join with colleagues at the Helen Bamber Foundation and those working for human rights, for refugees and to help survivors of human rights abuses, many of them survivors themselves, in mourning Helen Bamber OBE and acknowledging the incredible gifts she gave tirelessly to all whose lives she touched. So many of us have been helped and inspired by her and seen the changes her work wrought in our clients’ lives. Her glamour and wit also brightened our world. An absolutely extraordinary woman has left us, but left us richer for the gifts she shared.

Obituary on Helen Bamber Foundation Website: http://www.helenbamber.org/

Memorial Fund https://www.justgiving.com/HelenBamberMemorialFund/

There is also an article on the BBC:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-28890331

Changing world with more refugees

June 20, 2014

For more information on current world refugee statistics, check out this BBC article.

Refugee Week Reflection #6

June 20, 2014

World Refugee Day – here are some facts: 51.2 million people have had to flee their homes.  17.9 million leaving their countries.  6.3 million have been living as refugees for many years. Where do they live?  Mostly next door.  For instance, of the 2.5 million from Afghanistan, 1.6 million live in Pakistan.  Ten years ago, 30% managed to get to safety in wealthy countries.  Today that has dropped to 14%.  So of that, we work with a minuscule number.  But I hope that what I have spoken of this week shows loud and clear that every single one of these is a human being with the same longings, cares and hopes as you and me.

The Strangers

June 19, 2014

Below is a poem written especially for Gloucester Refugee Day.  It was read it out by the poet Phil Wood.  We would like to thank Brunswick Baptist for their hospitality and warm welcome to GARAS clients today.

The Strangers

They come to us seeking refuge,

From countries both near and far,

In fear of persecution or torture,

Escaping the conflicts of war.

 

Who knows what fate had to offer?

Whether they lived or they die!

In a fight they had no chance of winning,

No matter how hard they tried.

 

Now far away from their families,

In a strange unfamiliar land,

People talking to them as a foreigner,

In a language they don’t understand.

 

How strange it must all seem to them,

I wonder how I would cope,

If I had to run from my homeland,

With nothing before me but hope.

 

Let’s welcome our brothers and sisters,

Show them the love that we can,

Treat them as one of our family,

Share in the brotherhood of man.