Celebrating Refugee Week - 19-23 June

We have several events and activities across our university campus. Find out more and book your place to each of the following Refugee Week events:

Upcoming events

• Monday 19 June, 6pm to 8pm, Fyvie Hall, Regent Street Campus

Join us for a screening of films 'Matar' and 'Ayman' and panel discussion with the directors.

Speakers include Hassan Akkad, the Bafta award-winning director of MATAR, and Ayman Alhussein, who directed the award-winning AYMAN and co-wrote MATAR based on his own lived experience as a young refugee who fled from Syria to the UK in 2015. The discussion will be chaired by the director of the charity Migrant Voice, Nazek Ramadan, and introduced by Dr Federica Mazzara, Associate Professor in Cultural Studies at Westminster.

This event is hosted by the charity Migrant Voice in collaboration with the University and WaterBear. Migrant Voice is a migrant-led charity that supports and empowers migrants, including asylum seekers and refugees, to speak out and be heard. We challenge prejudice and build support for our rights by amplifying migrant voices in the media and in public life.

Find out more and book your place.

• Monday 19 June - Friday 23 June, The Gallery Coffee Shop, Regent Street Campus

Join us for a showcase of artwork from Ghazal Zargar, an Iranian refugee artist.

We will also be showcasing the artwork of Ghazal Zargar, an Iranian refugee artist, in The Gallery Coffee Shop until Friday 23 June.

On Wednesday, 21 June, Ghazal will also be painting live at the Gallery Coffee Shop from 1-4pm. 

About Ghazal Zargar

Ghazal Zargar was born in Tehran to an artistic family. Her childhood passion for painting led her to become a graphic designer and illustrator. In 2020, Ghazal was forced to flee Iran, leaving behind her family and the life she had built. She has been in the UK for almost a year now. Her paintings symbolise the pain and trauma of her journey seeking asylum in today's challenging environment.

• Tuesday 20 June, online (YouTube)

Conversation on personal refugee experiences with a Westminster colleague and student.

We have brought together a student and a colleague to engage in a conversation about their personal refugee experiences. Their inspiring stories shed light on some of the challenges they faced, their resilience and journeys to Westminster. 

You can view the conversation on YouTube.

• Wednesday 21 June, 1pm to 4pm, Gallery Coffee Shop, Regent Street Campus

Ghazal Zargar, an Iranian refugee artist painting live.

Ghazal Zargar, an Iranian refugee artist, will be painting live at the Gallery Coffee Shop from 1-4pm.

No booking is required, we encourage everyone to stop by and say hello, please visit her to show your support.

For more information on Ghazal "see above" for Monday 19 June listings.

Sobia Razzaq, Senior Lecturer writes about her engagement with Refugee Week 

Sobia Razzaq, Senior Lecturer in Law, Co-Chair WoW (Women of Westminster) and EDI Committee Member writes about how she engages with activities related to both Refugee Week and EDI outside of academia. 

As Sobia says: "One of Westminster University's core values is "Being Compassionate." By aligning ourselves with this value, we can nurture compassionate leaders who are committed to making a positive impact on society. By instilling a sense of responsibility and drive in our students, we empower them to contribute to a better future for all marginalised communities including refugees and asylum seekers."

Read more on how Sobia integrates some of this work with her day job as a lecturer.

Further support

In addition to these activities, we want to highlight that we offer support and guidance to our colleagues and students who had to leave their homes and seek safety in a different country. If you know a colleague/student who needs support, please ask them to email us at [email protected] and we will signpost them to appropriate resources.

For more information and to find out about events taking place around the UK, please visit RefugeeWeek.org.uk.