Thank you for thinking about delivering an assembly raising awareness of the refugee crisis.
First, a little bit of information about the Rural Refugee Network (RRN). We support people who have had to leave their own country under very difficult circumstances and come to live in the UK. We have all heard a lot about refugees in the news and wonder what happens to these people, who are just like you and me, but have had to leave their homes, families, jobs and schools. Being refugees they were unable to bring any of their belongings with them, so they now need everything to start again. This is where RRN helps.
RRN helps find homes that are available to rent from private landlords. We help furnish these homes with items donated by people in our local community, such as sofas, beds, wardrobes, chest of drawers, fridges – even sets of cutlery or duvets for the beds. Our volunteers teach the families English, which they learn very quickly, and act as ‘buddies’ to help familiarise them with healthcare provision, schools and shops. It isn’t hard to imagine how difficult everyday life would be without all of those things and not being able to speak any English at all while striving to become independent and integrate into a new community.
Please think about how you could support the plight of these displaced people. Perhaps you would consider naming the RRN as your chosen charity for the year, organise a fundraising event or just bring the work of the RRN to the attention of parents and pupils through your school newsletter or website.
Rosie Lennon, RRN Education Team Leader suggests the following has worked well for an assembly:
- Music – You, Me, War by Jenny Moe.
- As pupils come into assembly hand them an A4 piece of paper to take special care of as there is something they will be asked to do with it.
- When pupils are settled, introduce the theme of refugees and ask children if they know anything about the refugee crisis. Encourage a short discussion around the quote (From Home, Warsan Shire): “No one puts their children in a boat unless the water is safer than the land“
- Show RRN (1) for all pupils and/or (2) for secondary pupils.
RRN (1) Video:
https://youtu.be/dhTla_zUR7E
- A short discussion could then introduce the idea of building a boat to display in the school to show support for migrants, made from lots of individual little boats from the paper they were given at the start of assembly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiAWx8odStA
- Encourage pupils, at home or as a class activity, to make their own boat. They could write a prayer on it, a wish, or words of support for the refugees. Show ‘You Tube’ of boat making (This can be done in the classroom).
- Once boats are collected from classes, make up into one boat displayed in the school for pupils, parents and visitors to view.