Thank you again for supporting A Country of Refuge and I hope you have received copies of your book/s. I wanted to draw your attention to a fantastic eve taking place at the Free Word Centre during Refugee Week on Weds 22 June at 6pm. 

Details below and link to book tickets is: https://www.freewordcentre.com/whats-on/refugee-week-stories

On the eve of the European referendum, come and hear from writers, poets and newly arrived communities about the experience of leaving home and what happens when we arrive in a new place.

Hear stories from across decades and from all around the world as writers from Iraq to Sri Lanka, Ethiopia to Iran and many nations in between recount their experiences. Hear readings to uncover the reality for those fleeing conflict, poverty or terror. Listen to tales that build empathy, community and understanding. Join our read-a-thon with Marina Lewycka, Kamila Shamsie, Deborah Levy, Inua Ellams and Jan Krasnowolski, with many more, to understand the countless experiences of migration.

The evening will feature readings of fiction and poetry alongside spoken word performance, music and artwork. There will also be panel discussion chaired by Lucy Popescu, editor of A Country of Refuge. Lucy will be joined by novelistSulaiman Addonia, novelist Jan Krasnowolski and Rita Chadha, Chief Executive Officer of Refugee & Migrant Forum of Essex and London – RAMFEL. The panel will ask ‘are artistic responses enough to influence the narrative on refugees and migrants in society?’

There will be books by all speakers on sale, guest sales of MPT‘s special edition ‘The Great Flight‘ and a sample of Free Word’s and Islington Libraries‘ book collection of ‘Stories From New Places‘, all available in Islington Libraries throughout Refugee Week and into July.

This event is part of Refugee Week 2016 and joins in with this year’s theme of ‘Welcome’. Join us as we ask whether stories can help rebuild the distance between each other.

We are delighted to welcome celebrated writers and poets including:

Alireza Abiz
Sulaiman Addonia
Sufiya Ahmed
Sita Bramachari
Rita Chadha
Inua Ellams
Jan Krasnowolski
Nineb Lamssu
Marina Lewycka
Deborah Levy
Selina Nwulu
Lucy Popescu
Minna Salami
Kamila Shamsie
Shash Trevett

All ticket proceeds from this fundraising event will go towards creative writing workshops at the Islington Centre for Refugees and Migrants.

This event is supported by the European Union Europe for Citizens Programme, Allianz Cultural Foundation, Berlin and the Polish Cultural Institute London.