EDUCATION & AWARENESS
Part of our mission is to raise awareness about the harsh realities faced by marginalised refugee communities and the devastating impacts of forced migration globally, in order to encourage solidarity, understanding, and action. We do this by sharing content on our social media platforms, as well as organising online and in-person seminars and discussion groups for schools or initiatives, and online events with partner organisations.
Solidarity, Empathy
& Civic Engagement
In addition to online campaigns and seminars, UHfR also collaborates with educational institutions to share the experiences and expertise of our members and our daily work.
​
Between June and September 2020, we organised a series of awareness workshops with about 30 students between the ages of 12 and 18, focusing on solidarity, civic engagement, and sustainability. Each series of workshops was divided into six different syllabi, lasting around 2,5 hours per session. We used various methods of non-formal education to involve the students actively throughout the classes. Their participation and brainstorming helped challenge stereotypes and prejudices and cultivate a better understanding of the root causes of conflict and solutions.
Live events and fundraisers
UHfR increasingly participates in discourses and events advocating migrant rights by sharing our mission and work.
​
In 2022, UHfR cooperated with various German initiatives and organisations to host a live event in Germany as well as online campaigns about migration, refugees, and the Yazidi diaspora. The event was supported by the Stiftung Leben und Umwelt - Heinrich Böll Foundation Niedersachsen.
Main topics
Our awareness workshop series focuses on:
​
- Increasing knowledge about forced migration, refugees, diaspora, genocide and international policies;
- Exploring refugee stories and needs;
- Deepening an understanding of empathy, humanitarianism, and civic engagement.
​
We also provide information on how students can take action to improve the lives of others, whether it is by volunteering on the ground or destigmatizing the word “refugee”.
Our method
We used various methods of non-formal education to involve the students throughout the workshops. The lessons are flexible and can be adjusted according to the age groups. We employ a range of interactive online tools and group exercises, often with the involvement of refugees and international volunteers.
To emphasise the importance of empathy, the lesson involves both simulation activities and board games. Interactive activities help the students imagine what it might be like to be a refugee themselves, with the aim to break stereotypes. The mix of creativity, fun and in- depth thinking makes the classes successful, while students develop their own ideas about how to support people in need and how to analyse problems and their root causes.
Our goal
It is increasingly difficult to keep up with the complexity of global issues and crises, from global pandemics to wars and conflicts. It can be tempting to play a passive role in the world around us if we are not directly affected by these events. We aim to educate and motivate younger generations to take action, to stand up against injustice, to practise solidarity, to celebrate diversity, and to embrace the concepts of equality and empathy.