On the Subject of Being Literate
Reading Time: 2 minutes By Linda Arowolo, Sona Circle Without romanticising words, words bring life. It allows you to imagine, describe and shape how you perceive the world. Sometimes it can influence us unknowingly, where we internalise ideas and opinions about other groups of people and their experiences. Being able to read and write words gives you the […]
Ramadan In Ronhingya Refugee Camps
Reading Time: 3 minutes By Shere Hussain, Sona Circle The Holy month of Ramadan occurs on the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. Muslims believe it was during this month that God revealed the first verses of the Quran, the central religious text, to prophet Muhammad, on the evening known as The Night of Power (or referred to as […]
Mental Health Crisis Amongst Asylum Seekers And Refugees
Reading Time: 3 minutes By Felix Ford, Sona Circle Awareness around mental health has been increasing for several years and has continued to be at the forefront of minds amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty around life over the past 12 months has affected people in different ways, but it is common knowledge most have struggled with the life […]
Refugees In Film: Part 1
Reading Time: 5 minutes By George Maskell, Sona Circle It’s 2021, and streaming platforms are the new normal; for now, at least. The good news in all of this is that there is a much more efficient way to share information and relevant topics to the masses. Refugees have been featured in Hollywood movies for years, but they were […]
Stop The Government’s Harsh New Refugee Policy
Reading Time: 3 minutes By Gabriel Salter, Sona Circle Last week, home secretary Priti Patel announced the government’s new immigration policy. It effectively bans refugees who travel through Europe from seeking protection in the UK and punishes victims of smuggling. It is a deeply hostile policy that violates international law and will worsen the living conditions of many refugees […]
The Tigray Refugee Crisis: 5 Things You Should Know
Reading Time: 3 minutes By Gabriel Salter, Sona Circle A humanitarian crisis has broken out in Ethiopia. Federal government and Eritrean forces have invaded the region of Tigray, causing thousands of refugees to flee to neighbouring Sudan. Here are 5 things you should know about the crisis. Over 60,000 Ethiopians have sought refuge in Sudan due to civil war […]
International Day For The Elimination Of Racial Discrimination, 21March
Reading Time: 3 minutes By Shere Hussain, Sona Circle WHAT IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION? The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is a day created by the United Nations which aims to stop people being discriminated against because of their race. The UN general assembly called on the international community to […]
Red Nose Day: Comic Relief And Its Initiatives For Change
Reading Time: 3 minutes By George Maskell, Sona Circle Why is this day special? March 19, 2021; is red nose day. What is red nose day? Good Question. Back in 1988, Comic Relief (British charity) started a biennial celebration in which people wear round red plastic (plastic free from 2021) noses. This may seem like a strange idea for […]
5 Reasons Why Refugee Women Are Particularly Vulnerable To Violence
Reading Time: 3 minutes By Gabriel Salter, Sona Circle In the last week, the country has been shocked by the murder of Sarah Everard allegedly carried out by a policeman. The violent police suppression of a vigil in her memory further inflamed the issue. It has sparked widespread anger about the scale of violence against women in Britain and […]
From ‘Desert plight’ To The ‘Blue And White’: The Story Of Pnina Tamano-Shata
Reading Time: 3 minutes By George Maskell, Sona Circle Leaving her home at the age of 3, during the Ethiopian civil war, Pnina fled to Sudan before immigrating to Israel in search of the true homeland of her ancestors. Tamano-Shata was born in 1981 in Wuzaba, a small village in the Gondar region of Ethiopia. She was one […]