Isolation vs Integration: The challenges and potentials of work for refugee women

Reading Time: 4 minutes 25/03/2022 Hannah Munday, Sona Circle Isolation. It’s a word that has become all too familiar over the past two years, as the Covid pandemic has forced us to separate from family, friends and society at large. But for some, the sense and state of isolation neither began with, nor ends with government-mandated confinement. Separation from […]

Standing with Ukraine: How the crisis challenges our response to all refugees

Reading Time: 3 minutes Written by Hannah Munday As smoke ascends from the streets of Ukraine, blitzed by Russian bombs in an unprovoked attack, thousands of civilians have been forced to seek sanctuary beyond their national borders. While some crawl out of Kyiv in endless queues of cars, others walk through the night to reach their neighbouring states. Many […]

Refugees and the Climate Crisis: We Must Act Now

Reading Time: 4 minutes By Gabriel Salter, Sona Circle Climate change is causing a global refugee crisis. Global warming caused by humans is increasingly creating droughts, floods, typhoons, and rising sea levels which force millions across the world to flee their homes every year. Scientists predict that by 2050 climate change will cause 300 million people to be displaced […]

The Yazidi Genocide – 6 Years Later

Reading Time: 3 minutes By Shere Hussain, Sona Circle Since the Syrian Civil War in 2011 and the emergence of ISIS, it has been estimated that over 16 million people have been displaced due to sectarian violence. Over 2 million refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have fled their home towns and countries and have found refuge in Iraqi […]

Financial Inclusion For Refugees

Reading Time: 3 minutes By Felix Ford, Sona Circle A major barrier for most refugees when looking to establish a life for themselves in new locations is the ability to open a bank account. Without one, individuals are unable to receive money, make payments, start a tenancy, or even have a safe place to begin to save funds. Currently, […]

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 […]

World Poetry Day – ‘Lament For Syria’

Reading Time: 3 minutes By Felix Ford, Sona Circle In 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established a day for the celebration of poetry – “World Poetry Day” – to take place annually on the 21st of March. This year, World Poetry Day coincides with the week that marks 10 years since the start of […]

Dangerous Tides: Brexit And Sea Crossing Migration

Reading Time: 3 minutes By Shere Hussain, Sona Circle Over the past year, the UK has delt with coronavirus and Brexit, two seismic events that have changed the way we live and govern ourselves. One thing that has not changed, however, is the attempts by refugees to cross the English Channel to seek asylum in the UK. Refugees are […]

Mother’s Day In The Greek Refugee Camps

Reading Time: 3 minutes By Gabriel Salter & Felix Ford, Sona Circle For many women, Mother’s Day means receiving a card and some flowers showing appreciation for everything they do, or having nice things done for them throughout the day. However, instead of this, millions of displaced women face just another day of difficulty in the inhumane conditions of […]