Being Human Festival: Making a Home Away from Home

Last year, the UN Refugee Agency revealed that the number of people fleeing violence was the highest recorded since World War II. While the need for temporary shelter has never been greater, many refugees find that these settlements are more permanent than originally intended. Ongoing conflicts prevent their return home and the lack of infrastructure and support leaves them unable to move forward. In this exhibition, explore a replicated UNHCR tent decorated by a Syrian refugee and discover more about the interior and exterior space. Learn how to make Arabic coffee as you chat with the researchers and reflect on what ‘home’ looks like for the people who have been forcibly displaced for years.

Part of Being Human Festival, 12-22 November

#BeingHuman2020

Speaker: Yasmine Shamma, Lecturer in English Literature, University of Reading

Free drop-in, booking required. Bookings for this event will open shortly.

This event will take place at the The Museum of English Rural Life. In light of the rule of 6, this will be a walk through event, with no more than 4 admitted at a time (to allow for co-organisers to be present). If you have any questions about this event please refer to our Public Events FAQs. If your question is not answered, please email events@thebritishacademy.ac.uk.

Image: A makeshift kitchen in a refugee caravan in the Zaatari refugee camp, 2019. Photo by Yasmine Shammagee