Refugee Newsletter - unhcr

Seeking Refuge:A Fight for FreedomLeft to Right, Simon Kragh (left) and SamNeedham. Photo: UNHCR/S. WhyteYear Seven Students at Canberra’s OranaSchool took a theatrical approach tolearning about refugees with theirproduction of their play Seeking Refuge: AFight for Freedom.Teacher Emily McKenzie said theproduction was designed to enhance thestudent’s understanding of issues thatsurrounded refugees in a positive andmemorable way. “I guess only two in theclass really knew anything much aboutany refugee stories,” she said. “We’d beentalking a little bit about refugees as ageneral topic… I thought to bring that alittle closer to home we could talk aboutcultures mixing as in a multiculturalAustralian society. What better way to dothat than have a story of a refugee family,their journey to Australia and theirreception?”The play was based on a story fromRochelle E. Ball’s compilation of some ofthe experiences of Canberra’s refugeepopulation – World’s Turned Upside Down.Students were put into groups to work ona particular scene and would then reportback to the class for discussion. Thescript was drafted over four to five weeks.To keep the students on track (and to givethem some real-life experience), thescripts were then given to a formerImmigration Department case worker whomade suggestions on the story’splausibility.For the students it seems the play waswell worth their efforts. “It was a goodthing to do,” said student Simon Kragh. “Itwas interesting and I learnt a lot aboutrefugees.” “It was also to make people alot more aware of refugee issues,especially young people,” said anotherstudent Cordelia Powrie. “Some peoplejust think that its people coming over froma different country, like it will all just workout for them…we tried to show them in aslightly less serious way that these thingshappen and that they should be aware ofthem.” Ms. Mckenzie agreed, and foundthe student’s reactions to the topic quiteinteresting. “A lot of the comments thatwere made by the students when Ibrought it up were ‘why don’t we just letCordelia Powrie and Sam Needham.them all in the country?’ or ‘can’t we justgive them a city?’” The play also includeda scene showing the home life of a guardat a detention centre. “It was interestingfor the kids to see both sides of the storyand show that he (the guard) is not amonster because he works at a detentioncentre” she said.The play proved to be a success with26 students involved in the production,and around 150 patrons attending thematinee and evening shows. The studentshoped the play would have an impact onother students and all those in the OranaSchool community attending theperformances. “Hopefully it will send thema message” said Miss Powrie, “becausethat’s what we’re trying to do.”Photo: UNHCR/S. WhyteRefugee Newsletter No. 2/200521