Scottish Refugee Council is celebrating the 2014 Commonwealth Games with a series of Common Ground events
Blog by Jack Tannock, Media Volunteer
2014 is an incredibly exciting year for Glasgow.
This year the second largest multi-sport event in the world (after the Olympics) will be coming to our fair city. I speak of course of the Commonwealth Games. This will be a huge event and the Scottish public have already taken it to their hearts with every ticket allocation virtually selling out in a matter of minutes. We will have a chance to see some of the greatest athletes in the world such as Mo Farah and Usain Bolt compete with up-coming talent such as Kirani James and local hopefuls like Eilidh Child (and that’s just the athletics) and will have an opportunity to present Glasgow on the world stage.
Scottish Refugee council will be doing a series of events called ‘Welcome: Common Ground’ to celebrate the 2014 Commonwealth Games along with our own sporting events. Much of the funding for this has come from a Commonwealth Games Celebrate Grant, and we at the SRC are of course proud of our association with this momentous event.
Why Common Ground matters
You may ask what the Scottish Refugee Council has in common with a major international sporting event and why we are working together. The reason is simple in fact. Both Scottish Refugee Council and the Commonwealth Games are about celebrating what makes us both alike and different. We’re both about welcoming people from across the globe and from various different background. We are both about inspiring and empowering others through stories of strength and courage in the face of adversity. For all these reasons and more we have recognised each other and we will celebrate this connection during Refugee Week Scotland this year (and throughout summer).
On top of that it is worth remembering that many of the refugees and asylum seekers who make their way to our shores come from Commonwealth Nations.
What’s happening
Just like the Games themselves, we have an events schedule of performances, discussions and all manner of happenings lined up for Refugee Week Scotland as part of our Common Ground programme.
Here they are:
‘Failte’ Film Screening – On Saturday 21 June from 11am-3pm.
Guardianship Celebration – The young people of the Scottish Guardianship Service invites you to join them in a celebration of the welcome they’ve received in this country on Saturday 21 June from 2-4pm at Gorbals Parish Church.
Welcome To Kurdish Culture – Discover Kurdish culture from 6-9pm on Saturday 21 June.
Karibu – Celebration of welcome from African communities in Scotland on Wednesday 25 June from 10am to 4pm.
You are Welcome – Launch of a series of posters and quilts expressing welcome on Friday 27 June 3-6pm.
Celebrating 10 Years of Karibu – join the celebration from 2-5pm on Saturday 28 June.
Ceilidh Comhla – A traditional Scottish Ceilidh taking place from 6 – 8pm on Thursday 3 July at the Barras Art and Design, 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow.
Fun Run, Welcome Day and Dance Night – Join the Gambians in Scotland Community Association for a 5k run near Glasgow Green followed by a party for all the family sharing Gambian food, music and traditions with Scottish Culture. Then get your dancing shoes on for a lively Gambian influenced dance night. From 1pm-midnight on Saturday 21 June.
Welcome Renfrewshire Welcome – Celebrate welcome through song, food and games on Saturday 28 June from Midday to 4pm.
Ubuntu – This celebration of African hospitality and cooking followed by storytelling and discussion will take place from 4pm – 6:30pm on Saturday 14 June at the Aspire Centre.
Culture Exchange: Cameroon and Isle of Arran – take a trip to Arran on Saturday 14 June. The celebrations take place from 9am – 6pm
Open Arms – A celebration of Nigeria’s Igbo culture taking place from midday – 6pm on Saturday 14 June in Pollok Country Park, Burrell Collection Grounds.
Welcome to Your Home – Celebration to launch a new book of refugee stories on Saturday 14 June from 1.30-4.30pm.
These events are part of Scottish Refugee Council’s Welcome: Common Ground programme celebrating the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
