We are sitting around a table, and scraps of scarf fabric are flying everywhere. They are being weaved into beautiful little squares as the rain comes down outside. One day, these little weavings will be made into a large piece of art to be displayed as part of an awareness…

In his powerful film, Through Our Eyes, Samir Mehanovic, documents the experiences of Syrian refugees and reflects on how their journeys mirror his own search for safety. By Shona McCallum and Izzy Taylor, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteers On the evening of Tuesday 20 June, we attended a very moving screening…

Iran, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, Spain, Afghanistan. All of these places are represented in one room by a group of people sitting around a table in the Mitchell Library, ready to learn about creative writing. By Olivia Sykes, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteer Julie, a creative writing tutor and former screenwriter, welcomes…

And, Towards Happy Alleys, a documentary film by Sreemoyee Singh, was a dream. It is a singular, detailed, and passionate dedication to Iranian cinema – the country, culture, and, in particular, the women it portrays. By Shona McCallum, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteer The Scottish Documentary Institute (SDI) arranged the screening,…

The first thing I notice is colour. Every shade of blue, green and orange you can imagine coats the white walls in vibrance. The second thing is that everyone is smiling. There is laughter trailing out of the room in Civic House where the Museum of Things exhibition is being…

On World Refugee Day, parents with children at Rosshall Academy gathered at the school for a chance to meet new friends and practice their English language skills.   By Shona McCallum, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteer Stephanie McKenna is a teacher at Rosshall Academy on the Southside of Glasgow. She explained…

I walk in and it’s quiet. Not an eerie kind of silence, but a calm stillness. It is just past 10am and the Drawing Together installation is still being set up.  By Olivia Sykes, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteer There’s a very low hum coming from the centre of the room.…

Breaking Borders Ayr served up delicious food, great company and a very warm welcome at their Refugee Festival event. By Shona McCallum, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteer On Monday 19 June, I attended a wonderful event hosted by Breaking Borders Ayr. Their ‘Baking Borders’ pop-up café served up delicious Syrian and…

On Saturday 17 June, Radical Glasgow Tours led a group of people through the city on a walking tour to retrace refugee histories.   By Shona McCallum, Refugee Festival Scotland volunteer   Radical Glasgow Tours aim to reveal stories from the city’s past which have been hidden. Those of women, the working…