The Diocese would like to say a big thank you to everyone who was involved in our Refugee Week events last month, whether it was coming along, praying for it, or offering your help.
These events were part of the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of people seeking sanctuary.
This year, the Cathedral joint forces with the Diocesan Social Justice Network, the Clewer Initiative, and Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) to put on events.
As a result of this hard work, we hope to have closer working relationships with organisations who are doing a great job of raising awareness about the realities of modern slavery and helping refugees in the local area.
Travelling exhibition ‘Hear my Voice’ made its way to Canterbury as part of our Refugee Week events, with a theme of compassion and working with the community.
Local children were also invited to attend, with over 100 of them coming from three secondary schools in our diocese, and more joining from KRAN.
They took part in kite making and looked at the art on display.
The art had been created by both adults and children in need of international protection, and represented their expression of what they left behind, and their hopes for the future.
Kent Refugees Programmes Manager for our diocese Domenica Pecoraro said: “We wanted to give people a flavour of what an inclusive community can achieve, and how challenging yet transformative this journey can be.”
Domenica also led a talk on community sponsorship groups, something the Church of England set up to support local churches with resettling refugees in partnership with the Home Office.
To find out how your church could get involved with community sponsorship groups, contact Domenica Pecoraro.
Email: DPecoraro@diocant.org Mobile: 07801 898215