Responding to the Global Refugee Crisis at BC and Beyond

Boisi event

Date: November 13-16,Ìý2017

The Refugee Project isÌýa collaboration with colleagues atÌýHarvard Divinity School, theÌýAmerican Academy of Religion, andÌýShared StudiosÌý(with funding from theÌýHenry Luce Foundation), in the °¬¿ÉÖ±²¥ area November 4-20, 2017.Ìý

Project Details

Abstract

The world is currently facing the largest humanitarian crisis since World War II, with 65 million forcibly displaced persons worldwide, including 23 million refugees.ÌýHow will we respond?Ìý

Although education about facts and figures is important, there is no substitute for a personal encounter to humanize a distant other, and thus reframe our understanding of a global crisis. At °¬¿ÉÖ±²¥ College, The Refugee Project will take three forms:Ìý

1)ÌýDinner and Community Conversation

¶Ù²¹³Ù±ð:ÌýMonday, November 13, 2017
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýGasson Commons (Room 112)Ìý
Time:Ìý6:00 - 8:00pmÌý

Join us for food and refreshments, listen to the stories of refugees who have resettled in the °¬¿ÉÖ±²¥ area, and hear short talks from BC experts about how we at BC can respond to the global refugee crisis. BC speakers will include professors Westy Egmont, Kristin Heyer, and Erik Owens.

Co-sponsored by the Office of International Programs, and part ofÌýInternational Education Week 2017.Ìý

2) Refugee Portal

¶Ù²¹³Ù±ð:ÌýMonday, Nov. 13 - Thursday Nov. 16, 2017
Times:Ìý8:00am - 12:00pm
[By appointment only]
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýThat big gold shipping container in O'Neill PlazaÌý

The Refugee Portal is the centerpiece of The Refugee Project at BC.ÌýShared StudiosÌýhas transformed a shipping container into a studio with a wall-sized videoconferencing screen that connects to other "portals" worldwide to create uncommon conversational/educational opportunities. For four hours each morning from Nov 13-16 we will host a series of 25-minute conversations between small groups of 3-6 BC people and small groups of Syrian and Iraqi refugees/IDPs in Iraq, Jordan, and Berlin. Conversations will center on music, sports, family, and culture, as well as the particular migration experiences of people on both ends of the portal.

3)ÌýEducational Exhibit and Online ModulesÌý

Dates:ÌýMonday, Nov. 13 - Thursday Nov. 16, 2017
³¢´Ç³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô:ÌýO'Neill Library Main LobbyÌý

Stop by the main lobby of O'Neill Library this week toÌýpeer into the street life at the Harsham Camp outside Erbil, Iraq, thanks to immersive video from National Geographic; orÌýread the migration stories of refugees around the world; or dig into the facts and figures that show the extent of the global migration crisis.ÌýÌý

In the News

BC News featured the Boisi Center's 2017 Refugee Portal inÌýa recent articleÌýand accompanying "video minute."

As part of the week long Refugee Portal, O'Neill LibraryÌýÌýdisplaying the stories and outlining the journeys of refugees of various backgrounds.

TheÌýÌýduring the week of November 5, 2017. HDS students connected with Gazans as well as refugee camps in Erbil, Iraq; Amman, Jordan and Berlin, Germany. The portal will arrive at BC on Friday, November 10, in anticipation of programming starting November 13, 2017.