For a couple of years, we (Syrian Volunteers NL and Refugee Academy) have been working together around the importance of refugee perspectives in policy making and the challenges connected. Some refugee advocates and refugee-led initiatives have already been connected with us in this process. However, there are also people from other refugee-led organizations or communities that we would very much like to get to know and involve in the project.
We would like to invite all of you to a meetup with lunch. In the past period, we have elaborated a plan to connect and support a network of refugee advocates and refugee-led organizations. But also to create more space for perspectives of refugees at the side of policymakers. In this meeting, we would like to share this plan with you and discuss whether you would like to be involved, and how. Also, this meeting will be an occasion for networking and making new connections. We believe that open spaces for connection, sharing experiences, and looking for mutual support are very much needed in this period.
We would like to hold this meeting on Friday 2nd of September, 11:00 – 15:30, in Amsterdam (exact location will be shared later) Travel costs to and from Amsterdam will be covered, please keep the receipts and give them to us later. Please, note that the meet-up is for refugee advocates and refugee-led organizations only.
11:00 – Introductory part – Meeting and sharing needs and experiences
12:00 – Lunch and networking
13:00 – Exchange thoughts on the plan to improve refugee perspectives in policymaking (together with professor Halleh Ghorashi)
15:00 – Presenting the Erasmus Training Kit for Empowering Refugee-Led Community Organisations
15:30 – Closing
Could you please let us know whether you would like to participate by sending an e-mail to refugee.academy.fsw@vu.nl before August 22nd? Quick replies are very much appreciated.