Newsthink Refugee Week 2023
Learn about the UK’s annual awareness event – Refugee Week – through a humanitarian lens using this Newsthink resource.
Age:
10-19
Subjects:
PSHE, Tutor time
Topics:
Humanitarianism and the Red Cross, Refugees and migration, Newsthink, Conflict
Type:
Quick activity
Learn about the UK’s annual awareness event – Refugee Week – through a humanitarian lens using this Newsthink resource. Use images to explore the needs of people with refugee status and the positive impact support can have on those who have fled their dangerous environments.
Help your learners to consider why some people flee their neighbourhoods, using the recent conflict in Sudan as an example. Learners will have the opportunity to consider the significance of Refugee Week and this year’s theme: compassion.
You may find our detailed guidance on how to talk to children and young people about conflict useful when learning about this topic.
Learning objectives
- Learn about a humanitarian awareness event.
- Apply learning and empathy to understand why the event takes place.
- Share learning by discussing a debate topic, and showing active listening skills.
How do I use this resource?
Download the PowerPoint and teacher notes to deliver the activities. Use one, some or all the activities, as suits you. Each one can be done in ten to fifteen minutes. Embed this activity into your lessons or use it in assembly or tutor time to engage learners with current events and humanitarian news.
Resource overview
1. Use the ‘see, think, feel’ framework
Explore and discuss the photos depicting Sudanese people leaving their homes and people with refugee status who are staying at a camp in neighbouring Chad. Discuss the photo showing people at a demonstration, where one person is holding a ‘Refugees Welcome’ sign.
2. Debate the following statements:
“People fleeing dangerous environments should be treated with compassion”, “Refugees and asylum seekers should be given protection, support and resources for their immediate needs” and “We can all help to make refugees and asylum seekers feel welcome”.
3. Make connections
Make connections by asking learners to consider other examples they are aware of where civilians have fled their homes to seek refuge and what it means to show compassion.
Related teaching resources
Understanding people's experience of migration
Activities co-produced by VOICES network ambassadors to help children and young people develop empathy and understanding towards people with migration experience. Suitable for learners ages 10 to 16.
Explore our free educational resources for Refugee Week. Engage students with insightful lesson plans and activities that promote understanding and empathy toward refugee experiences.