Home is where the heart is for Bradford children and their Syrian counterparts

Painstakingly stitched together by Sewing Bradford, 'The Big Canvas Project' comprises 1,000 fabric squares portraying images of what Bradford schoolchildren and their Syrian counterparts consider as 'home.'

While local youngsters from schools in the city including Horton Park Grange, depict the typical scene of a 'home sweet home' with windows, a chimney and open space to play, Syrian youngsters living as refugees in Jordan draw on their experience of life in a war zone.

Sarah Gate, marketing and communications officer with the Bradford-based charity, The Human Relief Foundation, says: "You can see in the canvas the big difference between what the children here have drawn and the Syrian children have drawn."

The Syrian youngsters were given the task of contributing to the canvas as part of the activities profiling Refugee Week which runs from today during the Human Relief Foundation's visit to Jordan earlier this year.

"We asked the Syrian children to draw what is home. They drew things like bombs and tanks, destroyed homes and people being chased," explains Sarah.

The canvas, exploring the dramatic visual differences between the two areas, will be officially unveiled on Monday at Kala Sangam in Bradford.

"We wanted to do something we can keep that will last after we have finished with it and we want to find a permanent home for it," says Sarah.

She says it gives people in Bradford the rare opportunity to see what life is like for the people of Syria and appreciate the circumstances which lead to them arriving in the country as immigrants.

"Refugee Week is a celebration of immigrants in this country who are contributing to our society. We are a multi-cultural society especially in Bradford. It is really important to remember that and look at things from a positive light that there are a lot of people who are contributing to the running of our city and country and they came here in extremely stressful circumstances. What is happening in Syria at the moment will lead to people coming to this country and we want to raise awareness of the types of incidents that may bring people here and the things that people, our fellow humans, are going through."

Videos of the canvas in creation will also be screened at the event and youngsters will be able to speak about the inspiration they gleaned from working on the project.

Today’s launch at Kala Sangam also focuses on the personal experiences of young people from across Bradford, including pupils from Grange Technology College and a drama performance of ‘Refugee Voices’ performed by Titus Salt School.

Other events taking place during the week, which this year focuses on 'Our Shared Future' drawing on the resilience of young people having to settle and succeed in a place they have had to put down roots, include the City premiere of ‘Leave to Remain’ followed by a director's Q&A takes place at the National Media Museum, and the annual Beacon Walk for Justice takes place at 10am tomorrow. From10am until 2pm on Thursday a new service for refugees living in the city launches at Keyhouse, Cavell House, Bradford ahead of the Festival Finale which runs from 4 until 7pm on Tyrell Street on Friday. The Refugee Communities Football Tournament takes place from 9.30am until 4pm on Saturday.

Pascale Gayford, Chair of Bradford Refugee Week says: “Refugee Week has become a regular and much celebrated event in Bradford’s cultural calendar and we are thrilled to be hosting it again.

“We are immensely proud of the rich cultural diversity and multitude of skills that our refugees bring to the city and have a wonderful line up to reflect these in this year’s programme. For instance, the artwork on our promotional materials is designed by an artist and refugee living in Bradford, and the Festival Finale on Tyrell Street will host a wide range of performances by talented musicians and singers who also just happen to be refugees living in the city.”

“There is something for everyone this year and we’re really hoping will partake and make links with one of the most vibrant communities in Bradford – our refugees.”

Bradford Refugee Week is part of a UK-wide programme of arts, cultural and educational events to celebrate the contributions that refugees make to the UK and encourage a better understanding between communities.

It is organised by a collaborative of like-minded organisations working with asylum seekers and refugees from across Bradford. Partners include City Of Sanctuary, Horton Housing, British Red Cross, Education Bradford, Bradford Community Development Team, BIASAN, Bradford Action for Refugees, BEACON, Abigail Housing, BCB 106.6 and Bradford Law Centre.