The Agenda for Global Refugee Narratives 2020

9:00 - 9:10 Land Acknowledge and Indigenous Traditional Drumming by Katelin King

9:10 - 9:20 Welcome Remarks by Dr. Noreen Golfman, Vice President (academics) and Provost of the Memorial University of Newfoundland

9:20 - 10:00 Transforming Lives through the Promotion of Inclusion: An Exploration of the University of Sanctuary Movement in UCC.

This presentation will highlight sanctuary as a central component of human security, participation, and integration. It will highlight the practical ways that universities and the wider community can offer support and show solidarity with asylum seekers and refugees and build a culture of inclusion within their institutions and beyond. The Irish asylum system, otherwise known as Direct Provision, is a restrictive mechanism for housing asylum seekers while they await a decision on their protection application. It is a system that offers little hope and poor mechanisms of access to integration and participation. Within this context, the University of Sanctuary initiative aims to promote the inclusion and participation of asylum seekers and refugees through social and civic responsibility and prioritising welfare. The presentation will explore the core principles of welcome and inclusion embedded in the sanctuary movement in UCC with an emphasis on its establishment, its ongoing activities, and its connections with the institutions wider community engagement strategy and its aims for a sustainable future.

Keynote Presentation by Dr. Claire Dorrity of University College Cork, Ireland

10:00 - 10:15  Icebreaker

10:15 - 10:30 Coffee Break

10:30 - 12:00 Opening Panel Discussion on Lived Experiences of Refugees

Moderated by Remzi Cej, Director, Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador

Panelists are: Mona Khalil, Einam Mohamadain, Josiane Akarabo, Basma Alfaoury

12:00 - 12:45 Lunch

12:45 - 1:45 TedTalk Style Presentation on Refugee Experiences

1. Sarah Burrage PhD Candidate: School of Creative Industries, University of South Australia and Mohammad Al-Maksour

2. Husam Basemah, Chair, WUSC-MUN

3. Aranzazu González Hernández, Responsible of The Programa de Atención a Migrantes de Retorno, Universidad Veracruzana

4. Nabila Qureshi and Sadia Chowshury, Student Co-Chairs, Global Refugee Narratives

1:45 - 2:00 Coffee Break

2:00 - 3:15 Closing Panel Discussion on Refugee Journeys: Community and Wellbeing

Moderated by Mica McCurdy, Project Coordinator, International Projects and Consultancies, Internationalization Office, Memorial University

Panelists are: Stacy Gardner (City of St. John's), Meghan Howse (Public Legal Information), Dr. Francoise Guigne (Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University)

3:15 - 4:15 Symposium Review Session by Abu Arif, Special Advisor to the Dean of Graduate Studies and AVP (Academics) on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

4:15 - 4:30 Closing by Dr. Yolande Pottie-sherman