Invitation to refugee film virtual fundraiser on 28 February
By Block 3 (Year 9) student Shoshana Yugin-Power
Bedales is hosting an exclusive, pre-release screening of an award-winning short film, Adnan, on Microsoft Teams on 28 February at 8pm, followed by a Q&A with directors Mark Arrigo and Steven Chatterton, and the film's two actors, Raghad Chaar and Ayham Kabi. This is a charity event in aid of the Rural Refugee Network (RRN), who support Syrian families arriving in Hampshire.
Adnan tells the emotional tale of a 10-year-old Syrian boy, who has had to flee his home country with his mother. He deals with the loss of his city, Aleppo, as well as the deaths of the remainder of his family. Once settled in the UK, he finds himself old beyond his years, using creativity and tenacity to break through his mother’s post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or risk losing the only family he has left, forever.
The film tells a moving and emotional tale that shows us the impact that such a catastrophic event can have on people’s mental wellbeing. It is beautifully made, with the small amount of dialogue proving that a picture really does paint a thousand words. Many parts of the story are left to the audience’s inference, which makes for a more thought-provoking experience. Adnan includes themes and symbols that are relevant in all of our lives. Of great interest is how art and creativity can be used to heal.
The film screening on 28 February is the culmination of the Block 3 (Year 9) project-based learning on the refugee crisis as well as the topic on racism. This project has made me and my fellow students think about the injustices faced by refugee worldwide every day, and wonder what we could do to help all these people in great need. Watching this film has changed our view on life and made us realise how lucky we are and how we must help those whose struggles are so great. During this project, we have not only learned about these challenging issues in modern day society, but we have also learnt about the processes of organising an event – from logistics to raising money for charities.
The RRN has valued this opportunity to collaborate with the pupils. The charity’s founder Julia Newton commented: “Bedales project-based learning has allowed our charity to engage a younger audience, something we’ve consistently struggled to do, despite us knowing that they care deeply about issues like refugees and climate change. We’ve then harnessed that engagement both to raise awareness of the plight of refugees and raise funds for the work Rural Refugee Network does resettling Syrian refugees in the UK.”
Bedales Director of Learning & Innovation Al McConville added: “It has been a privilege to collaborate with film-makers, charity leaders, and eager Bedalians on this project. This sort of learning, where pressing real world issues combine with academic study and practical teamwork, is definitely part of the future of education – although at Bedales it’s already here!”
For more information about this event and to purchase tickets, click here. Tickets are £10 and £5 for concessions, with additional donations welcome via the RRN’s JustGiving page.
To learn more about the valuable work of the Rural Refugee Network please visit their website at http://www.ruralrefugeenetwork.org/.