With the refugee influx into Europe a recurring headline, it can seem that very little progress has been made in addressing the crisis. Millions have fled their homes seeking basic safety, yet they are being rejected entry across the European continent where in many cases countries are not fulfilling their obligations set out in the 

UWCSEA students Kevin, Elisa, Kartikay and Goya were inspired to create the group Voices of Refugees, and to work towards raising awareness of the plight of refugees, and their lack of access to basic human rights, following deeply personal responses to different situations over the summer of 2015.

Kevin moved from Germany to Singapore just as the current crisis started to unfold. He explains, ‘Merkel’s attitude and fight for taking in refugees, inspired and catalyzed me to fight for security of refugees, who are fleeing to our countries because the security in their own countries is not being ensured anymore.’

Goya, who participated in the 2014 European Youth Parliament, says that ‘while the political side was the initial trigger as I saw how awful the rules for refugees are’, her emotional response kicked in during that summer, as she witnessed first-hand evidence of the refugee crisis while travelling by train in Europe.

Kartikay’s journey started on the other side of the world. When working with Wateraid Delhi in 2014, he organised WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) classes in government schools in slum areas, and saw how the nearby refugee camp children were not allowed to attend schools or mingle with other slum children. He says, ‘Speaking to one Rohingya refugee, I realised they were denied basic human rights like drinking water from the same well as others, or the right to education.’ This motivated him to undertake further research on this global issue last summer. He came to the disturbing conclusion that it seemed like an insurmountable problem, ‘something that cannot be solved at all. In fact in various parts of the world like Syria, it is a living nightmare.’

Elisa, who followed the worsening situation in the media ‘grew more and more frustrated’ with the ‘them and us’ messages, ‘knowing that we are the same - all humans sharing this earth and I was shocked by our response.’ Her response was to set up a drama group, which explored the refugee crisis through various exercises from drama practitioners, to create a piece to share a message. Being able to do something, to take action and try to help the situation was very important to her.

Throughout the school year the students continued their work to raise awareness of the refugee crisis. By December, the group had devised a simulation based on the principle of Snakes and Ladders, following the long and treacherous journeys made by refugees into Europe. The East Campus plaza was transformed into a giant Snakes and Ladders board, and students rolled the dice to travel through the board, facing a number of often life-threatening challenges along the way. A QR code at the end of the game directed players to a website where there were suggestions of five things they could do to take immediate action to help refugees. While this was an effective way to raise awareness, the crisis in Europe was deepening and the group felt strongly that more direct action needed to be taken.

The result of their collective passion led the group, supported by two teachers, to devise a campus-wide event involving students as young as 7, as well as teachers and parents. Coinciding with World Refugee Day on 20 June 2016, the students staged a 12-hour letter writing marathon to contact governments around the world. Their aim was to produce hand-written letters, encouraging the adoption of policies welcoming refugees. In the end over 650 handwritten letters were dispatched to governments in the UK, Finland, Denmark, Germany and Estonia. These governments were chosen by the student organisers after research highlighted either that they had controversial policies, or that they had changed their policies,, or in the case of Germany, that they have done an excellent job and needed encouragement to continue.

The whole community was invited to participate. Several classes visited the exhibition in the main plaza and then discussed the issue in class, which spurred students to visit the event independently to express their views. Younger students came with their parents or their teachers. They used sample letters and templates to help them structure their ideas. In order to help older students prepare, the group also ran a workshop with a local writer on persuasive writing.

The group knew that the day had achieved its aim when they found themselves dragging extra tables and chairs from adjacent rooms to cope with the numbers of students coming to write letters. After all their hard work, it was incredible for them to see how many people cared about this issue, with many students and staff coming at 5am and returning after they had finished classes.

In reflecting on the day Elisa said, ‘helping a Grade 2 students to write a letter on her own was a highlight of the day ... Her genuine eagerness to write a whole letter - her first formal one - made the message even more powerful.’ Goya’s reaction reflects the deep connections with the cause that were made across all parts of the College, ‘Children do not think about self-interest in situations like this, they just care. Although you always hear ‘no one is born racist’ in moments like this I think sometimes we should just follow the children. [The line in a letter from Grade 1 student Tilly which read] “you made a promise” almost made me cry.’ Several students also commented on the learning that had taken place within themselves, ‘never mind whether our letters make the politicians think, they have made us think about this issue’ and that they felt well informed enough about the issue now to participate and make meaningful contributions to conversations that go on around them.

The event included Skype calls with refugees Mohammed Akel, who is in a refugee camp in Lebanon (and who will soon attend UWC Atlantic) and Wahid Bitar, a Syrian national committee member who attended d Pearson College UWC after fleeing his home country with his family. His father is now in the Netherlands and his mother and siblings in Turkey, waiting to join his father. Wahid’s story highlights the difficulties faced by refugees: he has been refused asylum in the Netherlands because he ‘broke his family bonds’ by taking up his scholarship to Pearson.

Karoline Popp, UWCSEA Dover (2000-2002) who is currently the Regional Liaison and Policy Officer at International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Cairo, Egypt also skyped with the participants to provide her perspectives on the situation. In her discussion, she touched on both the management of the situation and the importance of making an effort to make a personal contribution in response to a crisis that affects all of humanity.

A wealth of articles, videos and other information about the crisis were provided to participants. In the lead up, students prepared sample letters and fact sheets to support letter writers, and the ‘What’s In My Bag’ awareness raising exhibition in the plaza depicted refugees alongside the items they had chosen to bring with them as they fled for their lives. This was a powerful message for the community about the urgency of the issue and the severity of the challenges they are facing. This ‘Come and write’ video (produced by Tom Radford) also encouraged the UWCSEA community to get involved and lend their voice of support.

Eight other schools around the world joined the campaign, including UWC Changshu China, International School of Stuttgart, Aga Khan Mzizima Secondary School in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, GEMS Wellington Academy Silicon Oasis in Dubai, UAE, St Ursula's College in Toowoomba, Australia. Together, participants created a global community with a shared mission.

While they wait for the responses from the governments, the group is determined to continue fighting for human rights next year and while the main focus may be a different human rights based issue, they will continue to use the power of advocacy to fight for their beliefs and the rights of others.