helping refugees around the world was deeply moving and thought-provoking – what it is like to put yourself on the front line and how difficult for those who find them- selves needing this support. Our pupils had lots to ask, and learned about the opportunities available for us to support their vital work. A truly special moment during Refugee Week occurred on the cricket pitch, when the 1st XI welcomed the Dulwich Cricket Club Snow Leopards, a team of Afghanistani ref- ugees, for a T20. Dulwich College batted first and posted an impressive 210–4, with Henry Gooderham (Year 12) top scoring with 44. The Snow Leopards played aggres- sively as Mudasir Amin scored 54 to keep them in the game. However, Hugo Richards (Year 12) took 2 wickets in an over which proved the decisive blow and led to Dulwich College winning by 46 runs. It was a memorable evening with plenty of skilful cricket on show. Assemblies welcomed 7W’s performance of a dance the- atre piece for Refugee Week. Pupils created some striking images to show people fleeing, a dramatic boat journey and some hard-hitting facts about refugees. Year 7 car- ried on assembly themes in Art, working collaboratively to produce ‘You Are Here’ – abstract drawings which use the language of maps to tell stories about themselves and their views of the world. As layers were added in different colours and materials, so too were stories and conver- sations between students about journeys, exploring the shaping and reshaping of borders, and trying to capture the complex and multifaceted experience of displace- ment. Year 8 worked with clay, passing loose forms from person to person, taking impressions of hands and skin to produce gradually recognisable human forms. ◉
The power of storytelling as a way to create compassion with others was evident through the ‘Reader to Read- er’ sessions during the week. Year 12 prefects visited DUCKS and the Junior School, sharing stories centred around the theme of refugees, while Year 6 students shared the refugee stories they had written in their Eng- lish lessons with Year 4 pupils. The collaborations were heartwarming, and the stories showcased creativity and empathy. Year 6 students also attended a talk by Kieran and Kar- leen from AFRIL (Action for Refugees in Lewisham), the charity they were supporting through their community action project. A small group of boys did a superb job of helping at the AFRIL sports day, and they went on to run fundraising stalls for the charity on Service Day. BioMedSoc welcomed the ‘ordinary yet extraordinary’ Hanadi Katerji who works for Médicins Sans Frontières (MSF). Hanadi’s account of the invaluable work she does ‘It was eye-opening to listen to the presentation by Amy of My Start, learning about Kakuma refugee camp, how it came to be and about the people who lived there. Having an address, a small thing that is taken for granted in the UK, and forms part of our identity, is not something that residents at Kakuma have; their association is the block they live in. It was fascinating to find out how many inhabitants have artistic talent, how former Kakuma residents have gone on to pursue successful careers, how diverse Kakuma is and, importantly, how people come together and maintain their culture.’ Kibilly Suso (Year 13)
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