This week is Refugee Week, an annual national festival that celebrates the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and those seeking sanctuary. We invite our Festival-goers to stand in solidarity with those who have fled persecution, conflict and the hardships caused by climate change, and celebrate the contribution refugees have made to the richness of our culture and society.
Here are ten things you can do at Glastonbury to mark Refugee Week and stand shoulder to shoulder with those seeking freedom, human rights and refuge with us.
Tune in to the rhythm of life
Hosted by War Child’s Club Music fundraising platform, The Right To Dance, Migrant Footprint celebrates the intersection of music and migration, exploring how sounds have been disseminated, communities built, ideas shared and perspectives changed.
— The Information, Silver Hayes; Saturday 2.30pm
Make some noise
White Ribbon Alliance – who work for the health and rights of women and girls across the globe – are hosting a Solidarity tent in The Park. Come up for a visit and meet refugee Diana Sefora Flores Gallardo and her daughter, María, hear their story and demand action from world leaders on the health rights and wellbeing of young refugees.
— The Park; throughout the Festival
Stand with Ukraine
Get down the front for Ukrainian all-female rockers, The Sixsters, who open the new Woodsies stage in style with their barrelling nu-metal riffs.
— Woodsies Stage; Friday 11.30am
Sign on the dotted line
Visit Oxfam’s Tent next to the Pyramid stage to join their campaign for climate justice for all communities, including refugees, displaced and marginalised people.
— Pyramid Stage; throughout the Festival
Experience a misadventure
Join Tom Daly from Bristol Refugee Rights and Kate Evens as they discuss their ‘Choose Your Misadventure’ Comic about the UK asylum system.
— Comics Without Borders, Green Fields, Speakers Forum; Sunday 5pm
Come together
Take part in Shangri-La’s People’s Assembly on Climate and hear from passionate speakers about how to make a world of difference.
— Nomad Stage, Shangri-La; Sunday 5pm
Cherish yourself
Show yourself some compassion with revitalizing yoga.
— Humblewell, The Park; 8.30am daily.
Join the debate
Come and hear all sides and decide for yourself: Can We Save the NHS? With Migrants Organise, We Own It, Dr Sonia Adesara, Dr Rosena Allin-Khan MP and Minnie Rahman.
— Left Field; Saturday, 1.30pm
Feel the joy
Be transported with the effervescent freedom calls of the prodigious Star Feminine Band. These seven young women from Benin, aged between 12 and 19, make inspirational and infectious music which calls for optimism, unity for all peoples and the rights of African Women – wherever they may be in the world.
— West Holts stage, Friday, 11.30am
Visit the local library
Unravel the refugee experience and empathize with the displaced through a book from the Somerset Library, nestled near the Wood.
— Somerset Library, Woodsies; throughout the Festival.
