WELCOME TO CYMRU REFUGEE & ASYLUM SEEKER ACADEMICS COUNCIL OR C.R.A.C.

 

Refugees have a legal right to live, to be educated and to work in the UK.  Asylum seekers should have the right to work but they are prevented from doing so; this forced inactivity means that they often loose their skills and the opportunity to contribute to the economy. Extended periods of forced inactivity has psychological effects, including making asylum seekers feel devalued and debased.

Britain is failing to tap into a wealth of expertise which would benefit vital areas of the economy by ignoring the talents of highly qualified refugees.  Many refugees with valuable skills in maths, economics, business, engineering, science and medicine - areas where Britain desperately needs more key workers - remain unemployed for extended periods of time, or their skills are under-utilised in low-level jobs, when they could be retrained and prepared for more suitable employment. Asylum seekers and refugees need support to ensure that their skills and talents are used for the benefit of themselves and the British society.

C.R.A.C. is an independent organisation based in Wales.  Our group aims to be inclusive, and we seek to provide direct assistance to asylum seekers and refugees with an academic background or an interest in higher education.  Our aims include:

  • Building the capacity of refugee and asylum seeker communities throughout Wales to embark upon or resume an academic career, to access appropriate training, or to work in their chosen profession.
  • Raising awareness of the professional status of many refugees and asylum seekers and the intellectual, social, cultural and economic contribution that they can make to the UK.
  • Providing a forum for academic debate and seminars, lectures and study visits to locations in the UK.
  • Providing information to refugees and asylum seekers about access to further and higher education.
  • Encourage networking between (academics) people from the refugee, asylum seekers and local communities throughout Wales.
  • Advocating and campaigning for provision of relevant opportunities for refugee academics to enable them to obtain appropriate jobs.
  • Liaison with other organisations in order to address the needs of our members

 C.R.A.C. is unique :

§         It is the only organisation of its kind in Wales: unlike many other refugee community organisations, our members are from different countries and continents, and includes members from the receiving community. Our unifying factor is our academic background or aspirations.

 C.R.A.C. is a link :

Skilled refugees or asylum seekers often simply need support in accessing further education or guidance to adapt their qualifications and skills to meet British requirements:

§         C.R.A.C provides a bridge between its members and the academic institutions in the UK.

§         As entry to university for members is part of our strategic goals, members of C.R.A.C have built links with Welsh academic institutions; for example, members have participated actively in the one-day research forum hosted by Glamorgan University which took place on the 7th December 2004, and facilitated two sessions. 'Ethnic Minorities and Higher Education', and 'How can refugees and asylum seekers meet the needs of universities'.

§         Members are working with the REAL project of Glamorgan University REAL, (Race and Ethnicity Access to Learning project) which aims to identify the needs and aspirations of minority ethnic communities in order to ensure that the University continues to widen participation.   

§         Local academics have given seminars to C.R.A.C. members, for example, on the history and culture of Wales.
 

 C.R.A.C. is ground-breaking!

§         Some of C.R.A.C. members have been selected to participate in an innovative work shadowing scheme with the Welsh Assembly Government, whereby participants have been shadowing Assembly Members.  This first experience has given Assembly Members an opportunity for dialogue with members of the refugee and asylum seeking community, raising awareness of their issues.  In turn, participating refugees and asylum seekers have learned about the political systems and structure of Wales. This scheme has taken place on the10th, 11th and 12th May 2005.  Partners in the scheme include, Welsh Refugee Council, the Welsh Local Authorities Consortium for refugees and asylum seekers and C.R.AC.

 C.R.A.C. encourages and supports its members:

§         Council members encourage and support each other to liaise with local and national media: for example, in August 2004 a journalist from the Times Higher Education Supplement attended a C.R.A.C. meeting. The T.H.E.S. is the premier magazine for the UK academic sector. As a result, the article 'I have things to give to this country but I am not allowed to' was published in the THES which can be found at  http://www.thes.co.uk . On publication of this story the group received many media enquiries and further interest was generated.

 C.R.A.C. provides information and advice:

§         On behalf of its members, C.R.A.C. has liaised with a variety of different agencies in order to solve issues around housing, education, employment and training.

§         C.R.A.C. provides information and advice to members of other refugee communities who intend to join higher and further educational institutions.
C.R.A.C. members are available for advice and support at the Welsh Refugee Council ((WRC), Pheonix House, 389 Newport road, Cardiff every Tuesday from 10-12pm. 

 C.R.A.C. aims to be proactive in working together with the receiving community :

§         By organising seminars and events which include members of the receiving community, we aim to provide a forum for cultural exchange and awareness raising.

§         By raising awareness to the local communities about refugee issues in general and council members problems in particular. For example

      - C.R.A.C. was present at the National Eisteddfod held in 2004.

      - The 'Eat and Greet' event was held to raise funds for destitute asylum seekers and was attended

         by members of the local community and C.R.A.C.

       - Justice and Peace: C.R.A.C members Dr Kebebush Mulugeta and Dr Debebe Legesse did

        facilitate one of  three workshops: "Insight into Displaced People".   

  

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