Welcome to the C.R.A.C.

Some of our members have been active in attending some meetings and seminars that dealt with refugees and asylum seekers issues:

Monday, 20th June 2005: A Place to Call Home

A conference organised by Glamorgan University and held at Glamorgan Business Centre, University of Glamorgan. This conference aimed to promote a greater understanding between refugees, asylum seekers and host communities in South Wales. Representatives from the public, private and voluntary sector attended the conference. Three workshops took place in the afternoon:

Workshop 1: Reality and Myths. This workshop allowed participants to know more about what is like to be someone seeking asylum in the UK.

Workshop 2: Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Higher Education. It was aimed to give more information for refugees and asylum seekers who are interested in accessing HE or who are already in HE. For more details on this matter, please visit the HERAN website: www.heran.org.uk . For more information on education, Recognition for Qualification and Experience, and preparation for Employment, please visit the RAGU website: www.londonmet.ac..uk/asset. More information about other issues such as keeping healthy and coping with culture shock, can be found in the UKCOSA website: www.ukcosa.org.uk.

Workshop 3: Legislation and Implementation. It was an interactive session detailing with legislation at the local level, detailing benefits, rights and the impact on individuals.

 Tuesday 6th of September 2005: Employability forum Conference
The aim of the event is to develop a Welsh Refugee Employment Strategy.
      Organizers: Welsh Refugee Council, Employability Forum
      Venue: Millennium Centre, Cardiff
      Delegates from C.R.A.C: Dr Kebebush, Ms Anne Hubbard, Dr Debebe

Tuesday 13th September 2005: DRAFT CAPITALEARNING, Annual Recommendations for Learning 2006/07.

Capitalearning is a voluntary partnership comprising representatives of different post 16 learning and training provider communities, signposting agencies and other key stakeholders such as ELWA and Higher Education, whose common purpose is built around a shared commitment to ensure that all are able to fulfil their potential.

It was a good opportunity for the C.R.A.C. representative to raise awareness regarding refugees and asylum seekers education issues and to make our organisation known by other voluntary organisations and our services such as seminars. For more information on adult courses, please visit the website: www.cardiff.org.uk/learn.

 Wednesday 21st September: OVERSEAS QUALIFICATION DAY

Aim of the event: The aim of the event was to raise awareness of 
education 
opportunities in Cardiff for refugees and people from ethnic minority 
backgrounds who may have gained qualifications overseas and need advice 
about equating them to UK standards.

Organizers: South Riverside Community Development Centre in partnership 
with Welsh Refugee Council and UWIC.

UK NARIC  were  facilitating one of the workshop sessions. The UK NARIC 
is the national agency under contract to the Department for Education and 
Skills (DfES). They are the official source of information and advice 
on the comparability of international qualifications from over 180 countries 
worldwide with those in the UK

Delegates representing C.R.A.C:  Dr Kebebush Mulugeta and Debebe 
Legesse

Venue:  UWIC  Llandaff Campus

Wednesday 2nd November 2005: Mass Lobby for Trade Justice.

The C.R.A.C. members were present on the Mass Lobby for Trade Justice, which took place at Westminster to call on the UK Government to support a call to make poverty history by delivering trade justice not free trade. The participants had the opportunity to discuss the trade issues with their MPs. After the meeting, a visit to the House of Commons and the House of Lords was organised. For more information on the event, please visit the Trade Justice Movement website: www.tjm.org.uk .

Friday 11th November: UK Network for Academic Freedom Planning Meeting

The meeting was organised by the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics (CARA) and the Scholars at Risk Network or (SAR). The Attendees were representatives from Institute of International Education; Scholar Rescue Fund, British universities, Cymru refugees and Asylum Seekers Academic Council (C.R.A.C.), Centre for Human Rights; University of Galway, Trade Union, newspapers reporters, IIE Scholar Rescue Fund, and Scholars from different countries.

The meeting started by examining how the British universities are currently working with CARA and SAR to support refugees and other scholars at risk. The afternoon session was devoted to to explore the feasibility of forming a network of UK universities which are interested in contributing to this work as part of a growing international collaboration on the discussed issues.

For more information on the Scholars at Risk organisation, please visit their website: www.scholarsatrisk.nyu.edu. You can also find more information about the Scholar Rescue Fund on www.iie.org .

Saturday 19th November 2005: Refugee Communities History Project The aim of this event was to highlight the contribution that refugees make to London through the collection of oral history. Organizers: Evelyn Oldfield Unit in partnership with CARA, the Museum of London and London Metropolitan University Venue: Museum of London, Terrace Room Delegate from C.R.A.C: Dr Debebe Legesse

Monday 28th November 2005: Somali Book Fair

This book fair was organised by the Somali Integration Society in the aim of promoting Somali Poetry and Culture.

Organisers: Somali Integration Society, SCANSOM.COM Publishers, 2005 Cardiff, BBC Cymru Wales.

Venue: Cardiff Central Library

Delegates from C.R.A.C: Dr Kebebush Mulugeta, Dr Debebe Legesse, Zoulikha Zaidi.