RAPAR - Events

Lecture from RAPAR's Dr Rhetta Moran in Dublin

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 05:36:24 -0800

- People Seeking Asylum, Racism and the State
- Experiences of effective resistance from the UK

Dr Rhetta Moran, RAPAR (Refugees and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research), Manchester
Public talk, Tuesday 24th April, 7.30 TCD, Áras an Phiarsaigh (Pearse House) Room 0.09
Click here for directions

Grounded in over 10 years of participatory action research as - and with - people seeking asylum, Rhetta will offer an overview of the theoretical framework that underpins RAPAR (www.rapar.org.uk), a human rights organisation based in the city centre of Manchester and extending throughout the UK and into Ireland. Some examples will follow that demonstrate how people who have been failed by the State via the asylum system have gone on to resist through RAPAR. By working collectively to stop their own persecution and secure their safety, these cases model ways of exposing and transforming actions, fashioned by the State, that are as dangerous as they are inherently racist. Another world is possible...

The event is free and all are welcome.

Co-hosted by:
MPhil In Race, Ethnicity, Conflict, Department Of Sociology, Trinity College Dublin
http://www.tcd.ie/sociology/ethnicracialstudies/

and

NUIM MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism
http://ceesa-ma.blogspot.com

For further information contact:
Laurence Cox Laurence.Cox@nuim.ie
David Landy dlandy@tcd.ie 085 7121058

Mary Adenugba's Official Campaign Launch - Friday 30th March, 7pm, Cross Street Chapel

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:11:37 -0800

Join us for the official launch of Mary Abenugba's campaign on:
Friday 30th March, 7pm until 9pm
Cross Street Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester, M2 1NL.

* Invited speakers include: Mary Adenugba (RAPAR), Tony Lloyd MP, Rev. Jane Barraclough, Zeinab Mohamed (RAPAR) and UNITE the Union.
* The Manchester Community Choir will be singing and food will be provided, courtesy of Zeinab Mohamed.
*There will also be a 15 minute dance workshop from Afrocats.

Everyone welcome!

Download a PDF version of the leaflet for this event here. For additional information or to RSVP, please contact Helen at helen@rapar.org.uk.
To read more about Mary's campaign and find out what else you can do to help, visit her campaign page.

You can view pictures from this event on Mary's campaign page.

Vahidi Brothers Run for RAPAR in the BUPA Great Manchester Run 2012

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:07:52 -0800

Vahidi Brothers Run For RAPAR
BUPA Great Manchester Run, Sunday 20th May 2012

Farhad (left) and Farid (right)

Iranian brothers Farid and Farhad Vahidi have signed up to run for RAPAR in the BUPA Great Manchester Run! This premier 10k running event, which will take place on Sunday 20th May 2012, attracts over 35,000 runners each year, on a course which passes some of the most famous architectural buildings and metropolitan areas in Manchester city centre.

Both Farid and Farhad were introduced to RAPAR in 2010, after their family had been forced to leave Iran and seek asylum in the UK (read more about the family's campaign here). The two brothers have been closely involved in RAPAR ever since - Farhad was the first person to plant an Anne Frank rose in the UK and Farid is a RAPAR leadership group member.

Farid: 'We are members of an asylum seeker family whom have received massive amount of help from RAPAR during our asylum process. Gladly we are in a more stable situation now and we decided to volunteer to run and raise money for RAPAR so that this human rights organisation can continue its work to achive equal human rights.'

Farid and Farhad need YOUR help to raise as much money as possible for RAPAR. Sponsor the Vahidi brothers on their MyDonate profile: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/vahidibrothers

Alternatively, if you are interested in getting involved and running on behalf of RAPAR (or if you have any other queries), please contact Sara at: sara@rapar.org.uk.
You can walk, jog or run – the choice is yours!

• WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET INVOLVED AND FUNDRAISE FOR RAPAR?
1. Contact our fundraising coordinator Sara (sara@rapar.org.uk).

2. Go to the Bupa Great Manchester Run website and enrol online.

3. Register with MyDonate to create your own fundraising page and start your fundraising for RAPAR! After creating your profile you can start to fundraise for RAPAR's event 'RUN FOR RAPAR!', which you are able to find under RAPAR's own profile in MyDonate (see link to this page below).

YOU CAN MAKE A DONATION TO RAPAR AT ANY TIME by visiting the RAPAR mydonate charity profile page.

Please click here to listen to Farid's interview with BBC Radio Manchester.

PUBLIC MEETING on 4TH MARCH: 'Educating Our Children - Somali Families' Issues And Concerns'

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:51:50 -0800

PUBLIC MEETING on SUNDAY 4TH MARCH:
'Educating Our Children - Somali Families' Issues And Concerns'

RAPAR is hosting a Public Meeting; 'Educating Our Children - Somali Families' Issues And Concerns' in partnership with the Somali Men's Forum. The meeting will take place on Sunday 4th March in the Main Hall of the Friends Meeting House, Manchester at 5.30pm. This is a Public Meeting and everyone is welcome!

You can download a PDF copy of this leaflet here. Or download a copy of the evening's agenda here.

Planting The Rose: Reflections From Farid

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:39:59 -0800

Planting The Rose: Reflections From Farid
January 2012

Farhad and Farid Vahidi

There was a ceremony of planting the Anne Frank Rose for the first time in the UK in The Manchester Jewish Museum on the eve of holocaust memorial day 2012. This rose which is a tribute to Anne Frank, holocaust victims and a symbol of standing through hardships faced by refugees, was planted by my brother Farhad Vahidi; a young Iranian asylum seeker who is 19 years of age and has been an asylum seeker since he was 14.

Unlike Anne Frank he survived to his adulthood through a childhood which involved him fleeing his home country, living as an asylum seeker along with his family, going on the run from the UKBA and being detained only one week after he turned 18. After the rose was planted, I read the following poem to the present crowd:

Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you've no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.

This is a poem written by Saadi, a Persian poet, about 800 years ago and it expresses what every human right activist fights for. You can find out more about him at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadi_%28poet%29

As an asylum seeker and a human right activist I picked this poem to:
· Show what an ideal world is to me.
· Say that all human beings should work together to have a world without borders.
· Express that episodes of history such as the holocaust should not happen again to any human being and whatever the problems are, war and killing are not a solution for it, as these both put humankind through pain.

Click here to see photographs from the Anne Frank rose planting ceremony, which took place on 26th January 2012.

YOUNG RAPAR REFUGEE TO PLANT ANNE FRANK ROSE AT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY EVENT

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:13:03 -0800

RAPAR
The Manchester-based Human Rights organisation working with displaced people

PRESS RELEASE
January 19th 2012

YOUNG RAPAR REFUGEE TO PLANT ANNE FRANK ROSE AT HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY EVENT

Rose planting will take place at the Jewish Museum, Manchester, on Thursday, January 26, 1.30pm
Premiere of Souvenir d'Anne Frank to be held on Holocaust Memorial Day itself, Friday, January 27th, Zion Arts Centre, Hulme, Manchester

A young RAPAR refugee will plant the first Anne Frank Rose in the UK at a Holocaust Memorial Day event on Thursday, January 26th.

Nineteen year old Farhad Vahidi, who is from Iran and is seeking asylum in the UK with his family, will plant the rose at the Jewish Museum garden in Manchester. His older brother Farid will read a poem at the event which begins at 1.30pm.

Following a welcome address by Max Dunbar, chief executive of the Jewish Museum, there will be speeches by Manchester city councllor Rabnawaz Akbar, Adam Kirkby from the Anne Frank Trust, and Rhetta Moran of RAPAR.

The premiere of Ensemble Theatre Company's Souvenir d'Anne Frank - a production of music, poetry, performance and song which tells the story of the rose - will be held the following evening on Holocaust Memorial Day itself (January 27th) at the Zion Arts Centre, Hulme, Manchester. The rose, which was grafted from a rose made in the year of Anne's birth and another made in the year of her death, was created in Europe in 1960.

At the planting ceremony, Azusa Ono, from Ensemble, will tell the story of the rose in Japan. It is grown by schoolchildren throughout the country and in the peace gardens at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The rose in Japan is the result of a bush sent by Anne Frank's father Otto to a young Japanese girl Michiko who had written to him after she had read his daughter's famous Diaries. Michiko's uncle was responsible for the spread of the Anne Frank rose throughout Japan.

A minute's silence will be held after Farhad Vahidi plants the rose in the Jewish Museum's garden and then children from Birchfields Primary School will tie their remembrances on a Remembering Tree. Poems will be read by the children and by members of RAPAR, and Elizabeth Mansfield of Ensemble will sing Anne Frank's “Give”.

The premiere performance of Souvenir d'Anne Frank on Friday, January 27th , is to be followed by a panel discussion which will include Dr Rhetta Moran, of RAPAR. Part of the proceeds from the evening will go to RAPAR.

Elizabeth Mansfield, of Ensemble, said Anne Frank roses sent from Japan will eventually be planted across the UK.

“We hope the roses will leave a legacy of hope and peace in memory of Anne and her longing for a tolerant, conflict-free world,” Elizabeth added.

Rhetta Moran, of RAPAR, said: "Anne Frank was a child killed by adults who created the Holocaust and who justifed their actions through Nazi ideology. It is fitting that the rose is being planted in the UK for the first time in the North West of England by a young refugee who - unlike Anne - survived to adulthood through a childhood during which his family had to flee from persecution. This is our symbol of hope alongside the rose itself, as is Farhad's continuing struggle, together with his family, friends and communities, to create a world where we never forget the lessons of that history and we fight for a better future for our children."

For more information, please contact:
Rhetta Moran 07776264646
Kath Grant 07812471047

26th January: Young refugee from RAPAR will plant Anne Frank rose in the UK for the very first time

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:51:50 -0800

26th January:
Young refugee from RAPAR will plant Anne Frank rose in the UK for the very first time

An inspirational new theatre and music production, which tells the story of the Souvenir d'Anne Frank rose, is to premiere at the Zion Arts Centre as part of Holocaust Memorial Week. This extraordinary story tells the tale of a rose, sent by Anne's father, Otto, to a friend in Japan, dedicated to Anne's memory in the years after WWII. The rose was planted in towns and cities across Japan as a symbol of peace and reconciliation. Coupled with the music of Colin Decio and stories told in the words of Anne and Otto Frank, this moving production brings East and West together, reminding us of the tragedies of war from an international perspective. Souvenir d'Anne Frank roses will also, for the very first time, be planted in cities across the UK in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, and in recognition of the current hardships faced by refugees and asylum seekers. A young refugee from RAPAR will plant the first of these roses outside the Manchester Jewish Museum on the 26th January at 1.30pm. If anyone is interested in attending this event, please contact Helen via. hjr61@hotmail.com.

Souvenir d'Anne Frank will preview at the Zion Arts Centre on Saturday 21st January 2012 (7.30pm). The post show panel discussion will include representation from RAPAR.
The premiere performance will follow on Friday 27th January (7.30pm) - some of the proceeds from this performance, and a collection on the night, will go to RAPAR.
Additional performances: Saturday 28th (7.30pm), Friday 3rd (1.00pm) and Saturday 4th February (7.30pm).
Tickets can be booked via Zion Arts Centre Box Office.

Click to listen to RAPAR's Farid Vahidi on BBC Radio Manchester, talking to Mike Shaft about our involvement in this event. Listen from 1:21:00 to 1:29:50 for the full interview.

RAPAR on Radio: Interview of Liz Mansfield and Farid Vahidi with Mike Shaft on BBC Radio Manchester.

RAPAR FOOTBALL TEAM NEWS

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0800

First game: Sunday 19th of September at Whitworth Park
Kick off: 2:00pm

Would you like to play football but don’t always have enough people to play with? Would you like to make new friends with people living around Manchester who also enjoy playing football?

RAPAR would like to invite you to take part in our first ever friendly football match on Sunday 12th September at 2:00pm in Whitworth Park. Everyone of all ages and abilities are welcome, you don’t have to be as good as Paul Scholes or Wayne Rooney!

Whitworth Park is located on Wilmslow Road just South of Manchester city centre (See map: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps/place?cid=11415072015167241323&q=whitworth+park+google+maps&hl=en&cd=1&cad=src:pplink&ei=cFR2TJDvIZjPjAfkrOTuBA ) We will be playing on the Moss Lane East side of the park on the grass closest to Manchester Academy High School.

Lots of busses stop near the park and it is 40 minutes walk from Piccadilly Gardens. To find out the easiest route from your home via public transport you can use the Travel line Journey Planner: http://www.traveline-northwest.co.uk/cms/welcome.xhtml
In the ‘Travel now’ section enter your own postcode in the ‘From’ box and M15 6ER in the ‘To’ box.

Alternatively you can meet at the RAPAR offices in Friends Meeting House at 1:15pm and catch a bus to the park as a group.

If you have any questions about this please contact Tom Lavin on 07892832540 or send an email to tom.lavin@rapar.org.uk.

If you intend to play could you please send a text or email to let us know so we can plan for numbers.

Best wishes,

Tom Lavin

Fringe Meeting Trades Union Council Congress

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 09:26:09 -0800

If you are worried about the impact public sector cuts and pay freezes will have on service delivery, morale and our communities...

Come to this meeting, for TUC delegates, local trades unionists and anyone else wanting to defend public services...

"Defend Public Services...
Prevent Privatisation"

Tuesday 14th September - 5.30pm
Friends Meeting House, Mount Street, Manchester
Catering by RAPAR

Speakers include:

Christine Blower, Gen Sec, NUT
Billy Hayes, Gen Sec, CWU
Mark Serwotka, Gen Sec, PCS
Matt Wrack, Gen Sec, FBU

All TUC Delegates and Trades Unionists Welcome!
Enquiries: 07714337402 www.manchestertuc.org

Trades Union and Campaign Stalls appreciated (must be booked)

TUC OFFICIAL FRINGE MEETING

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 05:05:10 -0800

Greater Manchester UAF Members and Friends - September's Mcr UAF Mtg is at the Trades Union Congress, in Mcr...

How we continue to resist the
BNP and the EDL

6.00 -7.30pm
Monday 13th September

TUC Official Fringe Meeting,
Main Hall,
Mechanics Institute
103 Princess Street
Manchester
M1 6DD

This is a great opportunity to participate in discussion with some of the Trade Union leaders and Trades Union Congress delegates from all over the country who will be in Manchester alongside the two National Joint Secretaries of UAF.

There'll be leaflet for this event on the Mcr UAF website. Please circulate it as far and wide as you can and make sure that you come to the meeting yourself.

Keep a close eye on our website...
http://manchesteruaf.org