A Day in the Life of a Refugee

The word “refugee” seems far from our students who live in this peaceful part of the world, and we hear “refugee” mostly from the television or newspapers. Students may not even have any idea about how the life of refugees is like. In view of the continued crisis in Syria, on 11^th March afternoon, Stanley Ho East Asia College (SHEAC) organised 18 students to take part in a simulation workshop where they spent four hours in refugees’ shoes, so as to reflect on people who live on the same earth but are suffering from wars.

As Macau’s first large-scale simulation event with a theme of refugees, “Without a Home in the World: A Day as Refugees” was jointly organised by Oxfam and Bosco Youth Service Network in St. Joseph Seminary and Church. Participants played the role of Syrian refugees, they tried to avoid being killed by militants, and even fled to neighboring Jordan, or were sent to stay in refugee camps. They had to overcome different hardships on the way. SHEAC students actively took part in the process of becoming a refugee. Before the workshop started, participants had to hand over all their belongings, a simulated identity card was given to each of them while headscarves to female as well. The initial setting was before the civil war broke out in Syria, so everyone was happy to go to the bazaar to enjoy some traditional handcraft learning activities.

Suddenly, all the lights went off. A group of masked militants attacked the bazaar, they were rude to the “people” and forced them to take off their shoes and go out and make a tent with bamboo poles. After the event, one of the students expressed, four of them were forced to squeeze in the tent, which was uncomfortable for those who were a bit bigger. Then the armed men taught the students to make slippers with water bottles. The size of the water bottles was uneven. Some of the male participants with large feet felt uncomfortable walking with these slippers. Participants were also forced to do some labour, such as cutting apples and picking beans. After a series of experiential activities, participants gathered to share their thoughts and reflection, and learned more about the lives of and difficulties facing refugees in Syria and other parts of the world.

Students said that, through the refugee simulation workshop, they became emphatic for refugees’ powerlessness and bitterness, losing liberty and being manipulated like a robot by militants every day. They also believed that this event has motivated them to cherish what they have now and live in the moment; and hope for world peace, refugees are no longer refugees, everyone can enjoy a better future!

Written by:

Portuguese Studies, Year 1 Student, Chen Yongxin, Cathy (English)

Primary Education, Year 1 Student, Wu Mei Iok, Miko (Chinese)

 

 

當一天難民

「難民」一詞離我們的學生好像很遠很遠，聽到「難民」一詞大多都來自電視或者報章，甚至沒有概念難民是怎樣生活的。鑑於敘利亞持續的人道危機，何鴻燊東亞書院於三月十一日（星期六）為十多位同學提供了一個機會去體驗當一天難民，讓活在和平國度的大家反思身在同一個地球上但飽受戰亂的人們的處境。

「難民想家《天地無家》— 當一天難民」由樂施會及鮑思高青年服務網絡合辦，於澳門聖若瑟修院舉行，是澳門首個以難民為主題的大型模擬體驗活動。參加者代入敘利亞難民角色，為逃避武裝分子殺害，甚至逃亡至鄰國約旦，被安排進難民營，途中他們需要克服不同的危機和艱辛。書院同學們都積極參與其中，體現一番當難民的滋味。活動前收取了同學們身上的所有財物，給全體派發一個模擬的身份證，派發頭巾給女生，大家搖身一變成為還是生活正常的敘利亞人，隨後樂在其中的走去了「市集」學習當地的傳統手工。

突然，燈光一黑，武裝分子衝擊市集，並對「人民」語言粗暴且強迫他們把鞋子脫掉趕出去用竹子竿弄一個帳篷。有參與其中的同學後來表示被迫要四個人擠進帳篷，對身形健壯的人來說這種感覺是很不舒服的。接下來武裝分子教參加者用水瓶做拖鞋，水瓶大小參差不齊，有些腳大的男士穿上覺得行走不便。隨後就被迫去做一些勞力活動，例如切蘋果、揀豆。經過一系列體驗活動後，參加者齊聚一堂，分享他們的想法和反思，並進一步了解敘利亞和世界其他地區難民的生活和面對的困境。

同學們都覺得此次難民營體驗，讓他們體會到作為難民的苦不由衷，只能像機器人一樣沒了自由，每天都被武裝分子操控。他們表示會更懂得珍惜現在所擁有的，活在當下；也希望世界和平，讓難民不再是難民，每個人都可以享受更好的未來！

 

撰寫:

小學教育系一年級學生 胡美玉（中文）

葡語研究學系一年級學生 陳泳欣（英文）