To mark the opening of the Where the Children Sleep exhibition, ASHM will host an education fair to connect people with the refugee community. Speakers will share their personal experiences and refugee aid groups from the greater Philadelphia area will be on site to let you know how you can help with this important human rights issue.
Refugee aid groups from the greater Philadelphia region will be on site to meet with members of the public and let them know what their organization does and how people can get involved. Confirmed participating organizations include American Red Cross, HIAS Pennsylvania,Emergencybnb, Books Not Bombs, Mural Arts Philadelphia, African Family Health Organization AFAHO, William Way LGBT Community Center, The Office of Adult Education PHL Adult Education, and Bethanna.
The “How Can I Help?” Fair will also feature opening remarks from a senior official from UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, film screenings, art works created by Philadelphia area refugee and immigrant students, advocacy phone call & letter writing centers, inspiration station, and more.
At 11:30 am, Carina Bergfeldt – Washington based U.S. Correspondent for Swedish Television and one of the two journalists behind the exhibition Where the Children Sleep – will speak about her personal experiences as a reporter working directly with refugees in Europe and the Middle East.
In addition, the Refugee Women's Textile Initiative (RWTI), a cooperative learning and start-up business initiative sponsored by Mural Arts Philadelphia designed to build on the creative skills and cultural traditions brought to the United States by refugee women in Philadelphia, will be on site to site to sell unique crafts.
Iraqi artist Abdulkarim Awad will also join us at the 'How Can I Help?' Fair. Abdulkarim makes really amazing woven and sewn tapestries of script and passages from the Koran, a skill he learned as a young boy in Iraq which has served as a coping mechanism to survive being a prisoner of war. Abdulkarim will host an information table at the Fair to discuss his experiences and display his art.
The “How Can I Help?” Fair will take place at the American Swedish Historical Museum in South Philadelphia, and the education fair and admission to the Museum is free throughout the day. The ASHM Auxuliary Club will have food and snacks available for purchase, and MILK + SUGAR will be selling awesome treats from their sweet truck that will be parked in front of the Museum during the event.
This is a free event and preregistration is not required.