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World Refugee Day Festival 2012

In celebration of World Refugee Week, Melaleuca Refugee Centre will host a festival at the Jingili Water Gardens on Saturday 16th June from 2:00pm to 6:00pm.

A community event “with heart”, with powerful messages and an expression of arts and cultural identity new to the Territory. This is a celebration of the refugees who call Darwin home, bringing together the varied and vibrant cultures within our community. Highlights include a cultural village, world music, dance workshops, performances, story-telling, traditional costumes and crafts, food tasting from around the globe, and activities for the children. The day will focus on messages that champion human rights locally and globally.

World Refugee Week is a major annual event designed to inform the public about refugees and celebrate their contribution to Australian society. The theme this year is “Restoring Hope”. Refugees flee their homelands not only because they fear persecution, but also because they have hope: they hope to find freedom from persecution, and safety and security for themselves and their families; they hope to be given a chance to start a new life and recover from past trauma.

Australia is one of the countries that offers protection to refugees and provides them with an opportunity to rebuild their lives, restore hope for a future free from fear, persecution, violence and insecurity.

The theme also reflects the situation of refugees whose hopes have not been fulfilled.

The ultimate aim of the celebration is to create a better understanding between different communities.
“This event depends so much on the creative, enthusiastic participation of people from a refugee background who call Darwin home. I really notice the flow of good will between these new community members and the many people across Darwin who appreciate that and get involved themselves.” Ali Nur, Director of Darwin’s Melaleuca Refugee Centre.