Guide the Syrian Refugee Crisis
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guide READINGS THAT MATTER The Syrian Refugee Crisis: Stories Beyond 4.5 HRS the Headlines ABOUT THIS GUIDE Assalamualaikum bring a group of friends and/or colleagues hello and peace together to reflect on your connections to the refugee experience, review the context Thank you for joining us. We’re glad to have of the crisis, and more deeply understand you! It’s a critical moment to understand the human stories behind the headlines. At the evolving refugee crisis. There is no the end of the discussion, your group can shortage of news about the unfolding show your support for refugees by crafting a situation in Syria, yet most of us haven’t welcome message and brainstorming deeper had an opportunity to hear from refugees ways get involved. themselves about their experiences. We invite you to take a stand with us to help +Acumen is thrilled to partner with Living change the dialogue and create a new story. On One and 1001 MEDIA to bring you this discussion guide. It aims to provide you with a closer look at this humanitarian crisis “As neighbors how we and provide opportunities for reflection, Syrian Refugee Crisis The choose to respond to this discussion, and action. This guide is built around an award-winning documentary, crisis, will affect all of us.” Salam Neighbor, that sheds light on the individual stories of enterprising Syrians —Zach Ingrasci and +ACUMEN who are adapting to their new lives and Chris Temple, filmmakers of moving forward amidst the challenges. Salam Neighbor This guide will provide all the tools you need to host a film screening and discussion within your community. You’ll be asked to 2 All use, reproduction and distribution of this work is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. HOW TO USE GUIDE Suggested steps to make the most out of this guide: 1. Complete Your Prep Work (1 hour) + Facilitators should complete both the facilitator prep work and the individual prep work. + Participants can skip to the individual prep work. 2. Screen the Film (~1.25 hours) The Syrian Refugee Crisis The 3. Group Discussion (2 hours) +ACUMEN + Perceptions vs. Reality (30-45 min) + Challenges and Shifting Roles (30-45 min) + Refugees as Agents, Not Aid Recipients (30-45 min) 4. Synthesize and Submit (30 min) Complete the final assignment and share on the Submission Board. Submit the final survey to earn your Statement of Accomplishment. 3 All use, reproduction and distribution of this work is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. 0. FACILITATORS: GETTING STARTED Once you know who will be in your discussion so that its message discussion group, use the checklist below to is fresh and more powerful. plan for your group discussion. You should host the screening in a quiet place like someone’s Pre-Meeting Checklist home or office. You’ll need strong Do you have access to the film? You can internet and the place should screen the movie for up to 20 people allow you to show the film on a using these links. You will need a strong large computer screen/TV or to internet connection to stream the film. project it on a wall. Make sure to test the film ahead of time! + Free: Use an existing Netflix account. The film is available in + If you’re watching the film 20+ languages. separately, make sure each individual is able to access and + Rent or buy: The movie is available watch it ahead of time. to rent or buy on Vimeo, iTunes, Amazon, and Google Play. + If you’re hosting a virtual meeting, also ask each person to watch the Screening for a larger audience than film before the discussion. Some Syrian Refugee Crisis The 20? Check out this link for more tools you can use for a virtual options, including how to bring a discussion are Skype, Google speaker from the Salam Neighbor team Hangouts, and appear.in. to your community. Make sure each person has gone +ACUMEN Watch the film ahead of time and make through the individual prep section sure to review all sections of this guide which includes a reflection exercise and before the discussion. Think about materials on the context of the crisis. your audience, and decide if you’ll cover all of the discussion questions, During the discussion, you’ll each be or focus on specific ones to guide the writing short responses on post-its to conversation. Plan if your group will create a mind map with your group. create a welcome message together or On the day of the meeting, make sure as individual assignments. to bring pens and post-its to write on, copies of the discussion guide, and Decide when and where will you host something to keep time with. We also your group meeting. suggest preparing a few snacks/drinks + We suggest watching the film for your group! together right before hosting your 4 All use, reproduction and distribution of this work is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. 1. PARTICIPANTS: GETTING STARTED A. Introduce Yourself to the Global B. Share an Interesting Resource or Article Community Have you come across other articles, videos, Check out the Community Board where you or interesting stories connected to the can add a note introducing yourself to other refugees crisis? Feel free to share relevant people around the world who are hosting links—along with your reflections or insights or participating in this discussion. Share about them on the board as well! a sentence or two about your background and why you are interested in taking this For example: learning experience. If you wish to find + Life on Hold (Interactive stories other team members, it can be helpful to from Al Jazeera) include your city and preferred contact + Syrian children are posting photos information so that other people can reach of Pokemon Go (Think Progress) out. + She Swam to Escape Syria. Now She’ll Swim in Rio (NY Times) The Syrian Refugee Crisis The +ACUMEN 5 All use, reproduction and distribution of this work is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. 1. PARTICIPANTS: REFLECTION C. Reflection We rarely pause to think deeper about how we’re connected to the news around us. Before the film and discussion, make sure to fill out our pre-discussion survey. Now, take 15 minutes to write down your reflections to the questions below. Or if you’d like, feel free to turn this into a drawing or mind-map instead! None of this is graded and you can write down short or long responses. This will help you take stock of what you already know, and understand your own interest and relationship to the issue. We encourage you to share these reflections with us on the community board! What I know about the crisis + What comes to mind when you think about the crisis, and what do you think has been the impact? + Where have you learned about the refugee crisis? What kind of story did these sources create in your mind about refugees? The Syrian Refugee Crisis The +ACUMEN How I relate to this issue + Have you ever met a refugee? What have you learned from them? + Refugees are often misunderstood in the communities where they resettle. Was there a time when you had to challenge a stereotype or misconception that someone had of you? How can that experience inform your understanding of what refugees are facing? 6 All use, reproduction and distribution of this work is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. 1. PARTICIPANTS: + June 2013: On behalf of dozens of aid organizations, the UN asks for the CONTEXT largest aid appeal in history, totaling $4.4 billion + September 2015: Photo of Aylan Kurdi, a 3 year old Syrian boy who died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea, stirs wider empathy and awareness of D. Understand the Context the crisis. Since the start of the civil war: + According to the UN, half of Syria’s Additional Resources population (13.5 million people) are in + Our refugee system is failing. Here’s need of humanitarian assistance. how we can fix it (TED) + As of June 2016, 4.7 million Syrians + Syria: the story of the conflict (BBC) are refugees outside of Syria, and + Quick Facts: What you need to know an additional 6.6 million people are about the Syria Crisis (Mercy Corps) internally displaced within the country. + The trauma filled tragedy of Syria’s + As you see in the map below, child refugees (theweek.com) neighboring countries have welcomed at least 4.7 million people, although + Syrian Refugees: Struggles in Turkey these host countries estimate that this intensify (Al Jazeera) number may be even higher. + If a Carrot for Jordan Works, Syrian Syrian Refugee Crisis The Refugees will Stay Put (NYTimes) Timeline + Meet the Syrian refugees who do not + March 2011: Dubbed the “day of rage” dream of Europe (Al Jazeera) by activists, peaceful protests against +ACUMEN the government in Syria led to a crackdown by President Assad’s forces. + May 2011: First camps for refugees open in Turkey. + Summer 2012: Fighting escalates into a civil war and rebels take over Syria’s largest city, Aleppo. + March 2013: Number of Syrian refugees reach 1 million, half of them children. 7 All use, reproduction and distribution of this work is subject to a CC-BY-NC-ND license. 2. FILM SCREENING 2. Film Screening (2 hours) B. Watch Our Welcome Message If you are the facilitator, use the steps below to welcome your group before showing the film. A. Welcome Facilitator: Welcome your group to Salam Neighbor and thank them for coming.