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Sept
Knaresborough exhibition shares stories of refugees
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A new exhibition is set to open in Knaresborough, sharing the stories of local refugees.
The photographic exhibition, Under One Sky, is made up of portraits and interviews with 29 legally settled refugees from Harrogate, Knaresborough, Ripon and Nidderdale.
The refugees were interviewed using the same set of questions, and shared the story of the journeys they made and their hopes for the future.
Sue Eland, project co-ordinator and refugee mentor, said:
During the interviews we were often moved to tears. It was truly humbling that these brave people felt they could trust us with their stories.
We hope that anyone visiting the exhibition will go away with a better understanding of what it is like to have no choice but to suddenly leave your family, your home and your country, and make a new life in a very different culture. For most of us, we will never be faced with a situation where we have to do this.
Participants were also asked to share one item that is meaningful to them. Credit: Laura Mate.
The idea for the exhibition began with a conversation over coffee in a café in Pateley Bridge. While listening to one refugee talk about their experiences and seeing their growing confidence, project co-ordinators Sue Eland and Sue Parsons began to think about how others might also be given the opportunity to share their stories.
Following a successful proposal to North Yorkshire Council and further support from local organisations, the pair began finding participants through refugee groups and classes across the area.
Under One Sky will be exhibited at Gracious St. Methodist Church, Knaresborough, from October 30 to November 4, and will be open 10am to 3pm each day.
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