Where: Balanga Restaurant in 78 Gordon Street BD1 3PT

When: Friday 29 October starting 330pm

Bradford Refugee Forum in partnership with Forster Community College, Holmewood Ethnic Minorities, Parity Associates and Trescom is organising a black history month community event at Balanga Restaurant in  78 Gordon Street BD1 3PT on Friday 29 October starting 330pm.  This is the first time the Refugee Forum is packaging such event which is aimed at recognising black cultural heritage and applauding the achievements of black icons that have successfully integrated into the communities in which they live.  The theme of the event is Promoting Inclusion and Community Cohesion Through Use of Positive Images of Black Cultural Heritage.

Black History Month originated in the USA where it has been celebrated in February of each year beginning 1926.  Comparable celebrations in UK began around 1987 and since then the month of October has been set aside for this purpose.   The event at Balanga Restaurant will see performances by Afro-Caribbean music groups such as Kwame D and Say It Loud and entertainment provided by a wide array of DJs that include Kath Canoville – Global Meltdown, Tareck Ghonheim – Sticks and Stones, Banaris Iqbal – Asian Beats and Jerry Crawford – Reggae.  Two black icons expected to speak at the event are Ben Mussanzi who is originally from Congo and is now Director of Conflict Resolution Centre in Bradford and Beatrice Botomani who leads the Bradford Women’s Network and is also secretary of the Bradford Refugee Forum.

Free Afro-Caribbean and Polish food will be provided.  This is a family event and everybody is welcome.  People are encouraged to wear ethnic clothing if they can and if weather allows.   Further information can be obtained from Bradford Refugee Forum Vice Chairperson Virginie Lusandu on virginielusandu7@hotmail.com or via the Forum’s website on info@bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk

Contact Person: Ms. Beatrice Botomani
Organisation Name :  Bradford Refugee Forum
Telephone Number : 07900855722
Fax Number: 01274 730 761
Email Address: info@bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk / Beatrice@bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk

Web site address: http://www.bradfordrefugeeforum.org.uk/

 “Bradford to host first Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers Conference.”

To be held on the 11^th November, 2010 at the Carlisle Business centre, Bradford from 9am -1400 hours (Travel Expenses up to £3.50 provided including Lunch)

Bradford Refugee Forum has, for the first time ever, organised a conference for all women refugees and asylum seekers living in Bradford which will take place on 11^th November, 2010 at Carlisle Business Centre,  60 Carlisle Road, Bradford, BD8 8BD.  The aim of the conference is to bring women refugees and asylum seekers together under the umbrella of Bradford Refugee Forum in order to enhance the Forum’s inclusive agenda and to enable the women themselves to take ownership of their problems and solutions.  Specifically, the conference will provide an outlet for women asylum seekers and refugees to discuss and define their needs and expectations; and explore innovative ways and programmes for meeting those needs taking into account the need to strive for community cohesion and gender balance and engage partners in the private, statutory and voluntary community sectors including funders and service providers for purposes of working together to improve the quality of life for women asylum seekers and refugees and to create a sustainable organisation.

The Theme of the conference is “Empowering Women Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Bradford”.

During the day there shall be several organisations present and community members from Bradford and across Yorkshire and Humber and some from London to support the women refugees and asylum seekers such as Immigration Advice Service, OXFAM, Northern Refugee Centre,  Horton Housing, Our Project, HALE Project, Legal Aid, City of Sanctuary Bradford, Bradford Immigration and Asylum Seekers Network (BIASAN), Bradford Action for Refugees, ABL, etc), offering advice, and assistance.

 Included in the day’s events are two keynote speakers namely ,the CEO of Northern Refugee Centre Mr. Jim Steinke and (Aynalim/Elizabeth Benson, woman refugee) .  Other activities shall include various workshops providing an outlet for expression and recognition. These include five workshops in the following areas:

• Destitution and Poverty
• Housing
• Health and Well Being
• Immigration (process and legal aid)
• Children and Women (including maternity)

It is hoped that in the long run, the conference’s work will help lay a firm foundation for creating a voice for women asylum seekers and refugees in Bradford and in defining pathways for greater access to essential services.

In her dream, Beatrice Botomani, the initiator of this conference and secretary of Bradford Refugee Forum says, “this is the beginning or foundation of a vibrant and proactive women refugee community which will result in the launch of Why Refugee Women Campaign which is hopefully to be launched in March during the International Women’s Day Event, 2011.  She said, airing the problems and concerns which this minority group has will set a basis of empowerment and confidence within them.  With the support that they will receive from the community and the service providers present on this day, a sense of feeling that they have got to do something will be developed, they have got to voice out even more and more and saturate the airwaves of the Bradford community about who they are and what type of life they have been and are going through and how they picture their future and that they need the community to understand them, and support them”.

To facilitate this, it is important that the women refugees and asylum seekers be provided with the right information at the right time and right place to enable them to make informed choices.  To achieve this different service providers will set up Information Shopping Stalls at which conference delegates (refugees and asylum seekers) will access wanted information and engage themselves directly with the service providers. 

Due to the diversified nature of the  Asylum seeking and refugee community already prepared interpreted information pack in different languages will be available and where possible  assistance to interpret shall be available throughout the day.

 In the frame of 50^th Anniversary of the Independence of 17 African states in 2010:

 The Centre Resolution Conflicts (CRC) of Bradford,

In partnership with Foster Community College (FCC)’s Health Creation Bradford (HCB), Sharing Voices Bradford (SVB), Bradford University’s Programme for a Peaceful City (PPC), Parity Associates Ltd and Bradford Council,

Cordially invites you to attend

 A Conference on “Half a Century Walk in the Desert (HCWD), Black History Month and the DR Congo Week 2010”: Designing the Future of Africa’ 

Date : Saturday 23^rd  October 2010

Venue: Room GTA JSB, Richmond Building, Richmond Road, Bradford, BD7 1DP

Time: Arrive 11.00am (start 12pm) – 3.30pm

The day will include: speeches & Workshops.

All are welcome but places are limited and the deadline for booking is Thursday 21^st October 2010. To avoid disappointment, please book your place NOW at this address:

c/o Benoit (Ben) Mussanzi wa Mussangu, CRC All Saints Church, Bradford BD5 0NG, Tel: 07500410772, or email: crc_bradford@yahoo.com; info@cr-conflict.org,

www.cr-conflict.org

 For parking reason, please use public transport if you can.

2010 10 23 Flyer CRC’s HCWD

Bradford Refugee Forum and Partners Invite’s you to the

Empowering Women Refugee and Asylum Seeker’s Conference

11 November 2010

Carlisle Business Centre

9.00am – 2.00pm

Come along and have your say – exercise your right

Express any issues or concerns you may be experiencing.

Meet other people in similar situations

Service providers will be available

Tell us your issues/concerns in various workshops.

Lunch will be provided.

Please complete the attached form below

Booking Form