Music can raise awareness of the issues asylum seekers face, as well as offering a form of release for those living in detention centres, argues Doug Noble.
The White Cliffs of Dover hold an iconic status for more than just the indigenous people of the UK. The port of Dover is one of the UKs main entry points for asylum seekers and other immigrants, and is seen as a safe haven for many around the world suffering from oppression and torture. Unfortunately, for many of those arriving on these shores ready to claim refuge, reality may not match up to their expectations and they may find themselves only getting as far as the Dover Immigration Removal Centre.
Music For Change, which receives regular Arts Council funding, is based in Canterbury, 20 miles from the Port of Dover. In 2005 we secured funding to run a music education project for, and about, asylum seekers and refugees. The programme, Safe And Sound, is aimed both at supporting refugees and asylum seekers and their integration into the UK, and at raising awareness about issues around immigration and asylum. Part of the project also involved immigration centre detainees some of whom were removed, released or moved while it was being developed.
A key part of Safe and Sound was the Refugee and Asylum Seeker Young People and Adult Programme, where Music For Change worked in partnership with Kent-based organisations such as Finding Your Feet, Migrant Helpline in Dover, and the Kent Refugee Support Group. We delivered a programme of cultural events and workshops tailored to the individual needs of each organisation, and addressing the emotional and developmental needs of the participants. This included making participants feel welcome and settled, raising their self-esteem, promoting independent thinking and improving literacy.
The workshops varied from acrobatics and juggling with Emmanuel Okine from Ghana, West African drumming with Usifu Jalloh from Sierra Leone, Indian dance with Sujata Banerjee and Southern African gumboot dancing with Lucky Moyo from Zimbabwe all regular Music For Change artists. One newly arrived young woman from Burundi took part in the workshops and felt confident enough to sing a solo performance at an Open Day event. A few weeks prior to this, she had been barely able to talk to men.
We also took part in a pilot project of music workshops for detainees in the Dover Immigration Removal Centre (DIRC), a six-day programme of music and dance workshops with the aim of raising self-esteem, encouraging cultural expression, and improving group dynamics. The pilot proved so successful it has led to plans to bring music workshops to all Immigration Removal Centres across the UK, and we are planning to work again at DIRC to develop a performance connected to their annual pantomime.
Another important aspect of the project was concerned with educating local people especially children about what it means to be a refugee, and counterbalancing the traditionally negative portrayal of refugees and asylum seekers. During Refugee Week in both 2005 and 2006, we invited schools across East Kent to take part in education and arts workshops on the themes of refugees, asylum and migration, and to enjoy performances from Music For Change artists. The headline act of the day was Emmanuel Jal a Sudanese ex-child soldier and refugee who now performs as a rap artist.
Safe and Sound helped to develop the skills, confidence and literacy of newly arrived refugees (children, young people and adults), and has helped raise morale in induction and detention centres. Perhaps most importantly, Safe and Sound has encouraged an understanding of, and a respect for, cultural diversity within the East Kent community, and has delivered a positive message through the global languages of music, dance and performance highlighting that there are as many similarities between us as differences.
Doug Noble is Community Projects Manager at Music For Change.
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