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OTHER ACTIVITIES
World Refugee Day Kansai Assembly
2020
Come and join us ONLINE at the World Refugee Day in Kansai 2020
Every year, June 20 marks the United Nations’ World Refugee Day.
Around that time, many events for raising awareness of refugee issue take place across the world. Every year, RAFIQ holds an assembly in collaboration with other organizations. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we cancelled an assembly and have set up a website to raise awareness of refugees in Japan.
Our theme of this year is:
What can you and I do in today’s Japan connected to the world?
Now, under the serious impact of COVID-19, how are refugees in the world, and what are they doing? How about refugees here in Japan? What can we do for them? Why don’t you join us and look at refugee issue?
This website delivers the latest developments provided from a researcher and refugee supporting organizations, and authentic voices from refugees. New videos are uploaded to this website every Sunday from 7th to 28th June.
- June 7: Refugee issue in the world
- 1. Mr. Toshitsuki KAWAUCHI, Deputy Representative, The UNHCR Representation in Japan
Address: The United Nations’ World Refugee Day and efforts taken in the world (in Japanese) - 2. Associate Professor Yukari ANDO, Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University
Lecture: Refugees in the world during the current COVED-19 crisis (in Japanese)
- June 14: Refugee issue in Japan
- Ms. Yoshie HIROKAWA, Former Joint Representative of RAFIQ, Lawyer, Member of Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees
Lecture: Refugees in Japan (in Japanese)
- June 21: Voices from refugees living in Japan
- Interviews with refugees living in Kansai (subtitles in Japanese)
- June 28: What can you and I do for refugees?
- TBA
2019
- Date: 23 June (Sun) 11:30 - 16:30
- Venue: Osaka Municipal Housing Information Center
- Fees: general 1000 yen, student 500 yen
- Theme of 2019: Do you truly care about PEOPLE around you?
- Program:
- Introduction “Refugee issues in Japan”
- Mr. Katsuya SODA (Representative, Nanmin Now!)
- Keynote address 1 “How does the world look at Japan’s human rights situation?”
- Mr. Nobuki FUJIMOTO (Researcher, Asia-Pacific Human Rights Information Center [Hurights Osaka])
- Keynote address 2 “A country in which you would not be recognized as a refugee even if you won a case”
- Mr. Shogo WATANABE (Representative, Japan Lawyers Network for Refugees)
- A talk by a refugee in Japan “Please listen to our voices”
- Mr. M (a refugee settled in Osaka)
- A report from the site of supporting refugees
- Ms. Keiko TANAKA (coleader, RAFIQ)
- Photo Exhibitio
- Booths of NGOs supporting refugees
2018
- Date: 24 June (Sun) 11:30 - 16:30
- Venue: Osaka Municipal Housing Information Center
- Fee: general 1000yen, student 500yen
- Theme of 2018: Why don't we break down our inner walls?
- Program:
- Introduction "Refugees in Japan"
- Keynote address " Refugees in Japan and the world" Mr. Toshitsuki Kawauchi, Senior Protection Officer, the UNHCR Representation in Japan
- Lecture "My experience in reporting ‘walls in Japan and the world'" Mr. Takuya Asakura, Asahi Shimbun
- "Refugees are here in Japan!" - introducing refugees in Japan by Japan Association for Refugees (JAR)
- Why don't we break walls?
- Why don't we break walls in society? - Cases in Nagoya, Door to Asylum Nagoya
- Why don't we break walls in economy? -Charity party to support refugees
- Why don't we break walls in ourselves? - Students' efforts
- Why don't we break walls in ourselves? - RAFIQ's efforts in Kansa
- Why don't we break walls in the current system? - Changes in the operation of Japanese system to grant asylum
- Photo Exhibition: Where do refugees come from?
- Booths of NGO's supporting refugees
- Report of the day:
Around 150 people with a wide range of age participated in the assembly despite being just after the earthquake in northern Osaka. Mr. Toshitsuki Kawauchi of UNHCR talked about the situation of refugees in the world and Asahi Shimbun reporter Mr. Takuya Asakura spoke about the impressions of the world's "walls" that he covered at monthly Asahi Shimbun GLOBE. The theme of the event was "Why don't we break walls", and various support groups reported about their activities and appealed to the audience.
2017
- Date: 2 July (Sun)
- Venue: Osaka Municipal Housing Information Center
- Fee: general 1000yen, student 500yen
- Theme of 2017: Refugees Welcome! What can we do in Japan? Refugee crisis shaking the world.
- Report of the day:
The assembly was very successful. 180 people including many volunteers participated in the assembly. Active participation of many young people was great. In Part 1, we learned the current situation of refugees in the world and how they accept refugees in Canada (Ms. Yukari Ando, specially appointed assistant professor, Osaka University) and Finland (Ms. Yuko Kametani). In Part 2, we listened deeply to the first-hand experience of the long journey of a refugee application process in Japan from Mr R who came from Afghanistan. Then we learned about a private sponsorship for Syrian refugees in Japan (Mr. Noritada Orii, Japan Association for Refugees), refugee homestays in Kanto (Ms. Sayaka Watanabe, WELgee). Ms Keiko Tanaka (RAFIQ) introduced Nanmin House and our activities there, and other refugee supporting organizations gave brief reports about their activities.
We considered not only having an interest in refugee issues but also taking an action very important and encouraged participants to write what they themselves could do/wanted to do on a small leaf-shaped sticky note. We collected the leaves with messages and made a message tree! We hope the participants have realized it important to change our way of thinking.
Nanmin (refugee) Day
2019
Human Rights Day is on 10 December, the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. RAFIQ organizes Nanmin (refugee) Day every year in December to raise awareness of human rights of refugees. Anyone and everyone are welcome!
- Date: 15 December (Sunday) 11:00-19:00
- Venue: Salon de AmanTo, 1-7-26 Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
(http://amanto.jp/japanese/access/) - Entry fee: Free
- Program:
- Film Screening: “Last Men in Aleppo” (to be confirmed)
・http://amanto.jp/japanese/access/
・1,000 yen (general admission), 800 yen (students) - Stage performance
- “Let’s get to know more about refugee issues”
・Exhibition
・Talk by a Syrian refugee from Aleppo - World Kitchen – Let’s enjoy cuisine from refugees’ home countries!
・Lunch and sweets/snacks
・1,000 yen or more - Stalls opened by refugee supporting organizations and a fair-trade organization
2018
- Date: 8 December (Sat) 10:00 – 19:00
- Venue: Salon de AmanTo, 1-7-26 Nakazakinishi, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Entry fee: Free
- Program:
- Film screenings, "La Cour de Babel – School of Babel" and "A Memory in Khaki"
1,000 yen (general admission), 800 yen (students) - Stage performance
- 'Let's get to know refugee issues' – Talk by a Syrian student, a lecture, and a symposium
- 'World Kitchen - Let's try food of countries from which refugees come'
- Stalls by refugee supporting organizations
- Report:
RAFIQ and Nanmin Café jointly held the event. We were pleased that we had many visitors and saw the growing interest by people in refugee issues and the role of Japan in the international community. We had a lot of activities and programs on the day including a talk by a Syrian student, a lecture, a symposium, film screenings, and stage performances. Tasty food of countries from which refugees come were served at World Kitchen. Three refugees came to help us and played an important role at the kitchen. Beautiful handmade goods and references were sold at stalls by refugee supporting organizations. Thanks to all of you who joined us on the day!
2017
- Date: 10 December (Sun) 10:00 – 20:00
- Venue: Shuka, 1-1-18 Nakazaki-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Entry fee: Free
- Organizers: Neo Nanmin-Cafe Network and RAFIQ
- Theme: We are connected to the world
- Program:
The program includes film screenings ('Slingshot Hip Hop'), a talk by a refugee, a symposium, stage performances, flea market, and World Kitchen.
Nanmin House Open Day
2019
- Date: Sunday, 6 October
- Time: 13:30-18:30
- Venue: Nanmin House
- No entry fee, no booking is required for talk sessions.
1,000 yen (including a drink and snack) and a booking are required for Nanmin Café (TEL: 06-6335-4440, Mail: rafiqtomodati@yahoo.co.jp).
Everybody will be most welcome!
The program includes various talks by refugees and RAFIQ supporters, and Nanmin Café.
- Schedule:
- 13:30- Talks 1: Supporting refugees living in Kansai
- 14:30- Talks 2: Support to apply for refugee status and for provisional release
- 15:30- Talks 3: Our experiences of being actively involved in RAFIQ
- 16:30- Nanmin Café: “Let’s talk together about refugee issues!”
2018
- Date: 7 October (Sun) 10:00 - 16:00, No reservation required. Come and go at any time.
- Venue: Osaka Nanmin House, 4-9-13 Higashi-mikuni, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Cost: 500 yen- (used to support refugees in Japan)
- Program:
- Exhibition of RAFIQ activities and books regarding refugee issue
- Mini lectures on refugee issues
- Workshops by ‘GLORRY' (Global Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths)
- A talk by a refugee
- Open Café
- Report:
Nanmin House Open Day was held on Oct 7th, celebrating two years after RAFIQ opened Nanmin House. We were worried about a typhoon but fortunately it passed, and we could hold the event. Visitors from high-school students to elderly people participated in the event. Some of them came to Nanmin House for the first time, and others came after long absence. We were able to introduce them recent activities of RAFIQ. Participants asked questions about refugees enthusiastically at a lecture and a workshop. A refugee from south Asia who now lives in Osaka, told his story how he had become a refugee for political reasons. We suppose that the participants could have compassion for his feelings. Dishes of Bangladesh, Iran and Burma were very delicious. Thank you very much to many volunteers who joined from the previous day for cooking and preparation.
2017
- Date: 1 October (Sun) 10:00 - 18:00, No reservation required. Come and go at any time.
- Venue: Osaka Nanmin House, 4-9-13 Higashi-mikuni, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Program:
- Photo exhibition showing our refugee supporting activities
- Panel exhibition about refugees in Japan using panels prepared for the Special Exhibition of Refugees at Osaka Human Rights Museum (Liberty Osaka) from November 2016 to March 2017.
- Talk by Mr. M, a refugee from Myanmar, "Leaving my country when I was at high school"
- Workshops by GLORRY (Global Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths), "If I became a refugee…"
- Cafe RAFIQ: The menu will include spring rolls from Vietnam, peanut soup from Ghana, spicy tea from Afghanistan.
Earth Culture Festival (GLORRY)
2019 ー Earth Culture Festival Vol.3 GLORRY x Burma/Myanmar
- Date: 7 July (Sun) 11:00 - 16:30
- Venue: Osaka Nanmin House, 4-9-13 Higashi-mikuni, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Entry fee: Free (Food and drinks will be charged.)
- Charity: 500 yen or more (with a booklet on Burma/Myanmar edited by GLORRY)
- Organizers: GLORRY (Global Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths)
- Collaborator: Burmese Relief Center – Japan (BRC-J)
- Program:
- Debriefing sessions on current situations of Burmese/Myanmar refugees and thinking back over refugee issues in Japan (11:30-12:00 and 14:00-15:30)
- GLORRY Café (11:30-16:00)
Let's feel Burma/Myanmar in your stomach - typical Burmese/Myanmar dishes from the kitchen - Exhibition on Burmese/Myanmar culture, history, and society
Visitors are welcome to try fitting experience of Burmese/Myanmar traditional costumes and to use their traditional cosmetics.
2018 ー Earth Culture Festival Vol.2 GLORRY x Afghan
- Date: 8 July (Sun) 11:30 - 16:00
- Venue: Osaka Nanmin House, 4-9-13 Higashi-mikuni, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Entry fee: Free (Food and drinks will be charged)
- Charity: 500 yen / single unit
- Organizers: GLORRY (Global Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths)
- Collaborator: Lala Association
- Program:
- Afghan Cafe "Let's feel Afghan dishes in your stomach" - typical Afghan dishes from the kitchen
- Exhibition "Let's learn more about Afghanistan! (culture, history, and society)
We exhibit Afghan's traditional tribal costumes, real Kilim cloths, valuable photos of women and children. Visitors can try fitting experience of "Burka (a full cloak worn by Muslim women)". - Let's see Japan's refugee issues through an Afghan refugee's eye
2017 ー Earth Culture Festival Vol.1 GLORRY x Ghana
- Date: 22 October (Sun) 11:30 - 16:00
- Venue: Osaka Nanmin House, 4-9-13 Higashi-mikuni, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- Cost: Free for entry and pay for Cafe
- Organizers: GLORRY (Global Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths)
- Program:
- Report:
GLORRY (Glocal Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths) had an opening event on Sunday 22 October, on the day Osaka was hit by a heavy typhoon. Despite wind and rain, we had some visitors including refugees. The Ghanaian food menu (two mains, two deserts, and one drink) was handwritten by a refugee from Ghana learning Japanese. Staff on the day were in Ghanaian ethnic costume sent from the family of a refugee. We all enjoyed the day, and GLORRY staff members are very pleased that refugees themselves enjoyed the event and talked about their country proudly.
Others
One World Festival 2019
- Date: 2-3 February (Sat-Sun)
- Venue: Kita Kumin Center, Ogimachi Park, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- RAFIQ exhibited “Let’s have an experience of a refugee camp” with UNHCR Representation in Japan and ran a booth
One World Festival 2018
- Date: 3-4 February (Sat-Sun)
- Venue: Kita Kumin Center, Ogimachi Park, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
- RAFIQ set up a booth again in 2018 and GLORRY (Glocal Links of Refugees and RAFIQ Youths) conducted a workshop on refugee issues 'If you became a refugee, ...' (from leaving your country to being detained in the Immigration Bureau in Japan). Many NGOs, NPOs, local governments, companies, and international organizations participate in the festival to introduce their activities to visitors, to promote cross-cultural exchange, and to develop relations with other organizations. RAFIQ has set up a booth at the festival every year since 2008. This year many people visited our booth, and staff in charge constantly talked with visitors. The GLORRY workshop was very popular. We had a capacity for 40 persons, and we were pleased to see the room was full. We prepared a new RAFIQ flyer prior to the festival, and we handed out 500 copies there. The festival resulted in success for us. Thanks to those who came to the RAFIQ booth and participated in the activities.
Special exhibition of refugees at Osaka Human Rights Museum（ Liberty Osaka） 19 November 2016 - 18 March 2017
- Opening Hours: 10:00-16:00 on Wednesday - Friday and 13:00-17:00 on Saturday
- Organizers: RAFIQ and Osaka Human Rights Museum
- Supporters: The UNHCR Representation in Japan, Amnesty International Japan, Refugee Assistance Headquarters (RHQ), and others
- Exhibition themes include:
- Who are refugees?
- Refugees in the world
- Refugees in Japan
- Growing support of refugees
- A tent, mosquito nets, nutritional supplement and other goods provided by the UNHCR
- Photos taken in Afghanistan by a photographer of "DAYS JAPAN", Mr. Ryuichi Hirokawa
- 3D art provided by Amnesty International Japan showing war damage in Syria.
- During the period of exhibition, some related events were held at the venue.
- Lecture by Ms. Naoko Obi, UNHCR's deputy representative in Japan, "Refugee issues at this time: What Japan and Japanese people can do" (in Japanese)
- A talk by Mr. R, a refugee from Afghanistan, "Listen to what a refugee from Afghanistan telling us". The talk was organized by the museum, Lara Association, and RAFIQ. Approximately 80 people came and the venue was full.
- Report:
The special exhibition of refugees at Osaka Human Rights Museum (Liberty Osaka) finished successfully on 18 March. The exhibition was very popular. Though the museum opens for only four days a week, nearly 7,000 people visited Osaka Human Rights Museum during the exhibition. They included students and teachers on a school trip, international students and visitors who came a long distance for this exhibition. When RAFIQ staff and volunteers were available at the museum, many visitors listened actively to our explanation. Over 300 messages to refugees were given to us to demonstrate on a message tree. At the beginning, the exhibition was rather simple with information panels on refugee issues in Japan. However, it expanded and improved with contributions of support organizations such as Japan Association for Refugees (JAR), UNHCR, Friends of RAWA (Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan), Amnesty International, Burmese Relief Centre, Sadaqa, and Refugee Assistance Headquarters (RHQ).