BARAC is part of Convoys2Calais, regularly distributing food and essential items in the shanty town known as 'The Jungle' in Calais where an estimated 5000 refugees are stuck in limbo.
Last weekend we distributed 1600 food parcels as part of the convoy and BARAC also took 100 books to the library there and cooking stoves as our sisters and brothers there are having to collect fire wood to cook.
You can read our report and watch the video made by documentary film maker Ray Rakaba who accompanied us on a solidarity visit in September here:
Information about the Convoys, what is needed and how to donate can be accessed here: www.convoys2calais.com
In addition to the food we will distribute as part of Convoys2Calais additional items needed include water proof clothing, shoes, thermals, warm hats, tights, leggings, cooking stoves and cooking pots and utensils, African hair products and skin products, cornmeal flour, dried fish and salt fish and other traditional food items. Also the library require books in English, French and Arabic and are particularly in need of dictionaries.
We also visited the art school last weekend and they are in need of art materials.
A new class room is also being built and we were asked to put a call out for people who can construct toilets. If you know anyone who has these skills please ask them to get in touch.
If you can donate, contribute or fundraise please get in touch. Anyone planning to visit with donations are advised to make contact with the charities in Calais first to ensure coordination.
London2Calais have organised a Refugee Solidarity Summit on 24th of October, which BARAC will be participating in and speaking at - details are below.
As winter approaches, the future of desperate refugees around Europe looks both uncertain and frightening, in light of this London2Calais are excited to announce The Refugee Solidarity Summit : Open the Borders Now! The event will be held at the Bloomsbury Baptist Church, on October 24, from 11am-5pm. A wide variety of topics will be covered by a number of incredible speakers and activists:
Zita Holbourne: National Co-Chair Black Activists Rising Against Cuts (BARAC) UK - Refugees and Racism
Muzna (Syrian Activist) - Personal experiences
Matthew Powell (Breaking Barriers) - Providing support for newcomers upon arrival
Zoe Gardner - Movement Against Xenophobia (MAX)
Abdulaziz Almashi (Co-Founder, Syria Solidarity Movement & Co-Organiser, Solidarity with Refugees' march)
Humans of the Refuge
Sophie Williams (DocsNotCops) - The Immigration act of 2014 and the NHS
Movement for Justice
RS21 - Revolutionary Socialism, 21st Century
More speakers to be confirmed!
Please join us for what promises to be an informative and inspiring day, where we can come together and discuss ideas regarding how to end this crisis for good. The government have no intention of supporting refugees or opening the border and it is down to us to force them.
Tea, coffee, and food will of course be available, too.
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.
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