It may seem early to be thinking about Christmas, but if there was any reason for you to get into the festivities a little earlier, Project Atefa is more than a valid reason as to do so. Hannah Crouch explains why you should get involved.
As one of the staple initiatives promoted through DMU’s innovative SDG Hub, Project Atefa continues to expand across Leicester this festive season. With its roots in supporting the refugee community, the current steering group of passionate students are preparing to hold a party to fuel the holiday spirit and offer a warm and welcoming space for families seeking refuge locally. As discussion of an increasingly polarised society infiltrates the news, it is more crucial than ever to do our part to emphasise refugee advocacy in a way that directly involves those with lived experience.
The project was created and named after a student trip to Germany and a chance meeting with scholars back in 2022, which introduced DMU to Atefa Waseq, an academic who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban removed her teaching role and right to a doctorate. Hearing her story of female empowerment, determination, and resilience has inspired many students who have had the privilege of meeting her. During our last visit to the Marienfelde Refugee Center in Berlin, where Atefa was housed with her family upon arriving in Europe, DMU held a special graduation ceremony to grant her a Visiting Professorship, to be rightfully reinstated with an academic title.
Following this, DMU is keen to keep fostering the championing of refugee stories with our next phase of Project Atefa. Kicking it off with a party to bring people together and connect seemed a great way to initiate this, before exploring further sustainable and long-term plans for our refugee advocacy. To make this event the best it possibly can be, the project group would love other staff and students alike to get involved and spread the word. This is a call for action: it is noted that money may be tight for many of us currently, but if you have the means, please do consider taking part in our gift appeal.
A Christmas tree will be placed in the Student Union, adorned with tags for you to take (inspiration taken from the Dunelm Christmas trees). Please choose one and bring the listed item or a suitable equivalent unwrapped to the SDG Hub (2.05 Heritage House) with the tag attached to the bag. Examples of gifts we’d love are colouring books, soft toys, craft supplies and reading books, for all genders and aged children. We will not be able to accept perishables (such as food) or anything inappropriate, so please bear this in mind. This part of the initiative will be running between the 3rd and the 14th of November. We are also looking for extra volunteers to help with wrapping gifts or being present on the party day, so please contact dmusdg@dmu.ac.uk if this sounds like it could be for you!
It would be amazing to have you involved in making refugee children’s festive season brighter this year. Thank you for your support — together, we can make a positive difference to those who need it most.
