High Life Highland’s Adult Learning for Refugees team recently hosted a creative project for Afghan resettler communities, funded by the Scottish Refugee Council as part of the ‘Scottish Refugee Festival’.
The theme of the Festival this year was ‘Hope’ hence the event was aptly titled ‘The Afghan Kites of Hope’ in honour of the tradition of kite-making, a custom now prohibited by the Taliban in their home country.
Anna Holda, High Life Highland’s Adult Learning Coordinator, shared: “The idea behind ‘The Afghan Kites of Hope’ was to welcome newly-arrived Afghan families by celebrating and learning about their cultural heritage, inviting them to share their traditions and skills with Adult Learning and their new host community.
“Engaging forcibly displaced communities in the activities based on their cultural heritage, and encouraging them to share it with their new host community, helps improve wellbeing and establish pathways to making social connections.
“Learning outcomes included building English language skills, social and culture cohesion and integration.
“The Afghan families led the kite-making workshop and flying demonstration, sharing their enthusiasm for the tradition. The event was open to members of the public to join, so the event was well-attended by a wide demographic.
“Two special guests from the Scottish Refugee Council, Farkhonda Kabiri and Yalda Rasooli, also came along to the event, during which they shared their resettling experience in Inverness. As well as joined in with kite-making.
“The kite-flying session delivered in the playground was spectacular! It was important for these families that in their new host country and community, they can openly make and fly the Afghan kites, and acknowledge the importance of their cultural heritage and traditions.”
These new families will be settling into Highland communities with support from High Life Highland’s Adult Learning for Refugees team, with partnership projects planned for the coming weeks.
Steve Walsh, High Life Highland’s Chief Executive, concluded: “High Life Highland are delighted to be supporting the arrival and settlement of Afghan families through inspiring, empowering, and culturally rich events such as ‘The Afghan Kites of Hope’.
“It is wonderful to have the support of a partner such as the Scottish Refugee Council in making this inclusive event happen.”
