Launch of BDASC Children's Campaign - No to educational apartheid
In July we launched a campaign against apartheid education of refugee children in Detention Centres. This provision is now part of the new asylum law
BDASC and National Union of Teachers
March for Children
On Saturday 30th November 150 people supported our march. We assembled at Castle Green and marched through Broadmead to protest over:
- Blunkett's racist educational apartheid for asylum seekers.
- Underfunding of education, school closures and child poverty
- The 125 million children not in school across the world
- Sanctions and war with Iraq
Twelve year-old Elina Mehmeti spoke at the rally and thanked the people of Bristol for their support in their family's fight to remain in Bristol. Other speakers included Sophie North the youngest member of our campaign. Organisers were joined by other unions including Unison, the CWU, the Fire Brigades Union and Amicus. The march aimed to bring together the many issues that relate to children.
Our campaign is part of a national debate. A coalition of unions and charities have formed together to campaign nationally against the new bill: Coalition against apartheid in schools
A survey by Save the Children and Glasgow City Council shows that integrated education is the highlight of young refugees lives. schools a sanctuary for refugee children
From Newsletter September - October 2002
As a result of recent government moves to house more refugees and their
children in detention centres, the campaign is going to focus more on
children. It is a clear contravention to the United Nations Rights of
the Child that children should be kept in detention centres at all. Furthermore,
considering the existing widespread underfunding of education facilities
in prisons, it seems very unlikely that educational provision for children
will be better provided for, particularly as the proposed detention centres
will probably be run by the same contracted in company as many of the
prisons. These children have often witnessed horrific events, and many
are traumatised. They need to be with other children who have more 'normal'
lives in order to begin the healing process.
Broadmead was buzzing on Saturday 29th June when BDASC campaigners were
out in full force at a Street Meeting to say 'NO' to Blunkett's racist
idea of educating asylum seeking children in Detention centres. The street
meeting was very successful. Many young people came and found out more
about the issues and also added messages and handprints to the large banner
that was subsequently sent to children known to be in a detention centre.
There were 28 campaigners involved, including the Mehmeti family, 200
signatures were collected and £26 was raised, much of it from passing
children who were sympathetic.
The message that 'Asylum Seekers are welcome here' was also loud and clear at St. George's Community College's fifth Anti Racist lecture in memory of Stephen Lawrence. Over 200 people packed the hall to hear contributions from students across Bristol. Elina Mehmeti, the 11 year old guest asylum seeker, told her moving story about her flight from Kosovo and pleaded for tolerance and justice form our government. Hannah Lee spoke about the need for the Anti-Nazi League and clearly stated why she was a member. Sophie North, aged 10, representing BDASC said: 'We should be honoured to have asylum seekers living amongst us'. She went on to say that the idea to educate asylum seeking children separately was 'sickening'. Cabot, Bannerman Road and St. Nicolas of Tolentino schools contributed songs, poems and drama calling for understanding around the issue of anti-racism. The South Bristol Voices, Global Issues Local Lives, dancers from Somalia, Jamaica, India and Bangladesh, rappers Roger and Cordell, Oxfam and the recently arrived New Arrivals group all added serious messages in an entertaining and thought provoking style. Ray Priest, Headteacher of St.Georges, in his newsletter to the parents said that it was an important evening and he praised the children's ability to see issues clearly.
In the coming year BDASC will be campaigning against Blunkett's move to segregate asylum seeking children and educate them in Detention Centres. Recently we (BDASC) called for David Blunkett's resignation. This call still stands. Blunkett is playing the government's double game of rhetoric about 'inclusion' and 'tolerance' whilst pushing through the most racist anti-asylum and anti-immigration measures seen for a generation.
Plans of the September/October time include:
o organising jointly with Trade Unions, Community groups, Asylum seekers
and others a march for children.
o BDASC has also been approached to take assemblies in schools and we
will be offering training and opportunities for those that want to do
so.
o jointly organising a debate across Bristol for the students of Bristol
to voice their protest about educating asylum seekers children separately.
o activity around the Mehmeti campaign to step up the protest to stop
their deportation.
Thanks to the parents of Bannerman Road School for filling in and returning
the petition 'Don't scapegoat children... no to the segregation of asylum
seekers'.
Volunteers will be required to help co-ordinate this - please contact Paulette on at asylumBristol@hotmail.com