foreword by Sabir Zazai, Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council
The playwright Bertolt Brecht said, ‘Art is not a mirror to reflect reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.’
It’s an honour for my words to be included in this issue of the other side of hope, among other incredibly powerful voices that are striving to shape the world for the better.
We must never underestimate the power of words.
And this issue comes at a time when these inspiring and heartening words are very much needed.
Times are difficult, there is no getting away from that. We face an increasingly hostile government and a cost-of-living crisis that is hitting people seeking protection incredibly hard.
But it is so important to seize moments of celebration and joy wherever we can.
Last summer’s Refugee Festival Scotland included events from across the spectrum of the arts, from theatre to dance to storytelling. It was a fantastic and vital reminder of the power of creativity to bring about inclusion, but also celebration.
The words in these pages are testament to the power of language and literature to reflect, to celebrate, to call for action, to bring us joy and to express ourselves.
The experience of going through the UK’s asylum or immigration systems can often make people feel powerless and voiceless. I am grateful to the other side of hope for providing a platform for people with experience of these difficult systems to raise their voices again. It’s so crucial that we hear these stories.
I know that true inclusion is about much more than just surviving. Real inclusion means having your perspective respected and counted, having your personality and your achievements valued, and being able to let your creativity shine.
the other side of hope represents true inclusion and I’m delighted to be part of such an important and valuable magazine.
It’s an honour for my words to be included in this issue of the other side of hope, among other incredibly powerful voices that are striving to shape the world for the better.
We must never underestimate the power of words.
And this issue comes at a time when these inspiring and heartening words are very much needed.
Times are difficult, there is no getting away from that. We face an increasingly hostile government and a cost-of-living crisis that is hitting people seeking protection incredibly hard.
But it is so important to seize moments of celebration and joy wherever we can.
Last summer’s Refugee Festival Scotland included events from across the spectrum of the arts, from theatre to dance to storytelling. It was a fantastic and vital reminder of the power of creativity to bring about inclusion, but also celebration.
The words in these pages are testament to the power of language and literature to reflect, to celebrate, to call for action, to bring us joy and to express ourselves.
The experience of going through the UK’s asylum or immigration systems can often make people feel powerless and voiceless. I am grateful to the other side of hope for providing a platform for people with experience of these difficult systems to raise their voices again. It’s so crucial that we hear these stories.
I know that true inclusion is about much more than just surviving. Real inclusion means having your perspective respected and counted, having your personality and your achievements valued, and being able to let your creativity shine.
the other side of hope represents true inclusion and I’m delighted to be part of such an important and valuable magazine.
Sabir Zazai is a former refugee from Afghanistan who now leads the Scottish Refugee Council. Sabir’s early education was interrupted by the war in Afghanistan, when he was internally displaced with his family when he was still at primary education. However, his resilience, hope and a strong desire for education helped him to graduate from Coventry University with a degree in Human Resources Management, and a Masters in Community Cohesion Management. Recently he was conferred with a Honorary Doctorate at the University of Glasgow for services to community, and received the Lord Provost award for human rights. Sabir is now Honorary President of City of Sanctuary and a Visiting Practice Fellow at the Centre for Trust Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University.
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