Brightening Britain

Hackney & Islington Amnesty groups are hosting an evening of entertainment and talks celebrating the contribution of refugees and migrants to the UK. The event is part of this year's Refugee Week, and has been organised in conjunction with Hackney Refugee Forum, Hackney Borough of Sanctuary Campaign and the Refugee Workers Cultural Association.

Highlights include a talk by Micheline Safi Ngongo, once a refugee from Congo now running a successful educational project for young people; song and dance from Nefes Choir and performers from the Refugee Workers Cultural Association; a performance by professional violinist Sinan Kadifachi; and a presentation by Wassim Soidam, a refugee from Lebanon, of his paintings depicting his experiences in asylum detention. There will also be food, poetry and music and a discussion of how refugees and migrants are treated as scapegoats for the UK's economic problems.