On the 25th April Wimbledon Book fest and Merton Welcomes Refugees will be hosting an event at Wimbledon Odeon in which the actor Samuel West will be in conversation with Gunwali Passarlay the author of the book ‘The Lightless Sky’.
Merton Welcomes Refugees is a voluntary group that is offering aid and support to refugees that have arrived in the local area. They have teamed up with Wimbledon Bookfest, a well-known local charity, which hosts two weeks worth of authors and creators during the month of October as well as running events throughout the year.
Guwali Passarly is a refugee who left Afghanistan aged twelve. He survived a torturous journey across Iran and through Europe suffering in prisons, being a victim of cruelty and being close to death when almost drowning in the Mediterranean on his approach to the UK. Since arriving in England his life has completely changed, after being fostered, winning a place at a top university, he was then chosen to carry the Olympic torch in 2012. Now he strives in the political industry, reading Politics at Manchester University, being an ambassador for many youth groups and turning into the key spokesperson for refugees today in Britain. His book, The Lightless Sky, reveals in depth his story of fleeing his home before being adopted into British Culture.
Gulwali inspires food for thought in terms of the recent refugee crisis and the response the Government is giving to it at the moment. This evening will be a rare opportunity to prompt a larger discussion on the refugee crisis.
Many people from around Wimbledon will attend this fast selling event. This really is an opportunity to be taken up!
To book tickets go to https://www.wimbledonbookfest.org
Kitty Toon, Ursuline High School
