Refugee Week – officially from Sunday 18 June to Saturday 24 June – is Australia’s peak annual activity to raise awareness about the issues affecting refugees and to celebrate the positive contributions made by former refugees to Australian society, including here in Coffs Harbour.
This year a dynamic team of community members and local services have come together to present an exciting program of engaging opportunities to ‘put yourself in the picture’.
The Freedom Feast – a shared community meal experience – is the major celebration of this year’s Ref-YOU-gee Week. The Food Terrace at Coffs Central will be transformed into a welcoming community dining room where food and stories will be shared, new perspectives gained and new friendships made. Everyone is encouraged to bring a plate of food to share and enjoy a sumptuous community feast featuring authentic home cooked multicultural food from all over the world.
There will be variety of live entertainment on the night with story sharing, curated discussions and community performance that all explore different aspects of the refugee experience around the theme of freedom. Children are most welcome to attend the celebrations with organised art activities being held throughout the evening in a dedicated break-out space.
The Freedom Feast and the broader Ref-YOU-gee Week program encourages the community to celebrate the meaning of freedom together. For many in our community freedom, and their struggle for it, has brought them to Coffs Harbour which has become for them a safe new home, a new opportunity, and a new beginning.
Ref-YOU-gee Week is the opportunity for us all to grow our understanding and deepen our connection whilst remembering and acknowledging the struggles for freedom that still exist the world over – and appreciating what we can grow together through our freedom right here at home.
Freedom Feast Community Long Table Dinner
Date: Friday 30 June 6:00 – 8:30pm
Location: Coffs Central – upstairs on the Food Terrace
Cost: Free but please bring a plate to share
RSVP Required: book online at freedomfeast2017.eventbrite.com.au
For more information about the Freedom Feast and other exciting Ref-YOU-gee Week events visit: www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/refugeeweek
