From May 21st to 22nd, the ACAA facilitated an exuberant two-day festival for the Desi and Afghan communities in celebration of this year’s Refugee Week. With top headliner performances, a wide variety of vendors offering items ranging from beautiful pieces of jewelry to delicious cultural cuisines, entertainment spaces for young children, and a sense of community fostering between attendees and volunteers. The festival celebrated and brought light onto the diverse communities in London.
With more than 10,000 guests and 200 volunteers, I was extremely grateful to have the opportunity to assist with the weekend festivities. My excitement for the festival began long before the days of the weekend of the event. As a volunteer with the organization, I spent my days conducting outreach in an effort to reach as many participants as possible. Whether it was attending schools or conferences, I was eager to speak about the values and commitments of the organization to new audiences. Seeing the way my fellow volunteers talked about the event and the amount of dedication that went into planning, it was clear that the energy was building up through every single conversation held. As the days of outreach before the festival came to a close, my anticipation grew.
Finally, on the day of the festival, I arrived at Cranford Community College at 9 AM wearing my volunteer shirt with a water bottle in hand, awaiting my tasks for the day. After hearing about the list of volunteer positions, which ranged from social media to backstage assistance, I found myself choosing the parking position. Although the position may seem less appealing compared to the others, I saw this as an opportunity to greet the guests and see the enthusiasm firsthand. Watching the children’s smiles peek out from the windows and hearing their parents speak eagerly about which performers or vendors they wanted to see made it worthwhile.
Although I was assisting with parking, during my breaks, I was able to understand the elation of the guests as they entered the parking lot. Immediately entering the festival, I was greeted by lively music, with crowds dancing together, the smell of spices and sweets in the air, families lounging on their picnic blankets, and an overall sense of solidarity.
My day at the festival ended with a full stomach and a new appreciation for cultures I never had the opportunity to experience on my own. From tasting new dishes to hearing songs in languages I did not know, every single part of the event reminded me of the richness that is seen in diversity.
This is the diversity the UK needs to embrace with open arms. It is that diversity that allows for spaces where individuals from distinct backgrounds can connect despite their differences. Beyond just celebrating the festivities of Refugee Week, we must protect refugees every day.
Refugees are the ones who enrich our communities with new perspectives and cultures; we must assist them through hardships and struggles during times when differences are portrayed as weaknesses.
Written by: Jomari Encarnacion