Welcomestory
A film to expand what ‘refugee welcome’ looks like, featuring animation by Kazuhiko Okushita
“Refugee welcome” is a common phrase. But welcome is practiced differently across cultures. What do you imagine when you say it? What does it look like? Feel like? Sound like? Is it always constructive?
We may see “refugee welcome” as a beneficial practice. Yet the practice of welcome in intercultural relationships is complex. It requires care, reflection, and repair. What can we do to improve our practice and posture of welcome?
Welcomestory uses interview footage, animation, and illustration to expand our idea of what refugee welcome might look like.
It introduces three ways of thinking about refugee welcome:
a gesture of hospitality
offering a helping hand
creating institutional programs
Each section begins with one of those phrases in a conversation bubble; by the end, the bubble pops to reveal an array of possibilities, which have emerged from the interviews with community members.
Scroll down to watch the whole film or choose the section that is relevant to your classroom or community.
The Film
“There’s so much power in welcome”
“Our charity model is a lot about pushing stuff at people: crowding their space with our best intentions rather than pulling our intentions back and creating a welcoming space”
© 2023. "Welcomestory" by Erin Goheen is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. International License.
Welcomestory is part of the Worn Words listening research project and is produced with funding from UBC Centre for Migration Studies & Interdisciplinary History Research Cluster.
Film Sections
Intro
What makes a good refuge? (2.5 mins)
Section 1
From Gesture of Hospitality to Relationship (15 mins)
Section 2:
From Helping Hand to Mutual Transformation (17 mins)
Section 3
From Institutional Programs to Community (14 mins)
Outro
How does welcoming someone happen? (4.5 mins)
“It’s all about trust: finding things we have in common and from there building [the welcome] together”
For Educators:
This 50-minute multimedia documentary prompts introductory level discussions on:
how ‘refugee welcome’ is conceptualized
cultural practices of welcome
refugee sponsorship relationships
intercultural community
the cultural figure of the refugee
If you would like to use this film in a community dialogue or classroom lesson, resources are available, including a sample lesson plan. Click the link below.