SALUSBURY WORLD FOR REFUGEES 20:20 VIDEOS THE BIRTHDAY GIRLContext: People fleeing persecution and conflict have been granted asylum in foreign lands for thousands of years. The UN agency that helps refugees is UNHCR (also known as the UN Refugee Agency), which emerged in the wake of World War II to help Europeans displaced by that conflict.

Information from https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/refugees/

Watch the film The Birthday Girl

KEY LEARNING(S) RESOURCESIntroduce the topic of refugees and Refugee Week.

Background information: The Somali Civil War is an ongoing civil war taking place in Somalia. It grew out of resistance to the military junta led by Siad Barre during the 1980s. By 1988–1990, the Somali Armed Forces began engaging various armed rebel groups, including the Somali Salvation Democratic Front in the northeast, the Somali National Movement in the northwest, and the United Somali Congress in the south. The armed opposition groups eventually managed to overthrow the totalitarian Barre government in 1991.

Key themes featured in this film are identity, belonging and security.

Film: The Birthday Girl at

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERYN-6izGP8&list=PL 67AGQ86HiFSpOnUrJR8f6Cod7B6GvYdP&index=9

Salusbury World for Refugees info athttps://salusburyworld.org.uk/2020project/Poster card, felt tip pens

On-line translation app

https://kidworldcitizen.org/birthdays-around-world/

VOCBULARY 1 VOCBULARY 2 VOCBULARY 3 VOCBULARY 4recollection - the action of remembering or recalling something

aspire - to seek to attain or accomplish a particular goal

supersonic - having, caused by, or relating to a speed greater than the speed of sound. Can imply an immense power of speed.

heritage - features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages, or buildings, which come from the past and are still important

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According to the UN Refugee Convention, the definition of a refugee is someone who…

‘Owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country’ (Article 1, 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees)

KEY QUESTION 1 KEY QUESTION 2 KEY QUESTION 3 KEY QUESTION 4

The speaker tells us about her mother’s supersonic strength powers. What does she mean?

The speaker aspires to be like her mother. In what ways? Why?

Frequent relocation did not seem to bother the speaker as much as moving schools did. Can you explain why that may be?

Imagine being her classmate on her first day at your school. How would you have made her feel welcome?

ACTIVITIES

MFL and PSHCEE: Explain the term, ‘mother tongue’ to the pupils. Link the phrase to ‘first language’ and ‘native speaker’. Identify any examples of such in the classroom.

Create a Happy Birthday poster, featuring the saying in all the different languages spoken in the classroom and any foreign language known or being taught (at school or home). Use bright felt tip pens to make the poster attractive and display in the classroom or around the school. If ‘Happy Birthday’ in Somali (the speaker’s first language) hasn’t been written, be sure to find out what it would sound and look like; add it to the poster. Practise the phrase in the different languages and celebrate the diversity in the room.

After watching the video, ask the pupils to reflect on what made the little girl so happy on her birthday. Empathise with her experience by thinking about one’s own birthdays. Consider what your four-year-old self really liked! Invite the pupils to gather a list of things or wishes they would like for their own birthday. Model both material and immaterial answers. For example:

My Birthday Wish List

A new, puffy, gold dress To see my mum happy

My favourite chocolate cake Dancing with my friends

Friendship bracelets Staying up late

After pupils have compiled their own list, share and exchange their wishes. Are there any wishes that are common to all groups?

Further research opportunities, Humanities: How are milestones celebrated in different cultures? Create an informative poster on the tradition of celebrating birthdays in different parts of the world. What foods are enjoyed? Songs sung? Does the event include a special dance or ritual unfamiliar to you? Explore the customs of some countries in which refugees have arrived from. Probe the pupils: Why is this learning important?

Suggested resource: Birthdays Around the World (Around the World) by Margriet Ruurs and Ashley Barron 2017 Kids Can Press

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