Megan Scarlett (left), Diatra Farasha(middle) and Emmanuelle Brindamour(right) three winners of the refugee poetry contest pose for pictures at Aki Studio Theatre in Regent Park to mark World Refugee Day.
Megan Scarlett (left), Diatra Farasha(middle) and Emmanuelle Brindamour(right) three winners of the refugee poetry contest pose for pictures at Aki Studio Theatre in Regent Park to mark World Refugee Day.
Whether it’s an emotional journey about the love-hate relationship with one’s war-torn homeland, the metaphor of a forest in a storm or one’s flight for survival, the entries to a poetry contest showcase young Canadians’ empathy and knowledge of the global refugee crisis.
The contest — started in 2007 by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugee’s Toronto office and COSTI Immigrant Services — aims to bring human rights education and awareness of the refugee situation to Canadian classrooms.
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“By asking youth to write poetry about refugees and human rights, we hope to encourage Canada’s future to think as humanitarian and compassionate leaders towards their brothers and sisters living worldwide,” said Rana Khan of the UNHCR.
COSTI’s Mario Calla said the submissions showed the young poets’ empathy and appreciation toward refugee issues. “Their understanding and compassion is often expressed in moving and, sometimes very creative, ways.”
Judge Mario Calla on Diatra Farasha:
“The judges were impressed with the complexity of feelings so eloquently expressed. Diatra says of her war-torn country, ‘I loath you tremendously/For you have scarred me unbearably.’ She goes on to say how the hatred will morph into remission and forgiveness. The poem provides insights into the emotional turmoil suffered by refugees.”
Judge Calla on Emmanuelle Brindamour:
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“Emmanuelle used the concept of a forest as a metaphor for the refugee experience. She talks of a ‘growing, thriving forest’ until ‘a storm shattered our roots.’ She maintains the metaphor by alluding to the refugees’ flight by saying, we ‘sent our leaves and seeds for new beginnings’ and how ‘we grow taller and deeper into our new ground.’ Her poem presents a creative way of understanding the refugee experience.”
Judge Rana Khan on Megan Scarlett:
“‘After all, my words won’t die, even though I will’ poignantly captures the transcendental power of poetry and its ability to shift our thinking and perhaps our action. The poem is about a poor, ill child who has no access to health care. . . and has a surprise ending with the mother’s voice finishing the poem, announcing the death of her child.”
Nicholas
Keung is a Toronto-based reporter covering immigration for the
Star. Follow him on Twitter: @nkeung.
