Afghanistan and Central Asian Association celebrates Refugee Week with their annual Summer Festival
On 23rd June, the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) will hold a summer festival to mark the annual Refugee Week and celebrate the vibrancy of Afghan culture.
The event in Lampton Park, Hounslow, will show case a range of performances from artists originally from Afghanistan, who have now settled in countries across Europe, America and Australia, including Maryam Wafa and Khalil Gudaz.
Festival-goers will enjoy a unique cultural experience participating in activities such as henna, facepainting, fashion shows and martial art workshops, as well as tasting cuisine from Afghanistan and other parts of Asia.
As a celebration of diversity and multiculturalism, the event will be attended by members of the Afghan community, as well as people from both the wider local community and further afield. This year’s event will be particularly popular with women and families and will provide a chance for all to promote community pride and cohesion. The day marks an opportunity to bring together different ethnic and cultural groups, celebrating the value and talent that refugees bring to London.
The event is hosted by the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association (ACAA) who work to help integrate refugees into life in the UK by providing services such as English language classes, cultural events, and support services for women.
Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi, Director of the ACAA, said:
“This is a really important festival to not only celebrate the multiculturalism that exists in Britain, but to also give those of us from Afghanistan and Central Asia, who have made their homes in the UK, the opportunity to connect and share our experiences about building a future in this country.
“I know that many in our community have a strong affinity with both Britain and Afghanistan, and enjoy and are a part of both cultures. Our thoughts are with those in Afghanistan living through uncertain times, and that is why it is so important for those of us living in Britain to come together and lead the way in upholding the spirit of our culture, in the hope of helping to foster Afghanistan’s progress.”
More about the event
Location: Lampton Park, Hounslow
Date: 23 June 2019
Time: 10am-8pm
About the ACAA
The Afghanistan & Central Asian Association (ACAA) was founded in 2001 by Dr. Nooralhaq Nasimi who had arrived in the UK with his wife and young family in a refrigerated container in 1999 seeking refuge from the Taliban. Prompted by local agencies and the local authority, the organisation sought to offer support to the increasing number of Afghan refugees arriving in London suffering from trauma and mental health due to the continued conflict in Afghanistan over the past four decades.
In the UK, we aim to empower our beneficiaries so that they can engage with and contribute to British society. We help them to better understand UK life and culture by providing social, cultural, language and educational activities. The core belief at the heart of the Afghanistan and Central Asian Association is bringing communities together.
In Afghanistan, we are seeking to promote human rights and democracy, and to focus our efforts on some of the country’s most vulnerable, including women, children, internally displaced people, disabled people and returnees.
For more information visit: https://acaa.org.uk/
