WeWork to celebrate World Refugee Week through culinary experiences, workshops, and a pop-up shop, during a week-long festival held at WeWork Devonshire Square in London
WeWork, the global space and services provider that fosters collaboration, has today announced that its Devonshire Square space will host a week-long festival, starting 18th June, to celebrate World Refugee Week in the UK.
The festival follows on from WeWork’s Refugee Initiative, which aims to bring together companies and refugees in an effort to expand opportunities and build a brighter future for all.
The week-long festival is open to both WeWork members and non-members, and tickets are available online for the following events:
Date: 18th June, 6.30pm
Come and watch a special screening of the award-winning film, CAPERNAUM, ahead of its commercial release as part of World Refugee Week and in support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. All ticket proceeds will be donated to UNHCR. Ticket includes popcorn.
Live Music
Date: 18th & 20th June (12 – 2pm)
Enjoy live music in the courtyard of Devonshire Square with two refugee artists – star of The Voice Middle East, Hamsa Mounif and Syrian guitarist, Kareem Ghali.
Lunch and learn with Groundwork/ UNHCR
Date: 19th June, 12.30-1.30pm
Along with Groundwork and UNHCR, WeWork is hosting an informative ‘Lunch and Learn’ to discuss refugee employment in the UK, and the skills that businesses need to unlock the potential of a highly-skilled workforce.
Migrateful cooking class with refugee chef, Noor
Date: 19th June, 6-9.30pm
Price: £35 pp
Test your kitchen skills with an intimate after-work cooking class with refugee cook, Noor. The class is available for up to 15 people.
MADE51 Pop Up Showcase
Date: 20th & 21st June
WeWork has partnered with UNHCR to showcase MADE51, a global brand for artisanal home décor and accessories crafted by refugees and brought to life by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. The exhibition in Devonshire Square will be the largest public display of MADE51 products to date and so, to celebrate this moment, UNHCR UK is launching a crowdfunding campaign to bring the MADE51 collection to Chelsea, London, for a pop-up sale this autumn: if they meet their goals, it will be the world’s first-ever refugee-made home store.
Photography exhibition: Life in Syria
Date: 19th – 21st June
Life in Syria is an ongoing photographic project and book which aims to show the reality that millions of Syrians are forced to live every day. The book collects the imagery of five Syrian photographers, showing some of the moments that have left their mark on them between 2011-2016. On display – just outside 8 Devonshire Square during Refugee Week – will be 27 of these images, chosen by the photographers themselves.
Refugee chefs food stations
Date: 19th – 21st June (between 12 – 2pm, and 6 – 9pm)
Throughout the week, lunch will be served by refugee vendors, including Nigerian inspired food by Migrateful, Ethiopian delicacies served by Delina, and Sri Lankan flavours brought to you by Papi’s Pickles.
These events are in collaboration between WeWork, UNHCR and Go Fund Me, to help fundraise for world’s first-ever pop-up shop opening in September where goods are made by refugees. Over the week, there will also be sessions from UNHCR and Groundwork discussing the organisations’ purposes, how to hire refugees and the benefits for businesses. LinkedIn will also be hosting a coaching session for refugee candidates to help prepare for interviews.
Mathieu Proust, General Manager, WeWork UK & Ireland says, “After the success of our Refugee Week 2018 activities, we are excited to be hosting this week-long festival in support of World Refugee Week 2019. We have created a diverse range of events to take place here in London. Our aim is to bring people together, raise awareness of refugees in the UK and encourage a greater understanding of the reality of refugee experiences.
‘We are proud to be supporting refugees with our WeWork Refugee Initiative, and we believe that by working together, every person and every community can powerfully effect positive change around the world. At WeWork, our mission is to create a world where people make a life, not just a living, and this initiative truly encompasses that. I look forward to welcoming people to our Devonshire Square space in London to come together and celebrate World Refugee Week.”
To learn more about the festival and get tickets for the different events, visit here.