THE CITY CIRCLE

 

A group of British professional visited the refugee camps in eastern Sudan and recorded the situation in a short documentary, "Remembering the Forgotten".  We will be screening the documentary followed by Q&A and time for discussion with the speakers.

 

This work is part of the efforts of ETHAR RELIEF, a non-governmental, non-political humanitarian aid organisation that operates currently in the United Kingdom and Sudan. It is planning to extend its operations gradually to the rest of the Horn of Africa countries in the near future. It is dedicated to helping people in need regardless of their ethnic origin, political affiliation, gender or religious belief. 

It has aims of improving and working towards:

     - Health and Nutrition

     - Water Supply and Sanitation

     - Sustainable Livelihoods

     - Institutional Development and Social Organisation

     - Education and Vocational Training

     - Orphan Sponsorship

ETHAR's objectives are to undertake any charitable activities for the benefit of the people from the Horn of Africa, in particular but not exclusively Eritrea, as well as those Eritrean refugees living in the Sudan, United Kingdom and in other parts of Africa.

In October 2009, a group of Birmingham-based professionals travelled with ETHAR RELIEF to the refugee camps of Eastern Sudan that has been home to thousands of Eritrean refugees for over 50 years.  Whilst there, they made a documentary that would try to capture the truth of their plight and tragedy.

 

The speakers: 

Sultan Omar, CHAIRMAN OF ETHAR RELIEF

Born in Eritrea, a refugee who has travelled independently since the age of 15 to various countries such as Djibouti, Saudia Arabia, Sudan, Egypt and Qatar. Sultan settled in Norway and started a new life there. Since then, having moved to the UK and not forgetting the plight of the people whom he left behind, he poignantly realised that no one was actively working for a solution for the Eritrean expatriates who as victims of political wars have become expatriates in many other countries, especially in Africa and living under very harsh conditions. He therefore worked tirelessly to establish the charity Ethar Relief single-handedly in June 2006, starting with very simple aims and goals and since then Ethar Relief has excelled and achieved milestones in alleviating the suffering of Eritrean-refugees in Eastern Sudan. Ethar Relief is the first charity operating in Eastern Sudan for serving the needs of Eritrean refugees and answering to their cries of desperation. 

Samir Rauf, VOLUNTEER

Born and raised in Birmingham, Samir graduated from SOAS in History and Economics in 2003 and read for an MA in International Relations and Security at the University of Birmingham thereafter.  He has travelled across the Middle East and North Africa undertaking formal Islamic study in Mauritania and Yemen, as well as working as a lecturer in the UAE. He currently teaches at a secondary school in Birmingham specialising in the Humanities, and is also involved with various youth organisations and charities including ETHAR RELIEF.  He is midway through an MA in Education researching 'Pakistani Boys' underachievement in the State School'. Samir is married with three children.

Sajid Sarwar, VOLUNTEER

Sajid is an Assistant Head at Alhijrah secondary School in Birmingham and is involved with numerous charities and initiatives across the Midlands. He recently returned from Gaza where he travelled with UK based professionals to help deliver aid and relief. He has worked tirelessly over the years to improve the lives of children in the UK and abroad; most notably through the UK Muslim Scouts Movement and Read Foundation working for children in Kashmir. Sajid will take his passion for motorcycles a step further next year and aim to do a charity ride solo from the UK to Mecca. Sajid is married with four children.