What a magnificent evening! Poetry on the theme of 'Refuge' shared with a very full house.
Judges told us about their deliberations and the significance both of poetry as well as this most fundamental of themes, their consensus on the winners as well as the quality of the entries.
The winners of our poetry competition read their poems and received their certificates, moving the audience with a varied and splendid interpretation of the theme. Through the portrait of a refugee from Felicity Stephens' 'Hand to Heart', to an escape into nature in 'Emily Bronte' by Linda M James, a portrait of 'Alciston' by Margaret Wilmot and the moving declaration, 'All are welcome here' by Nathalie Wilson.
Our second set was the poetry and the stories of Jade Amoli-Jackson and Tanya Rupende, two members of the Freedom from Torture 'Write to Life Group' from London. The absolute love in the room was echoed by the words of Jade and Tanya.
Jade Amoli-Jackson was born in Uganda. She trained as a journalist, and then went to work as a sports reporter on Uganda Television/Radio and local papers. She left Uganda after experiencing torture and persecution, and sought asylum in the UK in 2001. Jade is a member of the Freedom From Torture Write to Life group, and volunteers at The Refugee Council. She published her first book of poems “Moving a Country” in 2013.
Tanya Rupande was born in Zimbabwe where she was a primary school teacher for 15 years. Tanya and her family spoke out against their regime in 1999 as it became oppressive and violent. Some of her family were maimed and killed.. Tanya fled. She arrived in UK in 2013 and was put in touch with Freedom From Torture in 2017. She loves nature, gardening, and writing.
The words from these women cast a spell of sincerity and truth around the room - far away as we are in Eastbourne from the troubles of warring peoples and nations, we were rallied to unity by their warmth and graciousness and their resilience in the face of unimaginable plight.
Our evening was admirably rounded up by contributions from our very own poetry community and beyond, with poems on the theme from Louise Walton, an active member of Eastbourne's Stand up to Racism; Peter Wathen, a leading member of the Downland Poets; Tales of Jean, Philipa Coughlan, and Alvin Culzac.
A truly outstanding evening to be sure.
If you would like to hear more about the organisations who contributed to our evening, there are links below, but if you email John Myers, our founder, he'll be able to give you much more detail.
Thank you to all who came to participate and all who came to listen, we need and appreciate you all.
Videos of our winners and guest poets reading their work can be found on our you Tube site:
Freedom from Torture - Write to Life
Stand up to Racism
Networx
Sanctuary Cafe
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