SOME of the best chats are over a cup of tea. This week, a new pop-cafe in Bradford offers the chance to start up a conversation about what it means to be forced to flee your home, and hear stories of refugees who have done just that.
UK for UNHCR - the UN Refugee Agency’s national charity partner for the UK - is launching a series of cafe takeovers featuring ‘tea and talks’ with refugee storytellers.
Marking Refugee Week, the pop-up will bring traditions and flavours from around the world to Bradford, where stories and experiences from refugees will be shared over a brew.
The Cuppa Hope campaign is inspired by findings that most tea drinkers believe having a cuppa with someone can create space for a great conversation. Free pop-up cafe events are being held across the country, with members of the public invited to meet with refugees from around the world, over a cuppa and a chat, with the tea rituals that refugees have brought with them to the UK.
Cuppa Hope cafes got underway in Edinburgh last week, and the next one is in London on Wednesday then in Bradford on Thursday, June 20 - World Refugee Day.
The campaign is also encouraging people to brew a Cuppa Hope at home, by trying tea recipes from the around the world, learning from refugees and sharing #cuppahope on social media.
The Cuppa Hope spaces aim to embrace a sense of calm, comfort and contentment, which we all get from tea, providing welcoming spaces where refugees and former refugees who have found safety in the UK can share their stories, experiences and build meaningful connections over a cuppa.
Guests at the pop-up events will be invited to try a range of tea practices, tasting different recipes and hearing stories from Bangladesh, Syria, Afghanistan, East Africa and Ukraine. The pop-ups will be held across two sessions throughout the day, each limited to 30 people.
Emma Cherniavsky, Chief Executive of UK for UNHCR, said: “Cuppa Hope is about so much more than drinking tea - it’s creating an environment where barriers are broken down and bridges are built. With a simple cup of tea, you can start a conversation and extend the hand of friendship to someone who is new to your community.
“Wherever you are, if you love tea, you can be part of Cuppa Hope and show refugees around the world that they’re not alone - whether at one of our pop-up cafes, online or at home.
“I have loved trying tea in new ways and am so grateful to the storytellers who have shared their personal tea traditions and started these new conversations. We hope that everyone who takes part in Cuppa Hope learns more about what it means to be forced to flee, which they can then share with others over their next cup.”
Those attending the pop-ups will have chance to try a new Cuppa Hope blend; a black tea developed with artisan tea company Quintessential, which takes “a sensory journey through its smooth, invigorating and full-bodied flavours”.
At the first Cuppa Hope pop-up in Edinburgh, heartfelt conversations shared stories of resilience, hope and aspirations for the future. Mouhyedin, a former refugee who hosted his own tea & talk at the cafe, said: “Tea holds such a special place in the daily lives of every Syrian, so to be able to share a small taste of my country’s culture was incredibly rewarding.
“I believe tea is a great way for people to connect from all walks of life, share stories and learn, so being involved in Cuppa Hope means a lot to me. Living here in the UK has made me feel like an ambassador for my country, so I am proud to fly the banner for Syria on days like these.”
Other Refugee Storytellers include:
* Hessam, who works in digital marketing. His family’s journey from Afghanistan to the UK is detailed in The Boy with Two Hearts, co-written with his brother, adapted into a successful play.
* Mouhyedin, a Syrian refugee, chef and restaurateur who founded Falafel Fella, a vegan-friendly restaurant inspired by tastes of his homeland.
* Tania, who fled Kyiv with her 10-year-old son Daniel, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now in the UK, Tania advocates for Ukrainian refugees and works with a charity, co-ordinating community support for refugees. She co-founded the 2BWell CIC initiative supporting the mental wellbeing of Ukrainians affected by war and displacement.
* William, a British-Bangladeshi based in North Yorkshire, who is an author and freelance journalist, anti-racism campaigner and advocate for the rights of displaced people in the UK.
* Yana, a Ukrainian refugee who owns NENYA Fashion, promoting Ukrainian products internationally.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. It delivers life-saving assistance, helps safeguard human rights and develops solutions ensuring people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future.
* Bradford’s pop-up cafe is at Kunafa, 150 Thornton Road, on Thursday, June 20, 10.30am-12noon and 1-2.30pm.
To book or find out more about Cuppa Hope visit https://www.unrefugees.org.uk/uk-unhcr-cuppa-hope-refugee-week/?utm_source=pressrelease&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=GB_PS_EN_cuppahope2024
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