Date: 17 May 2022
Clean off your walking boots and grab your sleeping bag and rucksack, as after a two-year pause the Refugee Tales walks are setting off yet again!
Stories of asylum seekers travelling hundreds of miles from war torn countries or lands in political discourse has been part of news headlines for a good number of years.
Refugee Tales is a project that aims to raise awareness of the struggles many go through just to find a safe and secure place to rebuild their lives.
Every summer since 2015, its walkers have made a large scale walk over several days, putting on free evening arts events with music and performed stories from those who have experienced these struggles first-hand.
This year will see the group of walkers travel across most of the county and diocese over their 5-day walk. Starting from Merstham in Surrey and heading through Dorking, Guildford, Farnham and Alton, before arriving at their final destination, Winchester.
As a supporter of the group, Bishop Jo will be sending the walkers off from Holy Trinity Church on the Guildford to Farnham leg of their journey and is hoping to join them for a few miles from Puttenham.
This 5-day journey will cover nearly 60 miles in total, walking on average around 12 miles a day.
“Participating in the walk changed me, as well as others.” Explained a previous walker. “We shared pleasures and laughter and held each other through darkness and pain. Our desire for the end of indefinite detention and the welfare of refugees and asylum seekers became even more fierce and focused through the experience.”
The walk is taking place from 2nd to 6th July and is open for anyone to join. To book a place, as either a day-walker or the whole 5-days, or find out more about the free art events, visit the Refugee Tales website.