Teaching ideas

REFUGEE JOURNEYS

Lesson 3: Where do people seek asylum

Learning outcome

Participants will be able to identify the reasons for population movement by asylum seekers, refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons, and develop empathy.

Lesson resources

Step 1. Roads to Refuge website

Explore Roads to Refuge » Refugee journeys (Flight and Seeking refuge).

Ask students to identify and locate three cities and/or refugee camps across the globe where refugees might seek asylum/ shelter.

Step 2. Investigation - refugee camps

Ask students to research information on refugee camps around the world. They might like to consider:

  • Location of refugee camps
  • Who manages camp/s (UNHCR or other?)
  • Conditions in camps (bedding/ food/hygiene)
  • Medical services
  • Access to education
  • Demographics- is it just for women and children or men as well?

Step 3. Discussion

Show the DVD Roads to Refuge » Refugee journeys and refer to the resource Roads to Refuge interviewees. Identify the country of first asylum for each interviewee.
Discussion points could include:

  • Services needed
  • Services available
  • Services not available
  • Safety
  • Differences between a refugee camp and an urban area

Step 4. Visual journey/diary/documentary

Ask students to choose a range of images depicting life at each stage of the journey for someone seeking refuge. For example: Was Nun, a film about a refugee journey by the stage 5 German class from Trinity Catholic College, Goulburn (Best drama 2013, NSW Modern Language Teachers Association (MLTA) Linguafest competition)