This World Refugee Day, on Saturday 20th June, a special online discussion with the writers of Shatila Stories will take place via Zoom.
Shatila Stories, published by Peirene Press in June 2018, is a work of collaborative fiction written by nine Syrian and Palestinian refugees living in the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon. The book was born out of a writing workshop facilitated by Peirene’s Meike Ziervogel and editor Suhir Helal, who wove together the writers’ own ‘Shatila stories’ into one beautiful narrative of love and loss.
Now, for the first time, Ziervogel, Helal and the book’s translator Nashwa Gowanlock will be joined by three of the writers themselves – Omar Khaled Ahmad, Rayan Mohamad Sukkar and Samih Mahmoud – for a special discussion to celebrate the anniversary of the book’s publication, led by Borderless Book Club host, Maddie Rogers. Kadria Hussein, director of Alsama Centre, will also be there to talk about her work with Alsama Project.
All proceeds from the event will go to the Alsama Project, to support refugee children and women in Shatila Camp. The organisation was established by Meike Ziervogel to educate refugee children and empower refugee women and girls. Alsama sets up education centres, sports hubs and social enterprises in areas of the Middle East affected by conflict. Their projects are run for – and, in large part, run by – refugee communities.
Shatila Stories can be bought from the Peirene website in advance of the discussion.
When: 20th June 2020 at 7.30pm
Where: Webinar via Zoom
£: Tickets are available from eventbrite. There is a suggested donation of £8+
More info: www.eventbrite.co.uk and www.peirenepress.com
Leave a comment