Merrigong Theatre Company has joined forces with community groups to celebrate the positive contributions of refugees to society.

A collection of free events will be held on Wednesday June 21 at Wollongong Town Hall as part of Refugee Week.

Anecdotes and poetry will be used to share experiences from a range of cultures which make up the melting pot of Wollongong.

A Mile In My Shoes will feature four stories from four Illawarra residents of refugee backgrounds who want to share their journey and transition – as well as food from Liberia, Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar.

This will be accompanied by a podcast/sound exhibition (running from June 19 to 23).

Other events include a multilingual rhymetime for pre-school aged children with stories, songs and games.

Primary and secondary school students from refugee backgrounds will share their own original poems, written both in first language and in English, which will also make up A Poetry Object installation at the hall (on exhibition from June 19 to 23).

Organisations involved include Strategic Community Assistance to Refugee Families (SCARF), Culture Bank Wollongong, Warrawong High School Intensive Language Centre, Red Room Poetry and the NSW Department of Education.

For more information and RSVP information visit: www.merrigong.com.au 

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