PRESS RELEASE: Desperate Journeys comes to Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells
Imagine living in fear. Your town or village is being destroyed by war and fighting. Your community is burning. You face persecution. In order to live, you must escape, fleeing your home and the places you love.
For millions of people across the world, this is their reality.
According to the UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency) there is one person displaced every two seconds as a result of conflict or persecution. In 2018 it estimated that there were over 68.5 million people forcibly displaced worldwide. This is a 58% increase from 2009.
We read the numbers, we watch and hear the news, sometimes we even donate.
Yet it is almost impossible to really understand the trauma, emotional turmoil and difficulties these refugees are experiencing.
This is the purpose behind Empathy Action’s empathy building experience, “Desperate Journeys” bringing those who take part as close to the issues as possible.
‘Step into My Shoes’
“To understand a person you must first walk a mile in their shoes” – African Proverb
Desperate Journeys is a powerful immersive experience firmly based upon facts, first-hand accounts and case studies of refugees to highlight the human stories behind the headlines. Designed by local charity Empathy Action, it aims to increase people’s understanding of the global refugee crisis through building empathy with the 25.4 million refugees living in our world today whilst cultivating compassionate action.
It will be running from February 18th until March 31st 2019 at The Royal Victoria Place, Tunbridge Wells in a maze-like set on Level 2 of the shopping precinct. There are two forms: a one hour ‘Story version’ and two hour ‘Journey version’. Each simulation will host up to 30 people and is delivered by Empathy Action’s team of volunteers.
Responses to Desperate Journeys
Desperate Journeys, launched in 2018 and has been used at Tonbridge Baptist Church, Tonbridge Girls Grammar school and Sevenoaks School. Previous participants have said
‘Everyone should experience it’
‘You have opened my eyes to this crisis.’
‘An experience that will surely stay with me forever.’
‘An inspired, thought-provoking experience.’
Read Jenny Maslin’s ‘My Desperate Journeys‘ account.
Empathy Action is a Tunbridge Wells based charity with extensive experience in using immersive simulations to provide a glimpse into the lives of those most at need in the world. Designed to bring those taking part as close to the issues as possible, the experiences seek not only to educate but to also generate empathy and deepen understanding.
From this place of empathy, people are moved to take action, using their skills and resources to transform the world.
To find out more please contact: Ben Solanky (07792 419903) or book here.
Website: Empathyaction.org
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