What makes you think Walking Helps?
What’s Refugee Tales’ evidence for asserting that walking alongside people with lived experience of detention is helpful? How do we know whether the walking and the Tales support those who need support, or inform those who don’t know about the issues?
Below are just a very few of the comments gathered from walkers since the first Walk in 2015, comments from people with experience of detention and with none all mixed in together – as we are when walking.
Sal J. (one of the team responsible for gathering feedback since 2016)
I tend to be very judgemental and make snap decisions about people but I’ve been repeatedly surprised – it’s turned my prejudices right over.
The horror here is absorbed in the context of kindness and lovingness.I found I could stay with it.
Not big enough measure to say what Refugee Tales is for me: for rice in grams, for water in pounds, for gold in ounces – for Refugee Tales – ?
Things that made me smile today …
The beautiful scenery
Reed warblers
Wildflowers at the start of the day
Pausing on the cliffside, lying in the grass and soaking up the atmosphere and sun
Ver grandes sonrisas en las caras de algunas refugidos esta manana (seeing big smiles on the faces of refugees this morning)
Free muffins
Giant bull on the horizon
Seeing M. present wildflowers to H., the speaker
Boys doing press-ups before walk and run after!
5 walkers running 5 miles and nearly beating the bus
Sharing the song of the wren
Diversity of ages united by a cause
And, at random …
Walking on shingle is like a mouse swimming
Radical empathy and grassroots kindness
We danced our bottoms off
Vigilant witness
Now I stand on all my legs (indicating RT walkers all around)
When you put a chain round another man’s neck the other end’s round your own
Before I thought all English people bad. Now I know so many good, everyday more. You come walk with me for 5 days – not for business, not for you, you come for me.
Enjoyed a lot, say no more words
Met new friends so no more end
Ship can sink but friendship can’t sink
Please keep carry on this service with enjoy