empthy exercise

Refugee camps spring up in Canadian cities

Posted by Tom Megginson | 14-05-2010 16:55 | Category: War & conflicts

No, it’s not Americans fleeing the horrors of their crashed real estate market. It’s an installation/event by Médecins Sans Frontières that takes the form of an outdoor reconstruction of an actual refugee camp. Inside, experienced MSF staff (doctors, nurses, logisticians) guide visitors through a 40 to 60 minute interactive tour explaining what people need to do to survive in a refugee or internally displaced people (IDP) crisis.

The Refugee Camp in the Heart of the City exhibit is an outdoor reconstruction of an actual refugee camp — but one with a collection of homemade shelters representing camps all around the world.  Visitors are invited to take an in-depth guided tour conducted by real MSF staff (doctors, nurses, logisticians).

During the tour, each visitor will learn some of the challenges a refugee or IDP faces in trying to access food, shelter, water and medical care. As I passed the camp on my way to work this morning, several groups of schoolchildren were being taken from shelter to shelter. And if I overheard properly, the guard at the entrance was actually soliciting “bribes” just to open the gate. (Nice touch of realism.)


Advertiser:
MÉDECINS SANS FRONTIÈRES (MSF)
Source:
Eyewitness