London Update: Nov 2019
ServiceSpace
--Trishna Shah
3 minute read
Nov 3, 2019

 



November 2019 - London Update



Last month, Ani hosted a beautiful evening of Kabir songs offered kindly by Vipul Rikhi, whose poetic translations opened up many hearts in the circle. In a couple of weeks, we look forward to welcoming you to a very special Awakin Circle with Gulwali Passarlay in Pimlico on Thursday, Nov 14th. Having met Gulwali a few years back and subsequently reading his memoir, The Lightless Sky, we've been moved to invite him to share stories with our community from his journey to the UK as a 12-year-old refugee. His experience of fleeing life-threatening conflict in his rural village in search of safety entirely on his own in an unknown land will move you to tears and open your hearts. There are still a few spaces left for this gathering so please take a moment to RSVP if you plan to attend, older children are also welcome to join!

Awakin Circles: Pimlico, Harrow, Mill Hill and Shoreditch

Each month, you're invited to join Awakin Circles at locations around London, where we meditate for the first hour, engage in a circle of sharing based on a reading, and conclude with a home-cooked vegetarian dinner together.

  • Thursday, Nov 14th at 6:30pm -- (Pimlico, Central London) Guest Speaker Awakin - RSVP here
  • Wednesday, Nov 20th at 7:00pm (Harrow, Northwest London)
  • Wednesday, Nov 27th at 7:00pm (Mill Hill, North London)
  • Thursday, Dec 19th at 7:00pm (Shoreditch, Central London)
To RSVP, visit Awakin London and use the drop-down box in the top right corner to select a date/location.


Awakin Circle with Child Refugee, Gulwali Passarlay: Thurs. Nov 14 @ 6:30pm (Pimlico)



On Thursday, November 14th, we invite you to come together for a reflective gathering with child refugee, Gulwali Passarlay, who is graciously traveling from Bolton to be with us. At the age of only 12, Gulwali fled his motherland against his own wishes and made a treacherous journey alone across Iran and Turkey to Bulgaria, where he was thrown off a moving train then deported back to Iran and imprisoned. He managed to escape, ended up in an overcrowded boat sailing from Turkey to Greece when he narrowly escaped death. After arriving in Italy, which was the first place he felt safe and looked after, he suffered nightmares and intense emotions. With hopes of reconnecting with his brother in the UK, from whom he was separated early in their travels, he made his way to "The Jungle" in Calais and persisted in eventually finding a way to get to Dover in the back of a truck transporting bananas. Sadly, Gulwali's nightmare was still not over as the authorities wouldn't believe that he was only 13 years old, so he was denied foster care and the opportunity to go to school. Eventually, he was fostered and attended a good school, which seeded hope and the possibility of many more positive experiences, including carrying the Olympic torch in 2012. Since arriving in the UK in 2007, Gulwali has achieved beyond all odds with the help of a few people who made all the difference in supporting him to settle into life in the UK.

Upon meeting Gulwali a few years back, we were incredibly moved by his presence, courage and passion to serve others, who find themselves in similar situations and to spread awareness of the plight of refugee children. Join us for a dialogue with Gulwali to hear his moving life story and open your hearts to the realities of life as a refugee in a foreign land. For more info and to RSVP visit this event page.

We look forward to being together with you at a gathering this month.

With love and gratitude,

Trishna, Ani, Mita, Vicky, Shamash, Ewa and Prashant

Visit Awakin London for the Latest Info >>
 

Posted by Trishna Shah on Nov 3, 2019