REFUGEE JOURNEYS
Lesson 1: Mapping country of origin
Learning outcome
Participants will be able to identify & map countries of origin and countries of asylum.
Lesson resources
- Refugee journeys
- World map/atlas
Step 1. Mapping
Ask students to use a map to locate the countries of origin of the people in the short stories at Roads to Refuge » Refugee journeys » Seeking refuge » Our experiences.
- “We were so scared, moving around from house to house, taking everything with us…”Abdul Kader, Syria (UNHCR)
- “As a child, my school was burnt down and no Hazara were allowed to get an education,...” Karim, Afghanistan (Refugee Council of Australia)
- “I see my mother in my dreams, cleaning the yard of our home, and think of her when I am awake,…” Pasonata, Southern Sudan (UNHCR)
- “They burnt our house and drove us out by shooting,…” Mohamed (Rohingyha refugee from Myanmar’s Rakhine State (Refugee Council of Australia)
Ask students to write down the name of the countries surrounding those listed above, and to familiarise themselves with the geographical area (for example: physical borders, names of neighbouring countries).
Step 2. Research
Ask students to prepare a fact file on each person’s country of origin and present it to the class (individually or in groups - each group could use a different case study). Refer to the Useful websites section for country profile links.
Fact files could include:
- Languages spoken
- Religion/s
- Population
- Types of food eaten
- Ruling government
- Ethnic groups
- Celebrations - cultural/ religious
- Occupations/lifestyle (urban/ rural)
- Education
Step 3. Presentation
Students report back to the class - either oral or visual presentation.