School talks
The Asylum Speakers education programme has a clear goal… for every school-aged child in the UK to have heard a story of displacement first hand.
The school children of today will become the decision-makers of tomorrow, shaping the future of the UK. Our aim is for their decisions to be grounded in empathy, understanding, and first-hand experience of meeting refugees and asylum seekers.
We currently have five ‘Asylum Speakers' who have graduated from our public speaking programme. They are ready to sensitively and carefully share their personal stories, free from any political agenda, through our educational programme in schools across the UK.
Our goal is for students to see themselves in these inspirational individuals, encourage empathy and create impact far beyond the talk.
The Power of Personal Stories
We believe in the power of personal, relatable, human stories to change hearts and minds. We have seen first-hand the impact of amplifying these voices that otherwise far too often go unheard, and we will continue to do so - with your help.
Our carefully selected 'Asylum Speakers' share their first-hand experiences face-to-face, creating a unique and impactful learning environment. These stories:
Educate and inspire
Encourage empathy and unity
Promote integration and understanding
Our Offering
At the heart of our programme lies a powerful hour long educational experience designed for UK students, from primary school to university.
Starting with an overview of the ‘refugee crisis' and the future of migration, we bring the real stories behind the headlines to life through our ‘Asylum Speakers' talks, leaving audiences inspired and open to celebrating our diverse journeys and cultures.
A Lasting Impact
Remember those inspiring guest speakers from your school days? Our programme aims to create similarly unforgettable experiences. The impact of these sessions extends far beyond the classroom, fostering:
Positive changes in attitudes towards migration
A legacy of inclusivity and empathy
A deeper realisation of our shared humanity
Join us in creating a more understanding and compassionate society, one story at a time.
No medium is as powerful as hearing stories first-hand, face-to-face, and sharing a space with someone who has lived them.
“We were absolutely delighted that Mez could also join us at our school and tell us a bit about his life. Hearing the details from Mez’s journey was almost surreal.
His courage and determination is incredible and the students were so engaged and clearly shocked by Mez’s journey. I think it is very easy for us to take what we have for granted, and Mez really allowed the students to appreciate this. Mez truly opened the students’ and teachers’ eyes to events that are not publicised or common knowledge, and we are so glad that Mez is now safe.
The students loved the workshop, it was a truly unique experience and I am so glad we were able to be a part of this.”
-
Miss Cartwright - Head of Drama, Brampton Manor School
“Giel’s talk blew my mind. It genuinely left me forever changed. I have never heard a story like that first hand and I will never forget it. What an honour and a privilege to be in the same room as he took the time and every to tell it. I can’t thank him enough for opening my eyes and educating me so much in such a short space of time. Definitely the best speaker we’ve ever had at our school”
-
Sophia - Year 12, Canford School
FAQs
-
For our School Programme, we charge £300, plus a £60 booking fee per speaker, along with any travel and accommodation expenses. This fee supports our Speakers by providing them with skills, a revenue stream, and a platform to share their narratives. It also helps us continue amplifying these important voices behind the statistics.
We understand that not all schools have the same resources. Our mission is for every school-aged child in the UK to hear a story of displacement first-hand, so we are committed to accommodating your budget whenever possible.
Let us know your budget using our dedicated enquiry form, and we will prepare a custom proposal for you. -
In a standard presentation, we cover:
An overview of the ‘refugee crisis’ and the future of migration
The media representation of the ‘refugee crisis’
Why people leave, the journeys they take and goals for the future
Using social media for positive change, the power of a story and connection
Living life with purpose and celebrating differences
But we can also include more specific themes to tailor our talks to your audience.
Additional themes we cover are:Life as an LGBT+ Refugee
Immigration Policy
A specific migration route or Geography (eg: East Africa, Afghanistan, Asia, etc)
And more!
-
Typically, we recommend 40 minutes for the whole story to unfold and to allow 20 minutes for questions, but are happy to accomodate your time constraints.
Just let us know what they are by completing our schools enquiry form.
-
Talks can be delivered in person at your school, university, or venue of your choice, or they can be conducted online. We typically use the school's screens and speakers for in-person sessions.If this setup is not possible, our speakers are trained to deliver engaging talks without any audio or visual aids.
Interested in booking a talk? Contact us on info@asylumspeakers.com to discuss the best delivery method for your needs. -
We select your ideal speaker based on various factors, such as specific themes you request and proximity to your school (if the talk is being delivered in person).
Our speakers are located across the UK, and we strive to pair you with a speaker who lives as close as possible to your location to provide students with a relatable, local story.
The presentation will be age-appropriate, non-political, and tailored to resonate with your audience. -
Our key priority is that every student feels safe and comfortable during the talk.
We recommend preparing your students beforehand, especially those from displaced backgrounds.
We are happy to provide resources and information to help with this upon request. Please contact us on info@asylumspeakers.com -
After the talk, we will provide:
An activity to help students better understand the experience of those who have had to flee their homes, which can be played in the classroom.
Links to resources for students to watch, read, and listen to for further learning.
We will also send a final invoice and a feedback form to learn from your experience.
We want to develop a long-standing relationship with your school and organise more talks to reach even more of your students in the future.