#REFUGENES: Rita Ora and Jamie Cullum front new campaign to highlight the plight of refugees
Pop artist Rita Ora, Singer Jamie Cullum and Comedian Ben Elton are just three of many prominent figures involved in a new campaign aimed at highlighting how refugees contribute to modern society and culture.
The campaign, kickstarted by the organisation 'Help Refugees', hopes to get refugees sharing their family's stories online under the hashtag #refugenes to show how they, and people like them, have integrated into modern society.
In a striking video, we hear from prominent figures in popular culture including architects, fashion designers and novelists, that share their harrowing stories of their refugee origins.
Rita Ora speaks about fleeing Kosovo with her family when she was just a baby.
Jamie Cullum tells us how his mother and fathers mother left Burma and Russia in troubled times and Comedian Ben Elton relayed his fathers story of coming to England at just 16 years of age, without a word of English and going on to become a Professor of Physics.
The campaign hopes to reach the public and encourage those among us with refugenes to share their incredible stories online under the hashtag #refugenes.
#Refugenes also hopes to show people how refugees have the potential to contribute to important parts of our society, community and culture. As well as raising awareness of the plight of refugees.
Since the escalation of the Syrian civil war and unrest across the Middle East and Africa over one million people have sought refugee in Europe.
To donate to Help Refugees log onto their website at www.helprefugees.org.uk and to find our more about the organisation follow them on instagram: @helprefugeesuk, Twitter: @Helprefugeesuk and Facebook: @HelprefugeesUK.
