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'A very inspiring trip' | Comedians gig at the Calais refugee camp

'A very inspiring trip'

Comedians gig at the Calais refugee camp

A group of British-based comedians have travelled to the Calais refugee camp to put on a stand-up gig for the asylum-seekers there.

Aisling Bea, Sara Pascoe, Deborah Frances-White, Harriet Kemsley, Sarah Bennetto, Ophelie Hocquard and Susan Wokoma also volunteered in the Refugee Kitchen charity.

They also worked with the Refugee Info Bus charity and the Refugee Women's Centre while there.

Bea posted on Instagram: 'Despite obvious moments of sadness hearing some of the people's stories, we had such an amazing experience in Calais.

'It's so easy to be cynical and lose hope that there's anything we can do, but sometimes the act of trying and people knowing that you're seen and that you matter is worth a million bucks.

'This will hopefully be the first of many trips and I would throughly recommend getting in touch about volunteering. It may not be easy but it fills your heart all the same'

And of the Refugee Kitchen, she added: 'They need people to volunteer and money to help run it. I personally feel there is only something to gain from looking outside our own troubles and experience bubble and it was a very inspiring trip.'

Here are some of the social media posts from the event, which was organised by Frances-White's Guilty Feminist podcast:

 

(This is Steve, an angel, one of the founders of the kitchen, watch his video) Despite obvious moments of sadness hearing some of the people's stories, we had such an amazing experience in Calais with @helprefugeesuk @refugeecommunitykitchen & volunteers this week. Most of what they do is about showing humanity & love during quite a cruel & scary time & giving dignity & some hope to people in quite terrible times in their lives. In the kitchen Steve and the volunteers make & dole out 1400 hot, fresh healthy meals every day to families, kids & many young teens on their own. We helped with the kitchen & distribution & everyone both the volunteers & refugees were so kind and sweet and polite despite the police having come and destroyed their tents and smashing some of their phones the night before. They need people to volunteer & money to help run it. I personally feel there is only something to gain from looking outside our own troubles & experience bubble & it was a very inspiring trip.

A post shared by Aisling Bea (@weemissbea) on

A giant thank you to @theguiltyfeminist who organised #ComicsForCalais with @helprefugeesuk - we worked with the volunteers then did a gig for them that night which live streamed to a sold out, fundraising sister gig at The Union Chapel where @jessicafostekew was holding down the fort. It's so easy to be cynical & lose hope that there's anything we can do, but sometimes the act of trying & people knowing that you're seen & that you matter is worth a million bucks. This will hopefully be the first of many trips & I would throughly recommend getting in touch about volunteering. It may not be easy but it fills your heart all the same. Some volunteers work at the Women's centre @refugee_womens_centre & just play with the kids. You can also buy everything from jumpers to tents to a torch at the #ChooseLove online shop. 💗

A post shared by Aisling Bea (@weemissbea) on

Published: 4 May 2018

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