By Noreen Meehan

Today's media doesn't always give you the full story about refugees and asylum seekers. In fact some newspapers set out to demonise and stereotype this group of people and say that they don't deserve even basic human rights.

Have you ever wondered what you could do to help refugees and asylum seekers in a constructive and direct way and counteract this negative image? If so then there is no better place to start than STAR - Student Action for Refugees.

STAR was the idea of student Andy Davies, at Nottingham University in 1994, and has grown into a unique organisation giving university students and young people the opportunity to:

• Learn about and raise awareness of refugee issues in innovative and exciting ways;
• Support refugees in a practical way in their local communities through volunteering;
• Campaign with and for the rights of refugees everywhere.

How young people are involved

The STAR network is made up of 35 university-based student groups across the UK, young people aged 16-25 in the STAR youth network, and Friends of STAR - individuals and organisations that support its work.

Katherine Blaker, Chief Executive of STAR says that there are many reasons why young people get involved with the network. Young people are interested in the cause of refugees and asylum seekers," she argues. "There is an awareness of the scapegoating through national media portrayal and they want to challenge that. Many young people learn of the issues facing this community through personal experience - making friends with refugees and asylum seekers. STAR's outreach activities and events at schools and universities also help to raise awareness and get young people involved."

What do STAR volunteers do?

STAR groups hold fun and inventive publicity stunts and fundraising events to raise awareness of refugee and asylum seeker issues in their peer groups and local communities.

I got involved in STAR the first day I heard of STAR at the Refugee Council in Brixton. I found the name STAR - students, action and refugees - so beautiful and full of hope that I couldn't resist it," explains Guinah, a STAR Regional Representative for Wales. "Getting involved with STAR was a unique opportunity to meet other young people and students to discuss all the issues surrounding asylum seekers and refugees in the United Kingdom. I joined STAR as a youth member and this year I started a STAR group at Atlantic College where I am a student. The Atlantic College group is the first group that will combine youth and student members."

Members also work with refugee organisations in their local areas as mentors, teaching English and giving support at drop-in centres. Members get involved campaigning on specific issues that are often very relevant to their own locality which impact on refugees and asylum seekers within their own community.

John McGeachy, a member of STAR Group Cardiff, particularly values the work he's done with young refugees in the Kid's club - a project that works with refugee children and the children of asylum seekers in Cardiff. The best aspect of the 'Kid's club' is that it simply gives the kids the chance to meet up with friends that they would have otherwise found it difficult to see," he says. "Looking at the 'Kid's Club' through the scout hall windows, an onlooker might see - amongst the laughter, glitter and glue - a rare piece of stability in an otherwise fragile world."

Starting your own group

So what if there is no group near where you live? Why not start a group yourself? STAR's national office in London will give you all the help you need to start a group. There are two outreach workers from the national office to support members of the network and often local STAR groups work in partnership with local refugee and asylum seeker organisations.

Improving the lives of refugees and asylum seekers

At the National Conference in November 2005, refugees explained how they found the organisation stimulating and encouraging and how it allowed them to be supported in a fun and informal environment. "STAR has provided young refugees and asylum seekers with a platform through which they can self advocate," says Katherine Blaker. "It also offers opportunities for them to engage in a variety of activities, broadening their horizons and equipping them with skills, confidence and experience."

So why is STAR so important? Katherine says: STAR is unique in that everything it does is young people led - something that is much needed in the field of refugee work. STAR raises awareness and engages young people in issues of domestic and international significance, but also offers localised, practical support to refugees and in doing so breaks down barriers between communities."

Search the do-it.org.uk database for volunteering opportunities with refugees and asylum seekers in your area.

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