Welcome to Refucast

Refucast is a podcast initiative for refugees in UK by Kubatana International Communications. Kubatana means togetherness in the Zimbabwean shona language as this concept was created in an attempt utilize technology to enlighten the masses about refugees within the UK.

The UNHCR which is the official body dealing with the global refugee issues, actually registered 8.4 million refugees at the end of 2005.

Kubatana International Communications would eventually like to train radio techniques at refugee camps but for now what refucast realized is that internet radio is global and is based upon technology which does not warrant strict regulation.

Refucast is a UK and worldwide program of arts, cultural and educational events due to the accessibility of the internet which celebrates the contribution of refugees in the UK.
The concept was started as a way to celebrate the positive contributions that refugees make to the UK and promote understanding about they reasons seek sanctuary and turn their experience into a positive thing.

Many people in the UK are confused about issues surrounding refugees and don’t always understand the reasons why people have to leave their countries.
However, many refugees around the world are just like us, but whose families and lives have been torn apart by war and conflict.

Refucast provides a great opportunity to explore some of these issues using the internet to provide podcasts of positive successful refugees and people who are directly affected and inspired by refugees.

People such as Roland Adgor refugee volunteer of the year who fled Cameron due to political persecution and Wiston Magunda a Zimbabwean native who used his opportunity to become the head of the psychiatric department at Winson Green prison.

Podcasts over the internet reach increasingly large audiences around the world and refucast would provide listerners with not only a diverse and innovative concept, but a chance to gauge a niche market with a large target audience and finally dispel the negative myths that plague refugees in the UK and highlight their positive attributes and their contribution within the UK society.

Listen to our sample Refucasts, subsribe them via RSS or iTunes and send us feedback to refucast@gmail.com

Listen to our sample Refucasts and find more information

Listen to our podcasts exploring our service, available technology and refugee experiences.

1. Welcome to Refucast. Hear what are the aims of the initiative and why.


powered by ODEO
(download)

2. Like so many others, Michael K Misindu, escaped persecution from his home in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Michael has studied in South Africa and now works in the Birmingham Job Centre as a refugee employment link officer, helping new arrivals to settle in jobs in the British society. Michael talked about the obstacles refugees must get through and his personal experiences.


powered by ODEO
(download)

3. Arian Taugozi, originally from the Kurdistan in Iraq, became a refugee at an early age when the former regime of the country attacked his area. First he moved to Iran to a refugee camp, but later on returned to his home to study. In 1999 the situation had gotten so much worse that he left Iraq and became a refugee in Britain. Arian talked to Refucast about his experiences and the ones of refugees in general.


powered by ODEO
(download)

4. Roland Agbor was awarded as the refugee volunteer champion of the year 2005. He has been volunteering with several projects in order to “fill his five days a week”, as he calls it. But although his initial motivation was to get out of the house and live an active life, he has achieved a lot of respect in the community and is acknowledged widely. Roland talked to Refucast about his experiences in work and encouraged other refugees to be active and enjoy the things they do. Much like he does in his position as a refugee link officer.


powered by ODEO
(download)

5. Nick Booth runs a community based Podcasting initiative Podnosh in Birmingham. As the technology is still relatively new, Refucast wanted to chat with him about some of its strengths and limitations. According to Nick podcasts are ideal for targeted audiences as they are able to cater to niche material which is accessible, portable and engaging.


powered by ODEO
(download)

6. Wiston Magunda left Zimbabwe, then Rhodesia during the time of the war of independence. He became a student in the United Kingdom but he lost his scholarship when Zimbabwe became independent. After that he found a way to study psychology and ended up being the head of the psychiatric department in Birmingham prison.

Wiston is the father of one half of Kubatana, Shauna Magunda. Listen to the interview where Shauna, as a second generation refugee, finds out about her roots.


powered by ODEO
(download)

7. Thank you for listening to Refucast. Here is what we do, how, why and how you can get Refucast to your community.


powered by ODEO
(download)

You can also subscribe Refucast via RSS or iTunes.