Hope for refugees through theatre
Hope for refugees through theatre
Malaysia currently hosts some 179,500 refugees registered with UNHCR and 2,640 of them are from Afghanistan. Many of the Afghan refugees arrived in Malaysia since 2001, fleeing conflict and persecution in their homeland. They have made Malaysia their temporary home until it is safe to go back.
With the spotlight on the recent and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Afghan refugees in Malaysia share their thoughts on the situation in Afghanistan, as well as their determination to not only keep their community strong and empowered while they are seeking refuge in Malaysia, but also to give back to the country that has given them protection.
Afghan refugee Saleh Sepas is the founder of Parastoo Theatre, a community theatre project for Afghan refugees in Malaysia to inspire change.
Saleh formed Parastoo Theatre as a symbol of what refugees can accomplish if given a chance.
"I wanted to show that refugees are not useless. We have skills, and we can help build society if we have the opportunity," said the 39-year-old father of three.
Saleh had graduated with a degree in Fine Arts in Kabul. While still in Kabul, Saleh began using the theatre to help children and women affected by war to find a voice.
The conflict in Afghanistan, which had made his work so essential, eventually forced his own family to flee. In 2016, Saleh, his wife, and three young children fled to Malaysia.
"I was just thinking of my family and how to keep them safe," he said. "I felt a deep sadness about leaving. I felt like I had fallen from the very top to down below. I had a good job and a good income. But suddenly, I lost everything. I felt that life was finished."
The family began their new lives in Kuala Lumpur with much uncertainty. Scrambling for work, Saleh took on any jobs he could find, from making handicrafts to carrying furniture. In his first month of work, he scraped together about RM200, barely enough to last the family three days.
"I cannot forget that time. I was really sad. Sometimes I went to the corner and cried," recalled Saleh. "My heart was full of pain."
"But I realised that other refugees too were facing difficulties every day, causing depression. Like me, they lost their sense of importance," he added. "It was then that I sought refuge in theatre. I turned to my background, my experience and my knowledge, and I found a tool to create change."
In 2017, Saleh designed Parastoo Theatre and recruited amateur actors from the refugee community.
"Parastoo is Persian for swallow, a type of bird that is beautiful but harmless. It has no permanent home, just like us," said Saleh.
On stage, the actors recount decades of devastating and profound impact of conflict on them, and deal with issues such as child marriage, domestic violence, and death. Each play ends with Q&A to promote dialogue between Malaysians and refugees.
“After the first show, we saw the audience cry. It was a powerful validation to us. We felt that we were heard. The positive reaction of the audience gave us the signal that we must continue what we are doing,” said Saleh.
Since then, the refugee troupe has performed around Malaysia and created workshops for refugees and the public.
In light of the recent instability in Afghanistan, Saleh believes that the work of Parastoo Theatre in raising awareness and empowering refugees is even more crucial.
He said many people, including himself, still have family in Afghanistan that they are worried about.
He hopes that the world will understand the plight of the Afghan people.
"We never chose to live in conflict. We are also human. We are people who have lost our hopes and dreams. But we will build ourselves again,” said Saleh.
"I worry about the Afghan people affected in Malaysia too, and I hope that theatre can give them an outlet to express themselves. Theatre is also a way for them to heal, share their stories, build their skills, and be more independent. I will continue to play my small role to support the refugee community through art.
“I wish peace for the people of Afghanistan. I hope they have a clear path for the future and that they can be positive examples for future generations.”
With additional reporting from Alia Surayya, Kara Simon, and Rahimah Rashith
