During Refugee Week 2024 pupils at Lee Mount Academy created their own Refugee Poems based on Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem “We Refugees”.

Hina, who co-wrote this year’s Refugee Week poem, was blown away by their passion and words.

“I Come From a Dark Place” by Parker

I come from a dark place
Where my race matters,
They stand out and show their character
And nobody can tell us to stop

I came to a foreign land
Where people judge me for my story but don’t know my real self,
There are people like me who fight for their rights
And nobody can tell us to stop

I hope for peace in my country
Where people show you who they are,
They think of the negative but we think of the positive
And nobody can tell us to stop

So what if I’m a refugee? Just let me be free
So what if I’m a refugee? Does it change me
So what if I’m a refugee? I’m still the same

I wish for this country to accept me

We can all be refugees
Nobody wants to be one,
All it takes is a welcoming smile
Or a kind person you meet
Even you can save someone's life

We can all help refugees
Just for a while
We can all help them to be motivated and keep pushing through life

“I Come From a War Like Place” by Alfie

I come from a war like place
Where gunshots and bombs go off all the time
They don’t make us feel accepted and welcomed

I come to a place where I don’t lose hope
Where gunshots and bombs do not exist
They accept refugees with a kind heart and respect

I hope the war to stop
Where just a smile makes your day
They accepted me for who I am

I wish for unity and peace
Hoping our future will be a happily ever after
I want freedom in my country
And people to not lose hope

We can all be refugees
Nobody is safe here
All it takes is a powerful leader
Or no rain to bring forth food
Nobody’s here without a struggle
We can all be resilient
We can all be respectful
Just for LOVE

“I Come From a United Place” by Keira

I come from a united place,
Where people become friends,
They love and accept each other,
And never lose faith,

I came to a scary place,
Where their language is like gibberish,
But their smiles make my day,

I hope for a beautiful future,
Where people love me for being me,
And I finally feel at home,

We can all be a refugees,
Nobody wants to be one,
All it takes is a smile,
Or a kind person you meet,
Even you can save someone's life,
We can all help a refugee,
We can help them push through life's hard challenges,
Just for a while.

“We Can All Be Refugees” by Alissia

We can all be refugees.
Nobody is the same.
All it takes is a bomb.
Or a gun shot.
Even a thought could make people go.

I come from a dangerous place.
Where bombs fall from the sky.
Where children are scared to sleep at night.
I came to a beautiful place.
Where everyone is treated fairly.
Nobody gets judged for their race.
And their personality.

I hope for my city to be the place.
I once remembered before.
Bombs were falling from the sky.

My future will be to live in England.
I know it's not home.
But it is the only safe place.
And I am accepted and welcomed here.

We can all be refugees.
Nobody is the same.
All it takes is a bomb.
Or a gun shot.
Even a thought could make people go.
We can be in danger.
We can be unsafe.
Nobody can be trusted.

“We Refugees” by Brodie

I came from a beautiful, majestic place, were they turned our land into a war field, There everyone was scared,
Especially my baby brother Moosa,

I came to the UK Where we found freedom and shelter and
We can all be different in our own way
They showed us care

I hope for peace
Where I can flourish
And I’m accepted
They look out for me

We can all be respectful and kind,
Nobody needs to be mean,
All it takes is a simple smile you shouldn’t even have to run a mile.

“We Refugees” by Holly

I come from a magical place
Where kindness is the key
They help me with my problems
And give me a smile to make my day

I came to England on a boat
Where I left my father behind
There I never lost any hope
And I pray that he’s fine

I hope for freedom and respect
Where I can live freely
And accepted as well as welcomed
They will accept me for me

We can all be refugees
Nobody is perfect
All it takes is kindness
Or a simple smile
We can all be ourselves
We can all be perfect in our own way
We can all have rights
For being a refugee.

“We Refugees” by Phoebe

I come from a beautiful, wonderful place called Aleppo,
Where I danced on the roof tops day and night,
They all told me to leave,
And so I had to flee.

We can all be refugees,
Nobody should see cruel things,
All it takes is a paper that is signed,
Or a simple smile,
We can all be a community,
We can all be loved,
We can all be one,
For being a refugee.

I came to England on a boat,
Where they wouldn't accept me straight away,
There were people who supported me
And some people ignored,
And now I feel like I need to be assured.
We can all be refugees,
Nobody should see cruel things,
All it takes is a paper that is signed,
Or a simple smile,
We can all be a community,
We can all be loved,
We can all be one,
For being a refugee.

I hope for friends and to keep my family safe,
Where I know now how to be me,
And I now feel sure and safe,
They will let me stay if I get into ballet.

WE CAN ALL BE REFUGEES,
NOBODY SHOULD SEE CRUEL THINGS,
ALL IT TAKES IS A PAPER THAT IS SIGNED,
OR A SIMPLE SMILE,
WE CAN ALL BE A COMMUNITY,
WE CAN ALL BE LOVED,
FOR BEING A REFUGEE.

“We Refugees” by Ryley

I came from a war zone
Where bombs are thrown
They make a loud bang sound
And people are dying

I came to England to be safe
Where people say I came illegally
There I have no home
And people want me out

I hope for the war to be gone
Where people show no kindness
And I want to be happy
They sometimes help me

We can all be different
Nobody's perfect
All it takes is kindness
Or a happy smile
We can all be bullied
We can all be loved
We can all be a team
For being a refugee