THE DIRECTOR of an organisation that has its roots in the Nazi expulsion of academics from their posts in 1933 will be talking at a special event at Manchester Metropolitan University on Monday, October 12.
Stephen Wordsworth is the Executive Director of CARA, the Council for At-Risk Academics, and will be talking about how CARA has worked for more than 80 years to help academics and scientists fleeing from discrimination, persecution, suffering or violence in some of the world’s most dangerous places.

CARA was formed in 1933 by leading UK academics and scientists to provide a safe refuge for their German counterparts who were fleeing the Nazi regime. Their aim was “the relief of suffering and the defence of learning and science,” motives that are still relevant today. CARA continues to work to help academics and their families to safety with the support of more than 100 UK universities, including Manchester Met.

Stephen will be accompanied by a current CARA Fellow, Ali Taghizadegan, who will speak about his experiences of fleeing from Iran and obtaining a scholarship in the UK.

The continuing crises in the Middle East, particularly in Syria and Iraq, have led to an upsurge in the number of academics seeking CARA’s help. Despite all that they have been through, many of those needing to escape are nonetheless committed to returning home to rebuild their societies when conditions allow. The focus of a CARA Fellowship is on helping them to maintain and develop the skills, and the networks in the wider academic and scientific community, that they will need when they go back.

Stephen Wordsworth said: “With the attention of the world focused on those fleeing from conflict in the Middle East, CARA has been stepping up its support to academics who urgently need to escape from that region to a safe place where they can learn and work, but who plan to return home when they can, to re-build safer, more stable societies in their home countries.

“While CARA is helping to support some 140 ‘CARA Fellows’ already, in the UK and elsewhere, over 100 more urgently need assistance to reach safety, with more seeking help every day. UK universities, including Manchester Met, are rallying to support them. For some people, however, return is impossible, which is why I will be accompanied by a Cara Fellow from Iran, Ali Taghizadegan, who will explain why he had to flee, and how he has worked to rebuild his life in the UK.”

The event is part of the University’s year-long humanities public engagement festival, Humanities in Public.

Helen Darby, Humanities in Public organiser, said: “We are very proud to be welcoming CARA as the first event in our ‘Humanities in Public’ strand on WAR. CARA’s roots in World War Two, and the ongoing need for their mission today, demonstrates how conflict impinges on the daily lives of all kinds of people, bringing wide-ranging and long lasting instability, suffering and insecurity in its wake.”

The event will take place at 6pm in Lecture Theatre 6 of the Geoffrey Manton building on Oxford Road. To reserve your free place, click here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/council-for-at-risk-academics-tickets-18223612315

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here