AFGHANISTAN and its many refugees fleeing from the war have been in the thoughts of a group of Bexley children.

The Year 6 pupils, at Slade Green Junior School, used their computers to log onto the Oxfam website and check the current situation in the war-torn country.

They then held several class discussions, putting forward their thoughts and questions on the situation.

Working with Hassan Mahamdallie from the Bexley Council for Racial Equality and artist Rachel Johnston, they then put together artwork and drama pieces, based on Shanza's Story, the story of an Afghan child refugee.

The climax of their equality arts in schools project was the creation of a rug depicting their thoughts on life in Afghanistan, using printing and photography.

They unveiled the rug when they gave a presentation on their work to the school's Year 5 classes.

The project was particularly interesting for the Slade Green children who live in an area which has been settled by a number of refugees and asylum seekers a position which has caused tensions in the area.

December 19, 2001 10:10