Outright - Human Library

As part of our work to develop empathy, Outright recently arranged the second meeting of our very own Human Library, where pupils and staff come together to hear from speakers from other cultural backgrounds.

On Monday 16 March Outright welcomed Deputy Head Girl Jenifer Cufaj to the second meeting of BHS’s Human Library to give an insight into her and her family’s journey. Jenifer’s family is from Albania, a small country in the Balkan Peninsula of southeastern Europe, bordered by the Adriatic and Ionian Seas which had been under Communist control between 1944–1991. For 4 decades the country was widely considered as one of the most isolated and authoritarian regimes in Europe. Communism in Albania finally collapsed in 1991 but the transition to democracy was extremely difficult and it was followed by economic instability, unemployment, and mass migration.

Jenifer shared a heart wrenching story about her father, an Albanian refugee, who fled to the UK, settling in Northern Ireland, following traumatic events in Albania, caused by his opposition to the Communist regime. He left with practically nothing before finding safety in Northern Ireland where he worked hard to build a successful business of his own.

Thanks to Jenifer for sharing this most emotional insight into Albania and reminding us all that rights are fragile, and we all must stand up to protect them, both here and afar!