You are invited to join a field trip at 1:45 pm on Sunday, February 25 to see three exhibits on Syrian refugees at the American Swedish Historical Museum. The field trip is organized by CHFM’s Refugee Support Working Group. After seeing the exhibits, participants are invited to have an early dinner together at the Lebanese restaurant Manakeesh Café & Bakery in West Philadelphia.

Admission to the museum is free.

Dinner at Manakeesh at 4420 Walnut St. is estimated to cost from $15 to $25 per person.

Carpools are being arranged and will leave CHFM at 1:45 pm. We are looking for a carpool driver who will return directly to CHFM from the museum for those who do not wish to go to dinner after the museum.

You are also welcome to join us at the museum at 2:30 pm without carpooling from CHFM.

To sign up for the field trip, please email Liz Williams at lizwilliams@fastmail.com.

Below you will find additional information on the museum, restaurant, and exhibits.

The Swedish Historical Museum

The museum is located in Franklin Delano Roosevelt Park in South Philadelphia, near the Sports Complex:

1900 Pattison Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19145
215 389 1776
www.americanswedish.org

Info on Manakeesh Café & Bakery

Located at 4420 Walnut St, Philadelphia
Serving Lebanese cuisine
Open Sunday 10 am to 8:30 pm
yelp.com/biz/manakeesh-cafe-bakery-philadelphia

What are the exhibits on Syrian refugees?

Three refugee-related exhibits are showing through March 4, 2018:

Where the Children Sleep

The exhibition, Where the Children Sleep, captures the impact of the war in Syria, which began in 2011. This series of 22 photographs, documenting the tragic consequences of the refugee crisis, captures what the simple act of bedtime brings for the youngest and most vulnerable refugees—children. Each photograph comes with a story of how these children and their families struggle through the Middle East and Europe while making the harrowing journey out of Syria.

Portraits of Migration: Sweden Beyond the Headlines

On view in the Balcony Gallery of ASHM's Grand Hall, this exhibit is a series of 20 images that explore the stories of those who have found asylum in Sweden. By providing personal stories for examining Sweden’s response to the refugee crisis, this exhibit helps us to understand the impacts of migration and acculturation.

"better shelter"

Designed by an enterprise partnering with the IKEA Foundation and the UNHCR, these refugee shelters offer displaced persons a secure, adaptable, and dignified place to live. Four people can build a ‘better shelter’ in about four hours and, due to their lightweight materials, these shelters can be shipped worldwide. While unable to replace homes lost to war, these shelters provide refugees with amenities that improve day-to-day life such as solar-powered lamps and ventilation. The American Swedish Historical Museum’s ‘better shelter’ and accompanying text panels will be installed on the Museum’s lawn.