Camborne suitcase exhibition highlights migrant workers (From Falmouth Packet)

Camborne suitcase exhibition highlights migrant workers

9:23am Tuesday 10th June 2008

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A travelling collection of suitcases throwing a spotlight on migrant workers has arrived in Camborne as a week of non-stop prayer starts in the Parish Church, led by churches of different denominations in the town.

I Packed This Myself, an exhibition of three suitcases, aims to give an idea of the cultural background of migrant workers in Cornwall and the practical and emotional challenges they face. It has been created by Bridging Arts, through outside funding.

Bridging Arts director Susan Roberts said: "We're delighted that the suitcases will be in Camborne for the Prayer Week when people will be looking beyond their everyday lives and thinking about the situations and difficulties of others. Without migrant workers, agriculture in west Cornwall would grind to a halt - but too often we have little contact with them because of language difficulties.

"Hopefully the items in these suitcases break through all sorts of barriers and speak for themselves - food from home, religious icons, football shirts and traditional music. They show what matters to people tick and just what is important to them."

One suitcase contains items from Eastern Europe, another is filled with objects brought by Portuguese workers and the third is lined with mirror. People looking at the mirror case are asked what they would take with them if they had to leave their homes to find work. Their answers are being collected together into a book that is travelling with the touring exhibition.

Rev Olive Stevens, curate at Camborne Church, said the Catholic Church in Camborne has collected prayers from migrant workers from eastern Europe which will be included in sessions during the week, which is the fourth Prayer Week held at Camborne.

"Everyone is welcome," she said. "This is chance for us to get together and pray - and also for vulnerable people to drop in to join us and contribute their prayers if they would like to."

The exhibition has been created with funding from the Diocese of Truro, the Local Network Fund and Cornwall Community Foundation.

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