Rethinking Refugees, a non-profit organization that helps raise awareness about the situation of refugees and facilitates mental health support for refugees, has partnered with The Azadi Project to conduct a one-of-a-kind event in Chennai from December 15-18, 2022 to help raise awareness and drive conversation around the plight of refugees around the world. Proceeds from the charity events will go towards providing mental health and psychosocial support as well as educational programs on child marriage, gender-based violence, and STDs to refugees and other marginalized communities in India. 
The event, Rethinking Refugees – Azadi to co-exist, will be a mix of in-person and online sessions that promote a holistic understanding of the contemporary refugee situation worldwide and in India. Supported by Action Aid India, Alliance Francaise (Chennai), Amethyst, SPI Edge, Thinnai Talkies, Chennai Scene,Black Orchid, and Skillbox, the event will feature an art and photo exhibition by refugee children and award-winning international photographers, screening of films that highlight the plight of refugees from Ukraine and the Middle East, panel discussions by global experts on the current humanitarian situation with refugees, and two charity concerts featuring local musicians from Chennai. All programs and sessions will be live-streamed to enable people from anywhere in the world to participate and engage in collective action.
The four-day event has an impressive line-up of speakers including Arivu (Musician ), Swara Bhasker (Actor), Activists of Kavita Krishnan,Tenzin Tsundue,MaungZarni, Ali Johar, Journalists – Pari Saika, Dr. Radhakrishnan, Ujjaini Chatterjee(Human rights lawyer), Sandeep Chachra (Executive Director of Action Aid India), Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (Chief Scientist of the World Health Organization) and others.
Local bands and musicians from Chennai Subject to Change, 7even, The Coconut Milk Project, Alvin Presley, Ranjani, and Sadhanaa will be performing at 2 charity concerts. There will also be a charity theatre performance by some of Chennai’s talented artists, and a photo exhibition by Sujata Setia and David Weston.
More information about the event and the organisations can be obtained on the Instagram page @rethink_refugees_azadi_chennai.