One day, a Wisp flew in on the evening wind. Dust rose up in swarms around it, feet trampled it into the dirt, nobody noticed it.
Nobody, except Idris.
Zana Fraillon , author of the Bone Sparrow and The ones that disappeared – has again touched upon such an important topic that needs more action – the people who have to live in refugee camps for long periods of time.
So many people flee their home countries every day in our world and most of these people end up in Refugee camps because they have left everything they own behind them.
However, The story of wisp focuses on hope- hope that one day there will be more to life than just wire fences, tents and desolation.
A small boy by the name of Idris sits alone one day only to notice a small wisp floating around the camp, resting on those it passes by.
With each touch, the Wisp brings magic. With each touch, the wisp brings memories.
Memories get passed around on the wisp as adults and older children remember the wonderful things that had happened to them – before they became refugees and lived in the camp.
But when Idris, the main character of the story holds the wisp close, nothing happens, as all he knows is life in the camp.
But Idris sees past this and realises that the wisp for him can be a promise – a promise of life beyond the fence, a life full of excitement, adventure and love.
Wisp allows the reader to see that there is hope and with continued pressure on the government to help there people, someday they will all be able to make wonderful memories again.
So what else can you do?
Join my facebook group where we talk about ways we can inform children and the wider community about the big issues facing us today:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/sociallyconsciouschildren/about/
Teacher notes: https://www.hachette.com.au/content/resources/9780734418043-teachers-resources.pdf
Visit: http://refugeecampauburn.com.au and book a time to visit what a refugee camp looks like.
Act: Join groups that send books and packages to children in dentention: https://befriendachildindetention.wordpress.com
Even something as small as a letter can bring hope to a child in detention.
Ask:
- How can we give children in detention hope?
- Explore other books about refugees – do these all give hope?
- Draw your own wisp and draw what would be inside of it if you had to live in a refugee camp.
