Echoes Podcast Launch | Refugee Leadership & Albanian Heritage
When:
—
Venue:
Birkbeck Central
Young Community Leaders, Shpresa Programme and Birkbeck, University of London, are delighted to invite you to the launch of the Echoes Podcast to celebrate the work of young refugees of Albanian heritage on the 24th November 2026.
Echoes is a pioneering initiative: the first podcast in the UK organised, run and hosted by refugees and people seeking asylum. It was created to amplify young people's voices, experiences and aspirations, and to offer hope, connection and inspiration to others rebuilding their lives in the UK. Born from a partnership between Shpresa Programme and Birkbeck, University of London, Echoes is much more than a podcast. It is a platform for representation, belonging and empowerment, demonstrating that people who have experienced displacement are not simply individuals with stories to tell, but leaders, creators and contributors who have so much to offer British society.
Across ten podcast sessions, young refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants have explored important social themes affecting their lives and communities. They have shared their lived experiences, examined the challenges facing society and worked together to identify practical solutions. Echoes demonstrate that when people are given a platform, they do not simply speak about problems - they help shape the solutions.
For more than 25 years, Shpresa Programme has supported migrants, refugees and people seeking asylum to rebuild their lives and integrate with dignity. Supporting more than 3,000 people each year, our community-led approach is simple but powerful: Connect, Integrate and Lead, creating lasting system change. We connect people with trusted support and a sense of belonging, help them integrate confidently into British society, and enable them to become leaders, advocates and changemakers. This approach strengthens community cohesion by bringing people from different backgrounds together around shared values, participation, responsibility and hope. Shpresa is also proud to provide a welcoming community hub in Newham - a space where people from different backgrounds can access support, develop their skills, celebrate their identities and build relationships that strengthen the wider community. At its heart, Shpresa believes that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, contribute and be heard.
Birkbeck's support of the Echoes podcast builds on its proud tradition of widening access to education, advancing social mobility and empowering people from diverse backgrounds. Through its commitment to inclusive education, research and public engagement, Birkbeck creates opportunities for learning, discovery and positive social change, working with partners such as Shpresa Programme to ensure diverse voices are heard and valued.
On the evening of the 24th November we will celebrate the creativity, leadership and talent of young refugees, people seeking asylum and migrants, who will bring their ideas to life, showcasing their voices, experiences and aspirations with a special event of performance and dance.
Entry is free but booking is essential.
Contact name: Eleni Liarou
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