UCL students are invited to join a two-hour creative writing workshop in honour of our beloved alumnus, the Palestinian poet and academic Dr. Refaat Alareer.
Drawing on Dr. Alareer’s pedagogical approach, and using his own teaching materials, prompts and poems, we will collaboratively engage with his vision of “writing back”: a practice grounded in decolonial thought, resistance and reimagining from the margins.
Participants will be guided through a series of creative and reflective writing exercises, providing a supportive space to write, share and gain a deeper understanding of Dr. Alareer’s work and practice and how his work continues to inspire and empower new generations of writers.
As a Palestinian, I have been brought up on stories and storytelling. It’s both selfish and treacherous to keep a story to yourself—stories are meant to be told and retold. If I allowed a story to stop, I would be betraying my legacy, my mother, my grandmother, and my homeland. To me, storytelling is one of the ingredients of Palestinian sumud—steadfastness. Stories teach life even if the hero suffers or dies at the end.
Refaat Alareer (2014: 526–27)
Open to students from all academic disciplines - no previous writing experience required. Paper and pens will be provided, though you are welcome to bring a laptop/tablet if you prefer.
This workshop forms part of a day of events organised by UCL staff and Dr. Refaat’s students in loving memory of his life. It also marks two years since his assassination on 6 December 2023.
Photo credit: We Are Not Numbers