16. Arrested for Smuggling a 4-year-old Afghan Girl into the UK: The Story of Ex-soldier Rob Lawrie
06/20/20 • 50 min
Kicking off the season today I’m joined by a guest who’s name might be familiar to you. Rob Lawrie is an ex-soldier turned volunteer from the north of England who made international headlines when he was caught smuggling a 4 year old girl from the Calais Jungle refugee camp in France, across the border and into the UK.
Rob’s actions saw him facing years in a French prison, with some branding him a criminal; but others saw him as a hero, and his crime, a crime of compassion. For those of us volunteering in Calais at the time, it posed the question, would we do the same?
As you listen to this episode, I imagine you’ll be asking yourself a similar question.
But Rob’s story didn’t end with the judge’s verdict. His relationship with this little girl’s family has gone on to take many more unexpected twists and turns over the years. This episode is full of tension, surprise and mixed emotions...have a listen!
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Kicking off the season today I’m joined by a guest who’s name might be familiar to you. Rob Lawrie is an ex-soldier turned volunteer from the north of England who made international headlines when he was caught smuggling a 4 year old girl from the Calais Jungle refugee camp in France, across the border and into the UK.
Rob’s actions saw him facing years in a French prison, with some branding him a criminal; but others saw him as a hero, and his crime, a crime of compassion. For those of us volunteering in Calais at the time, it posed the question, would we do the same?
As you listen to this episode, I imagine you’ll be asking yourself a similar question.
But Rob’s story didn’t end with the judge’s verdict. His relationship with this little girl’s family has gone on to take many more unexpected twists and turns over the years. This episode is full of tension, surprise and mixed emotions...have a listen!
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
15. SPECIAL EPISODE: Homelessness, Connection and ‘People of the Pandemic’ with Joshua Coombes
This episode is another absolute treat.
This week’s guest is ‘Hairdresser to the Homeless,’ Joshua Coombes. After years of living parallel lives working to destigmatize and unpick the stereotypes around some of the most marginalised of society, it’s been a long time coming that we record this episode together.
Josh started a hashtag and global movement called Do Something for Nothing after he began cutting hair for people living on the street and sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram, using them as a vehicle to share people’s stories.
We talk about shame, trust, patience and pain and some of the amazing people he has met on the street over the years.
We also share the project we’ve been working on together over the last few months. It’s called People of the Pandemic and it’s a global portrait series amplifying the stories of the every day heroes getting us through COVID-19. It’s something we truly believe in to set new foundations for the future, and we’re very happy to share it with you!
This episode is a collection of some of our learnings both individually and together over the last 5 years. It’s a really important and personal one to me, so I hope you enjoy it.
Artwork by https://www.milla-adler.com/
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
17. Having a baby in a War Zone: The story of Syrian mother and filmmaker Waad Al-Kateab, director of Oscar-nominated film, For Sama
It’s an absolute honour to have been able to interview this week’s guest...
Waad Al-Kateab is a Syrian filmmaker, journalist, mother and director of the film For Sama. For anyone who hasn’t heard of this film, go and watch it immediately (it’s available for free online)...but be prepared. It’s one of the most emotional and impactful films I’ve ever seen.
Waad and her family’s story is mind blowing. Waad documented living through the uprising and the siege in Aleppo, Syria for 5 years. During this time she fell in love and got married to a doctor called Hamza, and gave birth to her daughter Sama, a beautiful juxtaposition in amongst so much death and destruction.
Today she shares stories of loss, laughter and survival, and what has happened since the release of the film. This interview is one of the highlights of my time working in this space and I’m so proud to share it with you!
Artwork by https://www.milla-adler.com/
To support this podcast: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribe
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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