FSB’s MSc Digital Marketing students with Debbi Gordon and Nathan Emmerich (fare end by window) from the Counter Terrorism Project (Photo: FSB).

By Kunal Chan Mehta, FSB’s Public Relations Manager, Article Date: 19 February 2024

FSB Croydon once again played host to the awe-inspiring journey of ‘Nobody’s Listening’, an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) experience that has captured student and staff hearts and minds since its inception. The fourth instalment of this groundbreaking event provided a perspective on the Yazidi genocide in northern Iraq in 2014, drawing attention to its enduring relevance in today’s world.

One of the Nobody’s Listening banners at the event. (Photo: FSB)

Coordinated by Dhaneswar Chooramun, FSB Croydon’s Academic Dean, the event revolves around a poignant exploration of extremist ideologies and their implications within the framework of Prevent duty. Chooramun’s leadership ensures that attendees are not merely spectators but active participants in crucial conversations about global crises.

Nathan Emmerich of the Counter Terrorism Project informs FSB students about the creative use of technology to increase awareness of genocide and terrorism. (Photo: FSB)

Zerka Sahak, Student Support Coordinator at FSB Croydon, said: ‘Through a blend of cutting-edge technology and poignant storytelling, our students were able to confront the stark realities of genocide, fostering empathy and understanding in the process.’

Jonne Smith, a MSc Digital Marketing student at FSB Croydon, uses the virtual reality headset to witness the Yazidi genocide and its aftermath. (Photo: FSB)

Lukombo Ndudi, a MSc Digital Marketing student at FSB Croydon, listens to the vivid testimonies of the Yazidi genocide. (Photo: FSB)

‘It is wonderful to be back at FSB, the students are once again really engaged, and it is a pleasure to meet them,’ added Debbi Gordon, an Education Consultant from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP). ‘Students could identify with some of the situations because of their similar backgrounds. I felt privileged to speak with FSB students again and learn about their experiences.’

Through breakout sessions and interactive discussions, Debbi contributed invaluable insights, emphasising the imperative of remembering and reflecting on past atrocities to prevent future ones and encouraged attendees to engage critically with prevailing narratives and champion empathy as a force for change.

Miss Rhymes Shakti, Trainee Lecturer in Business at FSB Croydon, (far left) with students, making use of the VR headsets. (Photo: FSB)

Dhaneswar Chooramun, FSB Croydon’s Academic Dean, commented: ‘This event exemplifies FSB’s unwavering dedication to experiential learning and holistic education, showcasing our faculty members as trailblazers in confronting uncomfortable truths by leading through example.’

Chooramun reiterates the event’s overarching mission to ‘cultivate a community of compassionate leaders who are equipped to confront global challenges with empathy and resolve’. As Nobody’s Listening continues to captivate audiences with its potent blend of technology and humanity, FSB Croydon remains at the forefront of innovative education, shaping tomorrow’s leaders with every immersive experience.

Find out more: Nobody’s Listening.

Read the full Counter-Extremism Strategy at: Counter-Extremism Strategy – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

For inquiries or additional information, please get in touch with the author of this article, Kunal Chan Mehta, via kunal.mehta@fairfield.ac.