A fun workshop today as members of the Ukrainian community showed us how to decorate eggs in the traditional way as they prepare for the Orthodox Easter celebrations on 5th May.
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The sun was out and so were participating students in ERANO’S ‘ Learning Initiative Programme ‘ sponsored by Radius Housing. As the programme draws to a close the group paid a visit to Stormont, followed by a lovely meal at the Worldwide Cuisine Restaurant Comos, located at Victoria Square Belfast. A lovely end to a very successful English Language and Skills Programme that required commitment from all our students and has produced excellent results.
To mark the start of Ramadan we hosted a craft workshop where our attendees could create their own Ramadan home décor. This event was not only a great success, but also an excellent learning experience as ERANO member Samaar led a lesson in Arabic and captivated the children with stories of the past.
At the end there was many Ramadan cards, bags, and lanterns, to decorate the office and homes across the district.
On the 8th of March, we gathered to honour the strength, resilience, and dreams of remarkable women at our Inspiring Inclusion themed International Women’s Day Supper.
The event attracted a large turn out with women from Syria, Ukrainian, South Africa, Vietnam, India, Poland, Lithuania, Hungary, Brazil, lending a truly international flavour to the event. The guest speakers for the evening came from refugee/asylum seeking backgrounds and they were able to tell their harrowing stories of their journey, why they felt the need to make the journey, and the many challenges they faced or are still facing. These real-life stories from the women had a huge impact on all present and allow their voices to be heard. It was truly an event that brought the best of our community together, local ladies, refugees, asylum seekers and ladies from ethnic minority backgrounds coming to the district for work mingled, chatted and laughed the evening away.
On a lighter note, our next guest speaker Louise Cullen, BBC presenter, had the audience captured by her tales of life. The fantastic music for the evening was provided by the Bob Quick Jazz Band and Ukrainian singer Julia, now residing in Strabane.
Thanks to Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for supporting this event.
An extraordinary and emotional day as our Ukraine community held a vigil to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Ukrainian war. The vigil attracted the attention of the media who helped spread the message that this war still rages, and more help is required if Ukraine is to succeed. A defiant message was delivered by participants of the vigil (mainly mothers, wives and sisters); they spoke of their thanks to the UK and Ireland for giving them a safe space and shelter, but they still yearned for their homeland.
They spoke in one united voice that they were unified behind the courageous and brave army of Ukraine that keep fighting against the Russian aggression. Many of their husbands, sons, and family members were part of the armed forces meaning these ladies and children suffer every day this war continues. Not knowing if loved ones are safe while trying to negotiate life in a strange country is a challenge every day.
On Valentines Day, we had a wonderful time at our One Love for Humanity event, where we stood with and celebrated our refugee families in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area. We enjoyed a day of fun activities, delicious food, live music, and inspiring stories. We met some of the amazing people who have fled war, oppression and persecution; and learned more about their cultures, backgrounds and dreams.
We show our refugee friends that they are not alone. We chose love and embrace our diversity as a strength. We are one community, one world, one love. Time to end the cycle of negativity.
We also used the occasion to call on the government to acknowledge our changing society in Northern Ireland and bring refugee/asylum seekers, and new communities’ issues into mainstream discussion.
