"For me, it just seemed like a welcoming and supportive thing to do. And the situation in Syria is terrible. The eight of us met and looked at the pros and cons. But really it was a no-brainer in the end, and we could see that we could overcome the challenges."
It was far easier to launch a Community Sponsorship group then we had anticipated. The fundraising was actually fun! We got support from other Community Sponsorship groups, and we’re happy to give support to others. The most difficult thing was sourcing the accommodation, but we overcame that. One of the things we recognised is that every family is different and has different needs.
Myself and Joe, the group secretary, took off with a van and a driver to meet the family at the airport when they arrived. We met them with flowers, and they were delighted to be in Ireland, not that they knew much about Ireland beforehand! The rest of our group had the house decorated to welcome them. It was lovely.
“We got support from other Community Sponsorship groups, and we are happy to give support to others.”
During their first few days here, they told us they had heard a loud knock on the door. A man was standing there with a giant bar of Toblerone. He shoved it into their hands and said, “you are very welcome here,” and ran off!
They are here on trust. They are hoping that they will finally be safe. It took three to four months in Ireland before they believed that they were. I felt delighted for them. I appreciate that this was just the first step of their journey but I’m glad to have been a part of it.
Community welcome brings people together to help newcomers settle into local communities across Ireland. Whether you are an individual or a group, you will have something unique to contribute. We can help connect you with others and offer guidance and support.