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Sligo Volunteer Centre Family Volunteering Programme

Sligo Volunteer Centre are implementing an exciting Family Volunteering Project which will provide free fun activities as well as cultural awareness for 10 Sligo based families who have children who range in age from 1-18 years. The Sligo based families will be matched under a  Befriending Programme’ with Iranian Kurdish families who have children of similar ages and are arriving to live in Sligo in September.

The Irish Government increased the Resettlement Quota to 200 refugees per year. This programme is co-ordinated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ireland is one of 18 countries worldwide which participated in the Resettlement Quota Programme since 1999. This is the third resettlement of Iranian Kurds to Ireland since 2002. The previous Iranian Kurd groups were resettled in Dublin and Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim. A group of Chechen refugees have also been resettled in Roscommon.

There are 10 family units travelling to Sligo. These families have children who range in age from 1 year to 19 years of age. They have been granted full refugee status and have the same rights and entitlements as an Irish citizen.

The families are making Sligo their home, so it is of vital importance that they receive support in the ‘settling’ period. The first few months will be particularly difficult for them as they will have many challenges not least of all having to adapt to a new culture and a new language. The language that these families speak would be mainly Kurdish and Arabian.

The Befriending Programme will involve a number of activities such as a welcome reception upon arrival of the Iranian Kurdish families, art and craft workshops, cookery workshops and an evening event for fun and entertainment with a cultural twist! All the events will be held over the period September through to December. All of the Sligo based families have been recruited and had an induction session in late August.  However if you would still like to get involved we are looking for people to assist with events both on the hospitality side of things and particularly if you have a skill in Art  & Crafts, children’s entertainment, ability to help out with group games and activities!

We would also be interested to hear from any people from an Iranian Kurdish background who may be interested in providing support, translation services or advice in a voluntary capacity.

For further details and information please contact Ciara O’Hara at the Volunteer Centre on 071-911 1813 or email info@volunteersligo.ie.



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