Cultural celebration

Story & Photos: Seraphin Nyirenda

The Station Foyer on the Wicker held its annual Refugee Week event on 20th June with a Cultural Fashion Show and Training Awards, celebrating the contribution of refugees and asylum seekers to the community.

More than 50 people were present at the event. There was a good atmosphere, with sunshine and no rain. There was free food, a pool competition, break dancers and music from all over the world. People joined in with the Kurdish dancers linking arms with each other.

The fashion show was planned by staff and users of the Station Foyer and included fashion from Pakistan, Angola, Cameroon, Gambia, Burundi, Congo DR, Congo Brazzaville, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Iraq, showing the different cultures from across Sheffield.

The users of the Station Foyer told me that they were happy to see so many people gathering together here in Sheffield and enjoying the service provided by the management staff.

The Station Foyer supports refugees in education and with accommodation. Refugees are even allowed to stay at the Foyer for six months or more until they get the response from the council for their accommodation.

I spoke to one of the users of the Foyer Mr. Amevi Kouassi. He told me that the Station Foyer offers support for the refugees who are still looking for jobs or are new in the country.

“When you work as a volunteer the Station Foyer provides transport expenses. We get free internet access, and if you need to talk to your G.P, solicitor, or the council the staff can help you use the phone and even talk to them.”

The organisers of the event Mr. Barry Brown, Miss Sharon Baah and Miss Laura Stackehouse said they were very happy to see this event being a useful one and promised even more for the next event and thanked all the users and members of staff who helped to make this happen.

For information on refugee support services contact 267 5250 or visit http://www.refugeesupport.org.uk