Meet a refugee
Refugees have fled war and persecution in their own countries before coming to Ireland. Many have made enormous sacrifices, leaving behind their homes, their friends, family and jobs to get themselves and their families to safety and to start again and re-build their lives. As you can imagine, rebuilding a life in a new country, with a strange language, different customs and possibly after experiencing traumatic events, would be a challenge for most people.
But there are lots of ways that you can help make Ireland a more welcoming place for asylum seekers and refugees. From something as simple as smiling at your neighbour to donating your spare time to volunteer in a local community group working with refugees and asylum seekers, it’s simple to make your neighbourhood a friendlier place.
Strike up a conversation, have a cup of tea with a refugee
Do you live in a neighbourhood that has refugees or asylum seekers next door? Why not stop for a chat or invite them in for a cup of tea?
Get involved in a local group
There are many groups throughout Ireland who work with asylum seekers and refugees and help to integrate new communities into their communities.
You can find your local group on this list from the Integration Centre– they would love to hear from you.
Take part in a local event
There are lots of events happening around the country over the next while which you could go to as your 1 thing. Have a look at the menu on the right hand side of this page for latest events. If you have any events in your area please email us at kennedy@unhcr.org and let us know!
Help refugees, asylum seekers and migrants to learn English and make friends in your community.
"First I feared talking to people here because my English was not good. But when we attended the youth centre my English language improved. Quickly I began expressing myself in our groups and that made my life change completely. I was nominated to the Kilkenny Comhairle na nOg last year and I am enjoying it. " Patrick Buni, 16, refugee from Sudan now living in Kilkenny.
There are many community groups offering language support to refugees, migrants and asylum seekers and which help them to make friends in local communities. One such group that you could get involved with is Fáilte Isteach who have 42 centres around Ireland – all of which are listed on their website here: www.thirdageireland.ie/what-we-do/65/where-we-are.html
Fáilte Isteach is a community project with older volunteers welcoming new migrants through conversational English classes. Fáilte Isteach utilises the skills, talents and expertise of older volunteers and harnesses their desire to contribute positively to society. Fáilte Isteach works at breaking down the barriers that migrants and communities face by extending the hands of friendship and goodwill through the practical, welcoming and inclusive manner in which the programme is delivered.
Read a Story About a Refugee Living in Ireland
As part of our commemorations for World Refugee Day 2011 in June, the UNHCR Office in Ireland organized a photo exhibition of 11 refugees who came to Ireland in the last sixty years since the adoption of the 1951 Refugee Convention. This exhibition was called 60 Years – Stories of Survival and Safe Haven and is now showing as part of Dun Laoghaire’s Social inclusion Week. Please see the events box on the right hand side of this page for more information. We also produced a booklet which highlighted the long but hidden connection between Ireland and UNHCR and international protection. Six of the 11 refugees in the exhibition shared their stories of fleeing their homelands and coming to Ireland. Click on the names below to read their fascinating and incredibly inspiring stories.
1950s >> Olga Murphy
From Hungary and now living in Limerick. Olga arrived in Ireland in 1956 as a young girl of 17, one of 350 refugees who came to Ireland fleeing the Soviet tanks after the Hungarian Revolution. Olga still lives in Limerick a short distance from the former Knockalisheen refugee camp where the Hungarians were housed in 1956. Read Olga's story here.
1960s >> Nguyen Mai
Nguyen Mai and her family came to Ireland in 1979 with the Vietnamese "boat people" following the fall of Saigon to North Vietnamese forces in 1975. After three attempts to leave Vietnam by boat her family were lucky to make it to a refugee camp in Hong Kong as many others tragically lost their lives in their attempts to cross the stormy seas. Read Nguyen's story here.
1970s >> Memo & Alvaro Aravena
Following the Pinochet coup in Chile, Memo and Alvaro came to Ireland in 1974 as refugees with their parents and 3 siblings. They were among 12 Chilean refugee families accepted into Ireland by the Irish Government. They lived for a number of years in Shannon before moving to County Dublin where they both live and work. Read the Aravenas' story here.
1980s >> Abbas Ghadimi
Abbas Ghadimi, an Iranian refugee of the Baha'i faith came to Ireland in the early 1980s. He now runs a health food and homeopathy business in Kilkenny. Read Abbas' story here.
1990s >> Abdullah Dirir Hersi
Abdullah left Somalia in the 1980s and was in Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion. While Abdullah escaped the violence in Kuwait his family meanwhile fled the outbreak of civil war in Somalia. Having come to Ireland in 1991 Abdullah says that he is now part of Ireland’s ups and downs. “If you ever see me complaining, my complaints are not that deep. Ireland accepted me. I am safe and my family are safe. We are very grateful to be here.” Read Abdullah's story here.
2000s >> Patrick Buni
Patrick Buni fled the violence that erupted in Southern Sudan and which tragically took many of his family members and friends. He arrived in Ireland in 2008. Patrick was nominated to the Kilkenny Comhairle na nÓg last year and now regularly meets up with Kilkenny County Council to speak on behalf of other young people in Ireland about issues affecting them. Read Patrick's story here.
