Beach family BBQ being held for Derry’s Syrian refugees… and everyone’s invited

A beach family barbecue is to be laid on for the Syrian refugees who arrived in Derry earlier this year.

The event, taking place at Benone Peach on Saturday week, 3 September, is part of the Community And Refugee Encounter (CARE) project, a scheme by Derry City and Strabane District Council delivered by the North West Migrants Forum to assist the welcome and integration of the refugees.

It is also a chance for members of the public to get to meet the families.

The event will take place at the picnic area and will begin at 11.00am and will run until 5.00pm.

Organiser Lilian Seenoi, from the North West Migrants Forum (NWMF), said: “We want to extend our invitation to members of the public who have not yet met them and would like to do so and those who have met them and would like to continue to get to know them.

“The families have been asking us to take them to the beach as they look for normality in their lives.

“These months are very warm in Syria and most of them spent their weekends on the beach.

“Although they feel happy and comfortable here they miss home and their relatives and we decided to respond to their request as the CARE project allows flexibility in relation to activities delivered for these families.

“This is one of the best things the Council did.

“They provided room for us to consult with families and that is why I believe the care project has so far been very successful. “