NICRAS MAGAZIN-2-

Northern Ireland
Community of Refugees
& Asylum Seekers

December 2016 – February 2017

NICRAS

Christmas Party 2016

NICRAS’ Christmas Party was a huge success this year, with over 100 of our members
enjoying a great meal at Shaftesbury Community Centre.
It was a fantastic way to round off the year and we would like to thank everyone for coming
and all of those who provided the fantastic food.

Thank You

Published and printed Chairperson’s Foreword
by the Northern Ireland Community
of Refugees and Asylum Seekers, At NICRAS’ Christmas party in December over 100 of our members came
143a University Street, Belfast, B1 7HP. together at the LORAG community centre to have a great meal, kindly made
for us by members of our Women’s Group. Children of all nationalities were
Written by: playing together with the balloons and Christmas decorations. It was the
Sinead Marmion perfect way to round off the year and reminded me of exactly what NICRAS is
Stephen Browne supposed to be about – community. I would sincerely like to thank everyone
who came to the party and to all of our staff and volunteers who helped put
Edited by: the event together.
Stephen Browne Christmas is often criticised as being too commercialised these days – that
Casey Aspin people do not care about the real meaning behind it anymore. However,
we at NICRAS would like to argue otherwise, with exhibit A: the 72 families
Designed by: who received presents that were donated by the Salvation Army and St
Mohammed Aqel Vincent de Paul and 140 children that received presents from the Cash for
Kids program. The enormous generosity that was shown in the run-up to
Christmas was truly astounding. The Christmas spirit is truly alive and well!
To everyone who donated toys, food and clothes in the run-up to Christmas,
I cannot thank you enough. You made this Christmas truly special for so
many of our members.
This newsletter details some of the goings-on at NICRAS before and in the
first few months after Christmas. You will also find details of the weekly
classes that are free and available for any of our members. These classes
will continue to run up until the summer, so please do come along to them if
you think they will help you.
If you would like to sponsor our future newsletters to help support the printing
of these publications we would be grateful if you could let us know. We will
leave a free page in our future newsletters that are available for anyone who
wishes to advertise their business or events that they are running.
I would like to give a special thanks to Mohammed Aqel, who has designed
this newsletter with incredible skill and creativity.
Finally I would like to thank our board members for their continued support
and most importantly our members - who are central to everything that we
do.
Thank you!
Justin Kouame
NICRAS Chairperson

December 2016 – February 2017

Stormont learns about substandard housing Life in the UK Test Training

On 18th January 2017, NICRAS’ Chairman stated that it had been a long time since the NICRAS are working in partnership with Enactus
Justin Kouame appeared before the Executive public gallery had been so full for a committee Belfast to run a course for people who want
Committee of the Northern Ireland Assembly evidence session, demonstrating the depth help with the Life in the UK test. People who
to present the findings from NICRAS’ ‘Home of concern surrounding the issue of asylum wish to become British citizens have to pass
Sweet Home?’ report. Published in November seeker accommodation. Overall the occasion this test. To apply for British citizenship you
2016, this report highlights the substandard was a huge success, as NICRAS has been must;
accommodation that asylum seekers are being able to make one of the main committees in - Be a refugee
placed into in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland’s devolved government aware - Been living in the UK for at least 5 years
Stormont committees host sessions to hear of the problems that many asylum seekers - Held indefinite leave to remain status for at
directly from organisations or individuals who face in relation to their accommodation. We least 1 year.
are involved in programmes that are of interest would like to thank the Executive Committee, If you are preparing to take the Life in the UK
to many of the MLAs. Justin gave a 10-minute particularly its chairperson, Mike Nesbitt, for test as part of your citizenship application and
presentation on the ‘Home Sweet Home’ the invitation and we would also like to thank feel you would like some help, then come along
report and also offered insights into NICRAS’ our members who attended the session. to one of our classes, as you will be taken
origins and day-to-day work. He then took through past papers and given guidance on the
questions from the Executive Committee for 40 main subject areas.
minutes, twice the allotted time. The committee Starting on the 9th March, the classes will
members expressed shock and disappointment happen every Thursday from 2.00pm – 3.00pm
at the findings contained within the ‘Home at NICRAS’ office at 143a University Street
Sweet Home’ report. Committee Chair Mike Belfast. If you missed the first class you can
Nesbitt pledged to visit an asylum seeker’s still attend the rest of the course.
lodging to see for himself the conditions
that asylum seekers are typically put into in English Classes and Homework Club
Northern Ireland.
The session was also well attended by NICRAS NICRAS’ English classes will continue to run on
members, volunteers and representatives Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11.30am – 1.00pm in our
from other local charities. Indeed Mike Nesbitt office at 143a University Street, Belfast. The current
term will finish on the 13th April and the new term will
04 run from 25th April to the 29th June. The classes,
which are free and available on a drop-in basis, are
suitable for beginner, elementary and intermediate
English speakers.
NICRAS’ homework club will also continue to run on
Tuesdays at 4.305.30-, offering children help with their
primary or secondary school studies. Our volunteers
can also help any of our members who are attending
college. If these are of interest to you then please
come to our office to sign up.

05

December 2016 – February 2017 has been an advocate of rights for ethnic minorities
ever since. She was instrumental in setting up
Women share stories during the equality commission, was a director of the
Chinese Welfare Association for 10 years, and was
Human Rights Festival an elected MLA for the Alliance Party in South
Belfast, ensuring that the Race Relations Act was
Members of NICRAS Refugee and Asylum- introduced in Northern Ireland.
Seeking Women›s Integration Project shared The event prompted positive feedback. «So often
stories of their lives at a roundtable discussion in we hear stories about such issues on the news but
December. The event, sponsored by the NI Human rarely do we get a chance to hear direct personal
Rights Festival, gave the women a chance to accounts of those who have suffered and survived
discuss the human rights issues in their countries some of the most harrowing of ordeals,” said one
of origin, their experiences since coming to audience member. “It was lovely to hear positive
Northern Ireland, and how they have settled into stories about the welcome these women had
life here. received here. A great event and I would encourage
The afternoon started with the introduction of more of its kind!»
panel members Sinead Marmion, Mimi Unamoyo, «Well organised, well prepared women
and Anna Lo. Sinead and Mimi, who are the participants,” another attendee wrote. “More events
coordinators of the Women’s Integration Project, like this sorely needed across all sectors! Well done
provided information on the aims of the project, NICRAS women!»
what it has achieved thus far, and how it came
about. They emphasised that sharing experiences
is one of the best ways to ensure that participants
feel settled in the local community.
The event was chaired by Anna Lo, who came to
Northern Ireland from Singapore in the 1970s and

06 07

December 2016 – February 2017 Counting our
Blessings
NICRAS

Christmas Party 2016

08
Throughout the year we are humbled by
the generosity shown by local people,
organisations and churches. In the run up
to Christmas we were overwhelmed by
the amount of presents, food and cash
gifts that we received for our members.
We can only offer our sincere gratitude to
everyone who donated such gifts. While
it is impossible to name every person or
group, the NICRAS board, volunteers and
members would like to especially thank;
• The Salvation Army and Saint Vincent
de Paul, which provided presents for 72
families this Christmas.
• Downtown Radio and Cool FM’s Cash
for Kids programme, which organised the
donation of presents for 140 children.
• The staff at CCEA, who gave £402
before Christmas and regularly donate
toiletries.
• The Ulster-American Women’s Society.
We would also like to say a huge thank
you to the SOS bus, Storehouse and
South Belfast Foodbank for the continued
support that they have given to our
members.

09

Free Space!
If you would like to
advertise your business
or any events that you
are running, let us know,
and for a small donation
you could be in our
future publications!

Northern Ireland Community of
Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Phone: 028 9024 6699
Web: www.nicras.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
f: NICRAS NI Northern Ireland Community of Refugees & Asylum Seekers

Our vision Our Mission

Our vision is of a vibrant, welcoming, To inspire and enable refugees and
just and inclusive society, which promtes asylum seekers to break through
diversty, equality and effectivley respects injustice, deprivation and inequality,
the human rights and dignity of refugees so they can achieve their full potensial
and assylum seekers. locally, nationally and globally.

Northern Ireland Community of
Refugees and Asylum Seekers

Phone: 028 9024 6699
Web: www.nicras.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
f: NICRAS NI Northern Ireland Community of Refugees & Asylum Seekers