Ottery Refugee Response group's Spotlight on Syria

Ottery Refugee Response (a voluntary community group) is holding a free awareness evening, Spotlight on Syria  in The Institute , Yonder St in Ottery St Mary on Saturday 25th March, 5-8.30pm.

Two Syrian speakers have confirmed they will attend and Syrian food can also be purchased at the event. All are welcome. The event follows the sell-out success of the group’s Rock for Refugees concert in Ottery on 4th March that raised over £1,500 for local refugee charities (RAFT, ABIDE and Refugee Support Devon).

“There is so much more to Syria than the violence, death, and destruction that dominates our TV screens” commented event organiser Mel Argent. “At the Spotlight on Syria event we want to present a more positive and personal picture of the country’s people and culture so that we can promote greater understanding of the Syrian refugee families due to be resettled in East Devon. The event is free, but donations are welcome.”

Alaa Khattab from Damascus will introduce people to his country’s rich heritage and vibrant society while Baraa Kouja from Aleppo will talk about his experiences of being a refugee in the UK and about the charity From Syria With Love which he founded.

Several local organisations supporting Syrian refugees in Devon (including Ottery’s ABIDE project, Exeter City of Sanctuary and RAFT, Refugee Aid From Taunton ) will come along to the event with ideas and suggestions for how people can support their work. As well as traditional Syrian and Syrian-style food, there will also be Syrian music and a raffle.

The Ottery Refugee Response group is keen to work with East Devon District Council (EDDC) to ensure that the eight families which the Council has promised to resettle can be welcomed to the district as soon as possible. So far only one Syrian family has been resettled in East Devon. The main obstacle is a lack of suitable private rental accommodation for these families. EDDC, Ottery Refugee Response and other refugee support groups in the area are therefore urging private landlords to come forward if they can help in any way.

“At our Spotlight on Syria event, we hope to attract a wide audience and not just like-minded people. It will be an opportunity to show our common humanity in a relaxed environment, to inspire people to think more sympathetically and do more” said another event organiser Rob Mackenzie.

The Kings school will be also running follow up sessions with Year 8’s on the Monday after the Spotlight on Syria event. It is hoped this will be the start of ongoing awareness sessions in the school with Baraa Kouja who is based in Exeter.

Meanwhile, the local ABIDE project is planning to sponsor a Syrian family to settle in Ottery (through the government’s Community Sponsorship Scheme) and have been successful in raising thousands of pounds in the local community in just a few months.

“We hope this event will be a small step in getting people ready to welcome more families locally” said Mel. “There are many different ways we can help to make a difference, however small, but sometimes people don’t know what to do or what to believe. That’s why we’ve organised the Spotlight on Syria event.”