Is there room for them in our inn?

Fri 25 Dec 2015, 11:21

Amy Bird lives in London. She is part of the Refugees Welcome - UK group:

Hi everyone,

Before the end of the year I just wanted to say thank you to each and every member of this group. Sometimes it's hard not to be overwhelmed by what is happening and to feel like it is a bit hopeless. We are deluged with negativity from the media - it feels like no-one really cares and that fear and hatred is the predominant feeling out there for refugees.

So, as we're about to start a new year, here's a roundup of some of the good things that happened in 2015 - big and small - that can give us hope and inspiration for the coming year. The stuff that doesn't always get coverage but it's more common than we think...

- In the UK 2 million people offered up their homes to refugees; millions and millions of pounds have been raised, and mountains of aid has been donated, sorted and distributed.

- The UK government gave in to spontaneous pressure from the public and accepted 20,00 refugees over the next five years. Still nowhere near enough but more than they were going to do.

- Germany has taken in over 1 million refugees this year alone.

- Canada is taking in 25k Syrian refugees and is greeting them with choirs singing Arabic songs of hope ... and has just announced it will double its intake in 2016 to 50k!

- Abdul Halim al-Attar, a homeless refugee selling pens on the streets of Beirut inspired a £120k twitter crowd fund. With the funds he has set up three businesses employing 16 Syrian refugees.

- Yousef Rajab - a two year old boy badly burned from a bomb in Syria was able to get to the safety of Turkey with his father thanks one man - Rohan Karat and generous members of the public and media.

- A Canadian couple downsized their 'big' wedding and donated over $16k to refugees. A Turkish couple invited 4,000 Syrian refugees to eat and celebrate with them.

- Syrian refugee Alex Assali living in Germany said thank you to country that took him in by feeding the homeless.

- Social media went into melt down trying to find injured Syrian boy Azam. BBC Newsnight found him alive and well (and cheeky!) in Germany with his uncle. He has now been reunited with his family.

- Scotland welcomed refugees by taking out front page spreads and distributing welcome packs of Tunnocks Teacakes, Irn Bru and notes apologising for the weather.

There are so many more - see the link below for some examples that will restore your faith in humanity!

www.buzzfeed.com/patricksmith/ways-refugees-and-migrants-were-welcomed-in-2015#.he96lQEem

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate it and a happy new year to all!