“FOR ME, IT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING WELCOME AND SOLIDARITY TO DO. IN SYRIA, THE SITUATION IS TERRIBLE. THE EIGHT OF US MEET AND ANALYZED THE PROS AND CONS, AND IN THE END IT WAS NOT NEEDED TO DECIDE, WE COULD SEE THAT WE COULD OVERCOME ANY CHALLENGE WITHOUT PROBLEM.”
LYNNE
Ireland
It was a lot easier to become a group of sponsors than we thought. The hardest part was the accommodation, but we managed to overcome that.
Fundraising was easy and even a lot of fun, but we had to organize ourselves better with the documentation. We have received a lot of support from other sponsorship groups and we are very happy to be able to support other groups!
One of the things we have to recognize is that every family is different. We already have preconceived ideas about Syrian refugees, but there is great diversity. Syria was a beautiful and highly developed country.
Me and Joe, the group secretary, went with a van and a driver to pick them up at the airport when they arrived. We brought flowers and the family was delighted to be in Ireland. Not that they knew much about Ireland beforehand! The group decorated the house to welcome them and it was adorable!
"I'm happy for them. I'm glad this is just the first step on their path."
In the first few days the family heard someone knocking at the door very loudly. When the father opened the door there was a huge man there with a giant bar of Toblerone. He shook her hand and said: “you are very welcome here” and ran away!
Here they can trust but are waiting to finally feel safe. It took about three to four months in Ireland for them to believe they were.
I feel happy for them. I'm glad this is just the first step on your path.