Refugee Week Celebration
Penrith and Eden Refugee Network (PERN) was delighted to host a joyful celebration of the diverse and supportive community that exists in Cumbria at an event in Penrith on Saturday 7th June. PERN invited all to join the social gathering to highlight ‘Community as a Superpower,’ marking the start of Refugee Week 2025.
The multicultural gathering included residents ranging from babies to great grandparents, living in and around Penrith, Carlisle and beyond. The nationalities present included Kurdish, Palestinian, Syrian, Sudanese, Afghan, Iranian, Eritrean, American and British.
Although the celebration was billed as an outdoor event in St Andrew’s Churchyard, the highly changeable weather failed to dampen spirits as it moved seamlessly inside the church. Everyone enjoyed games, arts and crafts, good conversation and a fabulous spread of international food. A popular activity was the creation of a length of bunting, with each triangular flag bearing an individual’s thoughts about the meaning of community.
At midday, PERN Director, Sarah Wilson, reminded the assembly of the many awful human tragedies that are driving people to flee their home countries to find safety in the UK and elsewhere. She called for the fairer treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.
Sarah then introduced three inspiring speakers who shared some of their experiences of seeking asylum and about the transformational effect of being welcomed into a caring and supportive community in Cumbria. They were Mumu, from Kurdistan, Hameed from Afghanistan and Lujain from Palestine. Some of these people had little or no English when they arrived in the UK but now all spoke with confidence, passion and gratitude. They are also committed volunteers with PERN, assisting other asylum seekers and new refugees.
The audience were clearly moved by their words. Sal Cawley, from Braithwaite, commented afterwards: “Thanks to everyone at PERN who organised such a lovely community event for Refugee Week. Once again, I was blown away by the open and honest testimonies of those who spoke. It was a wonderful heartwarming experience of inclusion, friendship and integration. A reminder of how the world could be.”
After lunch, Giovanni led an energetic and inclusive Zumba session, featuring also music and dances contributed by some of the attendees. Giovanni was a particular hit with the younger guests, and he rounded the event off with some fun children’s games.
PERN wishes to thank St Andrew’s Church for providing the venue for this event.
