THE ACHIEVEMENTS of asylum-seeking young people in Warwickshire have been celebrated.
Warwickshire County Council has held an event – as part of Refugee Celebration Week 2019 – to recognises the accomplishments of its unaccompanied asylum-seeking children around the county.
Warwickshire currently supports 194 unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people most of which are teenagers.
They have often experienced long migrations, travelling across many countries and borders, starting out from countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq and Syria.
They have experienced loss, moving from their homelands, leaving behind family members and some have experienced serious traumas before and during their journey.
The younger asylum-seeking children in Warwickshire are supported by a team which help them with education opportunities – that many have never had access to in the past – and also to participate in sporting activities. Some have even formed a football team.
In preparation for the celebration event, nine young asylum seekers who had completed their food hygiene certificates worked with chefs at Warwick’s Old Shire Hall to produce the banquet for the event.
Speaking about her own experiences as an asylum seeking young person in Warwickshire, Tehetena said: “Warwickshire County Council has helped me in my journey in many ways. I had support from the council when applying for university and they are still now supporting me financially. I also get a lot of emotional support from my PA, which helps me as I found moving and everything really hard.”
Council leader Izzi Seccombe said how proud she was Warwickshire had welcomed and helped the young asylum seekers.
“The fact that the whole county has come together to provide a safe place for these young people to begin to heal and rebuild their lives is a testament to what a fantastic place Warwickshire is to live.
“I am immensely proud that Warwickshire County Council is able to provide a comprehensive package of support to these young people and that local communities have gone above and beyond to make some of our most vulnerable young residents so welcome.
“These young people are now able to begin their healing in a county that has always celebrated and welcomed diversity; a county that has always offered help to its most vulnerable residents; and a county that has a deep and enduring sense of civil-mindedness at its very heart.”
Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/uac for more information about unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Warwickshire.
