This week in the UK: Poetry, solo marathons and feeding frontline workers

Our supporters go to great lengths to carry on fundraising for UNHCR, and home schooling builds empathy with refugees.

01 May 2020

9 year-old Edie Treves has been learning about refugees whilst being home schooled during Covid 19 lockdown. She drew this picture to accompany her poem about the plight of refugees.

Nine-year-old Edie Treves has been learning about refugees whilst being home schooled during Covid 19 lockdown. She drew this picture to accompany her poem about the plight of refugees.   © Edie Treves

The coronavirus crisis continues to dominate the news worldwide. Whilst the UK continues in lockdown, we want to applaud the people who are still dedicating their time to helping their neighbours.

This week, we also highlight how one family’s lessons at home have helped two sisters understand the plight of refugees, and we say thank you to our supporters, who are still training hard and adapting their plans so they can continue to fundraise to help protect refugees from Covid 19.

Spotlight: Teaching about refugees – lessons to build empathy

9 year old Edie Treves has been learning about refugees as part of her home schooling during the Covid 19 lockdown. She wrote this moving poem to share what she has learnt about the journeys refugees take to find safety.

Nine-year-old Edie Treves has been learning about refugees as part of her home schooling during the Covid 19 lockdown. She wrote this moving poem to share what she has learnt about the journeys refugees take to find safety.  © Edie Trevas

 

9-year-old Edie shared her poem with us at UNHCR, and we had to share it. Edie and her sister Flo have been learning about refugees as part of their home schooling. After learning about the plight of many refugees Edie was inspired to write ‘The Icy Black Sea’, which follows the journey of The 4 Leaf Clover.

A postponed marathon? Not a problem for our dedicated fundraiser

We would like to thank Sarah Chaudhri for her determination to help raise money for UNHCR. When the London Marathon was postponed, she ran her own.

On her Just Giving page, she explains why:

"As you know the Covid 19 pandemic has caused the marathon to be postponed until October, although realistically it looks likely it won’t take place for all but the world class athletes. I decided to run half the distance on the original marathon date of 26th April and run the other half on 28th April, now completed in a total of 4 hours and 29 minutes. We are lucky to live in the countryside so I was able to run a route on quiet lanes and bridleways in order to maintain social distancing. It was considerably hillier that the London route and I was lucky to have Fayyaz carrying snack bars and sports drink for me to take on board. The pandemic has been devastating in the U.K. but I can only imagine how quickly the virus will spread through refugee camps without the facilities that UNHCR can offer with our support."

You can still donate to her fundraiser: Sarah's Marathon 2020

Syrian refugees donate 100 meals

 

The Syrian Dinner Project was set up to help refugee women become part of the community, whilst sharing culinary traditions with their new Welsh neighbours. Now, during Covid 19, they are making meals for frontline NHS workers, to say thank you.

“My family were welcomed and have settled in Wales. The people are very lovely here. It is very important to help them."


Community-run greengrocers provides fresh food to local charity

 

A greengrocers in Headingley is delivering fresh food to good causes. One of these organisations, Meeting Point, supports refugees and asylum seekers in Leeds.

“For many who attend, we are their only source of fresh food and, particularly given the current circumstances, a lifeline for a number of them." Emma Crossley, Meeting Point.

Fareshare continue to deliver

 

FareShare is the country’s longest running food redistribution charitable foundation, and they are continuing their work through the current crisis.

Last week alone, FareShare distributed 75 tonnes of food to vulnerable families in Glasgow, the equivalent of staggering 178,000 meals. As well as families, the foundation is supporting hostels, day centres and refugee and asylum seeker support centres.

Tell us what's happening in your community

If you or one of your neighbours is doing something great, let us know about it. Share a clip or a photo with us on social media, and we can share it with our community.