| Refugees share their experiences with school pupils in Cumbernauld |
| Syrian refugees who have settled in North Lanarkshire shared their experiences with S2 pupils at Greenfaulds High School in Cumbernauld at a special event.
They told the pupils about the torture and suffering they had endured and reminded them about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the country. All second year pupils spent a week across all their subjects learning about Syria, with classes ranging from cooking Syrian biscuits in Home Economics to listening to Syrian music and even learning to count in Arabic. The week culminated in a presentation from local Syrian refugees living in the community about the abuse of children’s rights still going on in Syria today. The event was inspired by two S2 pupils, Abdul and Maher, who are Syrian refugees attending Greenfaulds. Craig Scoular, Greenfaulds HS Rights Respecting Coordinator, said: “We were honoured to have our Syrian friends in the local community present their stories for our S2. “We are a rights respecting school and the stories of Mariam, Chadi and Mona was a timely reminder that in Syria rights of children are not being protected. The week long focus we had on Syria across all our subjects allowed the students to appreciate that Syria and its people are no different to us, enjoying music, art and sport the same way we do.” Pupil Isabella Knox added: “I learned what it is actually like for a refugee – it’s not just a story, its real life. Mona’s story in particular about losing her husband in the war was very sad. She is a very brave woman.” Pupil Amy Kennedy said: “Inspirational – that is how I would sum it up. What the refugees have gone through is almost unbelievable and the fact that it was a real person’s life and not something from a movie or television made it even more upsetting. I agree that Mona’s story was very sad. “Trying to survive with two children, one very ill, when you’ve lost a loved one must have been very hard. Mona, as well as Chadi and Mariam are amazing people.” To date North Lanarkshire Council has resettled 133 Syrian refugees in the area. Cllr Pat O’Rourke is chair of the council’s Syrian resettlement programme, he said: “The Syrians who have moved to our area have settled in really well and it’s telling that they now feel they are in a position to share their stories of all the brutality and hardship they experienced in Syria and of their time in refugee camps, with our school pupils. “Together with other organisations such as Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, the NHS and voluntary groups we provided a full support programme to help them to adjust to a new life here in Scotland.” “They Syrians have made excellent progress with learning English and our service has been recognised by the Home Office as an example of best practice across the UK. Isabelle Boyd, Asst Chief Executive, North Lanarkshire Council, said: “Anyone hearing their stories cannot fail to be moved and I have no doubt it will leave a lasting impression on everyone who hears about their experiences.”
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