In March 2020, NI Hyatt Ltd launched a report containing all the findings and data captured at several focus group sessions run with the local refugee community resettled within the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon and Newry Council areas.
Link to PDF – NI Hyatt Focus Group Report here
As one of the strongest themes across the process of consultation with the community and focusing on working collaboratively with existent organisations and community groups at a local and regional level, was the idea of providing an Arabic language and cultural school programme for the local children (open to school-age children from Arab or non-Arab backgrounds).
The first pilot programme was delivered during a period of 10 weeks (2020/21) with the support from PRISM Project, led by The British Red Cross NI. NI Hyatt combined the positive outcomes of this pilot initiative and a reviewed consultation with the community to secure further funding via the Community Relations Council and give continuity to the 'Al Taaleem' successful delivery up to March 2022. The weekend Arabic school is a lifeline to the locally resettled Syrian refugee families and welcomes children from different backgrounds who wish to learn Arabic and integrate with the refugee community.