Homeless refugees thrown festive party by volunteers

HOMELESS refugees were given a Christmas party in Henley.

Thirty-five men and women enjoyed home-cooked food, party games and music and dancing at the Quakers’ Meeting House in Northfield End on Thursday last week.

The party was organised by Val Johnstone, 78, from Middle Assendon, and her daugher Sam Jonkers, from Henley, who is the regional
co-ordinator for refugee support charity Care4Calais.

Volunteers had cooked halal lamb stew, dahl, a bean stew and stuffed roasted vegetables and brought different cakes, chocolates and mince pies for dessert.

They also made donations of hats, gloves and socks, shampoo, deodorant, shaving foam and hand sanitiser and bars of chocolate. At the end of the party, each refugee could choose two items to take with them.

Mrs Johnstone said: “It’s Christmas and people want to be kind.”

Many of the refugees at the party are currently living on the streets in Reading after being granted the right to live in the UK.

The others were new arrivals to the UK, who are being housed in hotels in Reading while their claims for asylum are assessed.

Once a person has had their refugee status accepted, they are usually given 28 days to find employment and housing before their state-provided accommodation is removed but recently this has been as little as seven days.

Sharif Abam and Gassim Sulleyman, 25, both from Sudan, are living on the streets in Reading after their asylum claims were accepted.

Mr Abam said he was enjoying the party, adding: “It’s very good. Thank you very much.”

Mr Sulleyman said: “The food is very nice and there are very nice people. I am happy.”

Patrick Weko, 30, from the Congo, who arrived exactly two years ago but is still awaiting the result of his application, said: “I’m enjoying it. It’s very hospitable. Everyone is so kind.”

After the meal, volunteers and refugees played musical chairs and pass the parcel and danced to music provided by DJ Jamie Taylor, who stepped in at the last minute when a singer who was due to perform pulled out after testing positive for covid.

Mr Taylor played music from each of the 14 different countries where the refugees were from and took requests.

He said: “It’s the least I could do. It’s an honour to do this.”

Adam Bennett, 14, from Nettlebed, was volunteering with his mother and sister, dishing out food and washing up.

He has been volunteering at a refugee drop-in centre as part of his bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Adam, a student at Gillotts School in Henley, said: “It’s fun to know you’re helping.”

His mother, Juliet, 54, said: “We have so much and they have nothing and are living in tents.”

Another volunteer was Alexander Khodzhaev, a Russian who lives in Reading. He was previously granted asylum and now volunteers to support other refugees at Care4Calais.

Mrs Johnstone said: “He works so hard. If he says he’s going to be there I heave a huge sigh of relief. He’s a gem, one of our best.”

Her daughter said: “When we were planning this we were really conscious that Christmas is a special family time and it is especially hard for people who are displaced.

“We wanted to bring people together, especially people with asylum who are on the streets.

We invited the people of Henley to come and contribute and they rose to the occasion. It’s showing the guys and girls what we are about and that there’s hope.”

Essam Dogharsham, 18, from Sudan, who arrived when he was 16, said he was very grateful for the support he had received from Mrs Johnstone and the Henley Refugee Support Group.

He said: “I think she is a great woman. She doesn’t care who you are or what your background is, or your skin colour or religion, she just does what she can to make you happy. She is an example of humanity.

“When I came here I couldn’t speak any English. Sam and Emma Clark-Lam have supported me and I learnt English. They are genuine people.”

For more information about the Henley Refugee Support group, visit www.facebook.com/groups/
8768860856473542/