People need education on asylum
Ex-miss Ireland plea over refugees
FORMER Miss Ireland Pamela Uba has urged the Government to do more to educate communities about asylum seekers.
The South African born model and actress spent 10 years in direct provision and is pleading with people to welcome refugees and not to fear them. Pamela, 27, told the Irish Sunday Mirror: “I feel like a lot of people are not educated on what asylum seeking is and they don’t know exactly what’s going on.
“So then people don’t know who’s coming into their neighbourhoods, and they get afraid, I totally understand that.
“But I feel like the Government should do more to educate people. They need to do more to find better facilities to put people in.
“At the end of the day, I think integration is the best way forward, making sure everyone feels welcome within their communities.”
Earlier this week, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was not “realistic, legal or practical” for Ireland to no longer accept international protection applicants.
His comments came as Cabinet signed off on a plan to donate €1.5million to Europe instead of accepting 350 asylum seekers it had previously agreed to house.
Up to 176 asylum seekers are to be temporarily accommodated in tents at the former Central Mental Hospital, Co Dublin, as the Government struggles to house refugees. Pamela entered direct provision, aged seven, with her mother and three sisters and integrated into the Ballyhaunis community in Co Mayo when she was 17.
She graduated with a Master’s degree in clinical chemistry from Trinity College, Dublin, and feels it would be a shame for Ireland to regress from being so multicultural.
Pamela said: “These people are going through a hard time... trying to get used to a new area, to do better for their families.
“I know how they feel right now, because I was in their position.
“We are in a country that is getting so mixed and more diverse. It would be a shame to take a step back from where we’re heading right now.”
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Pamela, who became the first black woman to win Miss Ireland in 2021, added: “Ireland has always been home for me.
“I love my country. I love the fact I was able to represent us at Miss World.”
She told how her community in Co Mayo welcomed her with open arms.
Pamela said: “I feel like my community in Ballyhaunis was quite open to me.
“I’m quite a sociable person so I had no problem getting stuck in and doing the town festivals, playing the town games.”
Commenting on the increase in antirefugee protests, she said: “I feel why there’s a shift now is because of lack of knowledge.
“I think it’s more because people don’t know what’s happening. They’re probably just getting frustrated.”
Pamela is making her own music and has signed with an acting agent in London.
She added: “It has been a whirlwind. I just feel so lucky to be in the position that I’m in, getting to do such amazing things.
“I’m working on a song with a really cool DJ so hopefully we will get that released soon. I’ve changed my career and made loads of good things for myself. So I’m really fortunate.”
It would be a shame to step back from where we’re heading