Town rolls out warm welcome for refugees
LLANELLI put out a massive welcome mat for more than 100 Ukrainian refugees with a special tea party staged at the Selwyn Samuel Centre recently.
The event was organised by Llanelli Rotary Club, with help from Llanelli’s Multicultural Network.
It was attended by civic leaders, including Llanelli Town Mayor Cllr Philip Warlow and Llanelli Rural Council chairman Cllr Giles Morgan, and Cross Hands fundraiser Val Newton MBE, who has spent nearly 30 years supporting families in areas of conflict in Europe.
Llanelli Rotary Club President Maxine Walters said: “Llanelli Rotary Club has been working very hard this year to support Ukrainian refugees and those still in the war-torn country.
“Under our immediate past president Ieuan Griffiths, we started the ball rolling earlier this when we responded to a request from Llanelli MP Dame Nia Griffiths to coordinate fundraising for Ukraine.
“We have since established links with two Rotary clubs based in neighbouring Poland, in Warsaw, who are helping us make sure that funds raised in Llanelli get to reach the most needy in Ukraine.
“We’ve raised thousands of pounds already and the first batches of money have been successfully transferred to help those in Ukraine.
“Closer to home, we wanted to do something to help the Ukrainian families who have come to seek refuge in Wales and in Llanelli and west Wales.
“So, Llanelli Rotary Club came up with the idea of a tea party to welcome Ukrainian refugees to Llanelli.
“The event was very well attended and was a massive success and Rotarians were delighted to play some small part in welcoming our Ukrainian visitors.”
Llanelli Multicultural Network volunteer projects co-ordinator Paolo
Piana helped to make sure the invitations got out to Ukrainian refugees living in and around Llanelli.
Mr Piana said: “Wales is a country of sanctuary and Llanelli is a town where we extend the hand of friendship - and that’s something we should be proud of.”
Llanelli Multicultural Network works closely with Llanelli Town Council, Carmarthenshire Council, Carmarthenshire Association of Voluntary
Services, Hywel Dda University Health Board and other groups and organisations to support refugees in the local community.
Mr Piana said women and children had been torn from their husbands, fathers, uncles and brothers, who have stayed behind in the Ukraine to fight the Russian invaders.
Marianna Horokhivska-John performed translation duties at the afternoon tea to help explain Llanelli Rotary Club’s work helping Ukraine.
She told Rotarians: “We all thank you very much for what you have already done and what you continue to do for Ukraine.”
Llanelli Rotary Club were given money by the Rotary South Wales