Refugee Week 2023 & Bayswater Foundation

Refugee Week 2023 & Bayswater Foundation

Did you know that from June 19th to 25th, Refugee Week 2023 is being celebrated? Refugee Week is an annual event that aims to raise awareness for communities to come together, learn from each other, and foster a more inclusive and welcoming world. This year, the theme for Refugee Week is Compassion — highlighting the importance of empathy, understanding, and unity in creating a better future for everyone.

Now, as it's Refugee week, let's remind ourselves and celebrate the things Bayswater Foundation did in the past to support refugees.

1. #FundraisingForGood: When earthquakes struck Turkey and Syria, leaving thousands of people in distress, we knew we had to take action. All our centres came together and launched a powerful fundraising campaign. And guess what? In less than two weeks, we raised an astonishing £2083.40! Every single penny went towards supporting the victims of this heartbreaking disaster. Together, we made a difference!

2. Eid, RefuAid Guest Speaker: Through our partnership with RefuAid, Eid, aka the Syrian Refugee aiming to become an Olympic swimmer, came to Bayswater London to share with our students and team members his inspiring journey, one week before #RefugeeWeek. Eid's words resonate with us: "Let us continue to share our stories, uplift one another, and champion the importance of education and learning English for all." Be sure to check out his inspiring story on our Instagram. Together, we're creating educational opportunities that change lives.

3. Walk & Talk: At Bayswater Liverpool, we're all about creating a welcoming and inclusive community. In 2021 and 2022 we successfully raised over £2,500 to host our Walk and Talk. These funds allowed us to cover travel expenses for refugees and asylum seekers, so they can join us for an afternoon of English, friendship, and culture. We successfully showed them the best attractions Liverpool has to offer. We designed lessons and activities to make these visits not only educational, but also fun and interesting.

4. Scholarships with RefuAid: Bayswater Education and RefuAid have teamed up to offer scholarships to refugees in London. RefuAid is a small charity aiming to support refugees and asylum-seekers in the UK access education and employment in line with their skills and potential. We established a partnership in April 2018, having discovered their shared values about the importance of access to education for all. The language scholarships will enable people who have been forced to leave their home countries to rebuild a life for themselves here in the UK. Through English classes and pastoral support, we hope that this opportunity will provide people with the skills needed to access education and find meaningful employment.

We're beyond grateful to witness the joy, laughter, and learning that take place during our events. It's moments like these that remind us why we love what we do. So, as we celebrate Refugee Week 2023, let's remember the incredible impact we've made in the past. Together, we've fundraised, shared stories, and created welcoming spaces for refugees and asylum seekers. We're proud to be making a difference and making education a true force for good. When you #ChooseBayswater, you #ChooseToMakeADifference.

Join us in celebrating this incredible week, and let's continue to make a positive impact on the lives of refugees. Together, we can build a brighter, more inclusive future.