This month we decided to make our donation to a Glaswegian charity responsible for giving displaced people from all over the world that warm welcome that Glasgow is so well known for. As it happens the majority of Greencity members were not actually born in Glasgow but have chosen to make it their home and this is one of the many reasons we love this charity and thought we would like to help them out in our own small way. We spoke to Selena from Refuweegee to tell us a bit more about this awesome charity.
Tell us about how it all started and a little more about Refuweegee.
Refuweegee, founded in December 2015, is dedicated to extending a warm welcome to forcibly displaced individuals arriving in Glasgow. We aim to empower the local community to provide support and assistance through the distribution of welcome packs and essential items, helping to ease the transition and make their new life in Scotland a bit more comfortable.
Here is a link to a short documentary which explains a bit more about what we do and why: Refuweegee Short Documentary
How many people are involved in your organisation?
We have a core team of 14 staff and too many volunteers to count! We hugely rely on support from the Glasgow community to be able to do what we do.
Tell us a bit more about the things you do to support refugees arriving in Glasgow.
We currently average around 150 welcome packs each month to people arriving in Glasgow. Since moving to our new city centre offices last year, we have been able to create a community hub welcoming over 300 people a week. In this space we can guarantee that anyone in need of food, toiletries or emergency clothing support received this the same day. This is due to the generosity of the Glasgow and wider Scottish community, who donate both with items we need and with finance. Giving us the flexibility to respond to the specific needs of anyone who come through our door.
We also organise community events that are open to all, providing a welcoming and inclusive space for those who are newly arrived in Glasgow to connect with others.
What steps do you think need to be taken to improve health & wellbeing in the refugee community?
Health and wellbeing begins with basic human rights. There is little point in provision of trauma support unless the individual(s) have a safe place to live and food in their bellies. The housing system for recently arrived people leaves a lot to be desired and, until the intersectionality of all of these issues are fully recognised, there is little point investing in any single approach. The establishment of support networks for those who are looking to rebuild their lives in Glasgow is crucial.
What can members of the public do to help support your organisation?
Without volunteers, we cannot do what we do. Whether it is helping us to organise stock, undertaking deliveries or arranging donation drives – there are many ways to get involved. Our available in-office volunteering opportunities can be found here. We recognise that physical volunteering is not an option for everyone and we are equally grateful to those who raise the voices of the recently arrived community as we are to those who give their time in person. Sharing our socials, reading our recommendations and discussing them round your dinner tables is often the best way to make a difference with us.
We can also make cash go a long way, so financial donations are also hugely appreciated of course. Find out more about how you can donate here.
If you could invite 6 people, living or dead, to a dream dinner party who would you invite and why?
Refuweegee Founder and Director Selina shares her dream dinner party guests:
Marcus Garvey - Jamaican-born Black nationalist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement, which sought to unify and connect people of African descent worldwide. An absolute boss.
David Attenborough – because he’s David jeffing Attenborough!
Leslie Jordan – because he would make me laugh so much and his death was a real shock after genuinely feeling connected with him via his Instagram videos during lockdown.
Lizzo – love her music, love what she stands for.
Beyonce – protest music like you’ve never heard it.
Kelechi Okafore – Love her podcasts, Say Your Mind and her work to speak truth amplify the voices of Black women and their lived experiences.
Thanks to Jenn and Selina at Refuweegee for answering our questions - find out more at www.refuweegee.co.uk
