This year Oxfam Cymru will have a presence at the Hay Festival to raise awareness of the refugee crisis and to showcase the support there is in the country for Wales to become a Nation of Sanctuary.
The world is in the middle of the most serious refugee crisis since the Second World War. More than 60 million people have been forced to flee their homes by terrifying conflict and violence, millions more by natural disaster and poverty. These are people like you and me who have been torn away from their families, children who are on their own.
As part of a global response, here in Wales we can create a culture of welcome and hospitality for people seeking sanctuary. Pro-active people in towns and villages across the country have already been responding to the refugee crisis by offering support, friendship and welcome.
Alongside a coalition of other organisations, Oxfam Cymru is calling for Wales to become an official Nation of Sanctuary, celebrated and renowned for the warm welcome it extends to families in crisis.
At the Hay Festival this year you can join Oxfam Cymru to show that there is a welcome in Wales. We’ve created a Welsh hillside photo stand, that’ll be outside the Oxfam Bookshop throughout the festival. All you need to do is step into the hillside and give a welcoming smile! Then ask a friend to take your photo and share it on social media using #NationofSanctuary #CenedlNoddfa.
You can also make a difference by writing a letter of welcome to a refugee family who has just arrived in Wales. Write a note or letter and post into our special post box in the Oxfam shop in Hay (the town, not the festival), then we’ll make sure your letter gets delivered to a family, and we’ll also use it to showcase the support there is here in Wales.
In September world leaders will meet to discuss the response to the refugee crisis. You can join Oxfam’s Stand As One campaign to push the UK Government to be part of the solution.
Together we can be part of the solution showing the world and future generations that the people of Wales stand together with families forced to flee.