Anya Nemesh is Coordinator and Communications Administrator at Durham City of Sanctuary.
What is your background/back story?
I have personal experience of seeking sanctuary. like over 8 million of my compatriots, when I was forced to flee from Ukraine. I made Durham my new home, and since arriving here, I have become passionate about contributing to a more welcoming environment for people who, like me, were forced to leave their homelands due to war and conflict. I now work as Coordinator and Communications Administrator for Durham City of Sanctuary, helping to support and enable a culture of welcome and inclusion for sanctuary seekers in County Durham
How long have you worked for Durham City of Sanctuary?
I joined Durham City of Sanctuary at the beginning of this year, so I’ve worked been working here for eight months. for them. My role has evolved over time and I have been actively involved in various projects and activities that involve promote inclusivity and community building.
What does Durham City of Sanctuary do?
Durham City of Sanctuary is part of the national Cities of Sanctuary network movement. Our mission is to develop build a culture of welcome for people seeking sanctuary from war, persecution and other hardships. We work across County Durham. Through activities such as drop-in meetings, educational support, arts and crafts workshops, and outdoor activities, we and help new arrivals integrate into the community and feel supported. We also work closely with councils, schools, universities and other organisations to create a more inclusive and compassionate environment.
Can you tell me about successes?
We have had several successes recently including our youth clubs and education support programmes, which have grown significantly with over 50 students from Ukrainian, Syrian and Iraqi backgrounds. There are also our social action projects in our communities, such as our free meals for homeless people and animal shelter projects. We reach out to the local community members, working with the Investing in Children Foundation, and the Salvation Army and others. The Ukrainian children wanted to give something back to our local communities. We were pleased that so many people enjoyed tasting our traditional Ukrainian food.
We’ve built strong partnerships with Durham University, which actively involve students in supporting our activities. We ‘ve also worked with Amazon, which provides volunteers and donates gifts for the children. Our drop-ins have been highly successful with increasing numbers and positive feedback from participants.
Can you tell me about your plans for the future?
Looking ahead we aim to continue expanding our activities and outreach. We plan to organise more regular drop-ins, with meetings in different areas across County Durham, developing new community integration projects, such as additional workshops and master classes based on community interest. We organised a couple of craft workshops in Durham that were very popular. It is a really good experience to collaborate with local charities and we want to increase our involvement with the Sanctuary Awards programme, encouraging more local institutions to join. We are also reviewing looking to improve our volunteer recruitment and training processes to better meet the needs of our community.
Why is the work of Durham City of Sanctuary important?
It is important because the work of Durham City of Sanctuary helps build a more inclusive and compassionate community. Our programmes create a platform for new arrivals to integrate, connect, and contribute to their new community, which enriches everyone involved. We develop a culture of welcome that empowers asylum sanctuary seekers and refugees, giving them the tools to rebuild their lives, develop their skills and feel safe and accepted. This enables them to give something back and actively contribute to the community where they are trying to rebuild their lives. We have significant support from Durham University students and the local community.
What would be your vision of a better future for people in the North East and the country as a whole?
My vision for a better future is one where every person regardless of their background feels welcome safe and valued. In the North East and across the whole of the UK, I hope to see communities that celebrate diversity and equal opportunities for everyone.
This includes more support for sanctuary seekers in terms of education, employment and integration, so that they can fully participate in and contribute to society.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who supports us. One of my favourite authors, Erich Maria Remarque said “The bright people are clearly visible in dark times”. I have found a lot of such people here in the UK.
You can learn more about Durham City of Sanctuary here.
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