With thousands of asylum seekers coming into Cardiff, a volunteer’s help is always needed.
They do not even need a special skill. “You can play table tennis or just have a conversation so they (the asylum seekers) can practice English,” said Sion Richards, Oasis Cardiff Representative for City of Sanctuary, last week.
Oasis, the biggest asylum seeker drop-in centre in Wales, help newcomers integrate into the society. They receive around 100 visitors a day and hold various activities and projects, ranging from English lessons, craft classes to a three year long art project. Volunteers could teach in classes, be a receptionist, cook or repair computers. ”We will match people’s skill and time with our needs. There are currently 80 people helping us, but we always need more,” said Sion.
Wadh Ahmed, a refugee from Sudan, feel that the centre has tremendously helped him to find a community and improved his English. ”When I first came here, I don’t even know how to pick up the phone. Now I feel confident dealing with people,” he said. The 19 year old boy is now planning to learn Information Technology at a university.