Speakers Savi Maharaj and Hugh Grant

Rotary Club of Stirling  meeting of 22/7/16

President Alan Rankin welcomed one visitor Mike Hendry guest of Frank Kelly, and our speakers Savi Maharaj and Hugh Grant from Stirling Citizens for Sanctuary.

The president's at home is on 31st August at 1pm. The next council meeting will be on 9th August, and the Summer golf outing on 10th August at Aberfoyle.

Savi Maharaj and Hugh Grant told us about Stirling Citizens for Sanctuary, a newly formed group whose function is to support recently arrived Syrian refugees who since January 2016 have been arriving in our area. They now number 50 of whom 30 are children. The UK government has agreed to accept 20,000 refugees over the next five years, chosen by UNCR from Syrian refugee camps, and provide funding to the local authorities who take them in. Although the council provides housing and schooling, the refugees will need support from the community, and it was for this purpose that Stirling Citizens for Sanctuary was formed. At a meeting in the Albert hall there was considerable public support, and the still developing organisation is already active particularly in the areas of befriending, material needs, and English language teaching. The families selected often have health problems and recent particularly traumatic life experiences, and are thus in need of support from our community. Each family has it's own special needs but all benefit from practical help as well as social events increasing contact with other families and the community at large. The group is gradually developing more formal links with the council and is also involved in fund raising.
It was clear that the talk had impressed the members and several asked questions at the end of the presentation.

The vote of thanks was given by Peter Mehta.

Next meeting, Speaker's host Ian Milton, Visitors host Gordon Murphy   
www.stirling.rotary1010.org

Ian Richardson