Very little over the past year has encouraged me to reflect well on this subject. On the contrary, I have been let down time & again & it has become routine to almost expect it.The building trade in general doesn't seem to think that effective, timely, communication or consideration for others & their property is important. I think quite a bit is to do with men dealing with women, especially older, single, women. Then there is the minefield of boundary disputes with neighbours which is very revealing.
However yesterday gave me hope for humanity. I went to help out in a local church that is running TEFL English lessons & Maths lessons for refugees. It was so uplifting to work with someone who gives her own time, spends her own money on materials & produces brilliant visual aids. Some people are just so selfless & empathetic it really does restore your faith in goodness & generosity.
The refugees varied in age from 5 to 40ish & they were wonderful too. I have no idea what trauma they have gone through. They are all Ukranians, so it can't be good. But they all want to integrate & learn to speak English. They want to make a life here, even if it is only temporary. I imagine most want to return home when this devastating war is over. Many are already doing so. Some of the children are obviously traumatised. Some of the women still have husbands & family in Ukraine. Many are very intelligent & have skills.
They are so eager to learn. I particularly admire the adults. I can't envisage what it must be like to be uprooted from everything you know & have to learn a new language after such trauma. I'm sure I wouldn't find it easy.
More than 14 million Ukranians have fled. The UK has accepted more than 53,000. Poland has accepted over 3million. We have only accepted 20,000 Syrian refugees. Turkey accepted 3,685,839 Syrians. We do not have a good record of generosity to refugees & migrants.
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/information/refugee-asylum-facts/the-truth-about-asylum/
New legislation to "deal" with refugees is going through Parliament sending them to offshore "processing centres"
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/get-involved/campaign-with-us/fight-the-governments-anti-refugee-bill/
There is a concern that we are adopting double standards to refugees from different countries.
https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/ukraine-crisis-double-standards-has-europe-s-response-refugees-changed
I leave you to do your own research & decide. In the meantime very ordinary people are doing very extraordinary things despite Political posturing. They make a real difference to people who need our help.
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