When communities around the world join hands….
At Link International Innovation Llandudno…..
…..we love this logo!
It all began when Friendswood Rotary Club in Texas reached out to our Llandudno Rotary Club back in March 2022, to offer their practical support when they became aware of the numbers of displaced Ukrainians coming into our local communities.
Here in Llandudno, welcoming large numbers of displaced people into our communities was something new, something we had never experienced before.
Our vision at Link International was to mobilise a unified plan across our local communities so that we would be ready to welcome our Ukrainian Guests, support host families and begin the process of helping them settle, get to know one another and just ‘feel at home’.
This outreach from Friendswood in Texas was huge for us, we no longer felt alone and our resources were expanded.
As we look back we want to express our gratitude to both Rotary Clubs for their love for the Ukrainians and coming together in this wonderful act of friendship and togetherness across the globe.
So much has been achieved that would not otherwise have been possible:
Hosting 3 large social gatherings for Ukrainians (around 100 at each)
Providing for immediate needs on arrival - clothes, toys, hygiene products
Providing ESOL classes over the summer months
Providing recreational/social activities across the summer school holidays
Providing Christmas presents for children
As we look ahead and plan for the future there is so much uncertainty but our priorities are to remove barriers to language and extend opportunities for employment; to advocate for and support Ukrainian families as their initial accommodation option comes to an end and new accommodation is required. A key element of this is that as children are beginning to settle into their schools and make friends any change in housing needs to be local, if at all possible. Keeping future uncertainty and upheaval to a minimum is crucial for the well-being of the children and families.
At Link International we have been reflecting on our journey with our partners and Ukrainian Guests over the past 10 months. There is much to learn but much to be grateful for and it has been such a privilege to have played just a small part in supporting Ukrainians as they have arrived and find a home in our communities. It has also be an amazing experience to share a common interest and vision and in the process make some wonderful new friends.
It is a bit of a long read but we hope that you will browse through and spot the sections that will be of interest and value to you as you continue your work of making Wales a wonderful home for the many Ukrainian Guests.