Tuesday 3 January 2023

QWWAC - Quakers in West Wales Asylum Concern

QWWAC came into being when those worshipping and attending study groups online heard that single men seeking asylum were being put into an old army camp in Penally. Quakers in west Wales joined up with other groups in befriending also those who were medical doctors started a programme of proper assesmment. The camp was closed down. But Quakers locally continued to campaign and keep in contact with some of the men. Others initiated a Friends & Neighbours FAN group for refugees in west Wales to gather online and share their experiences while practicing English. Some have supported Ukrainian refugees

On the 15th November 2022 the format of the meetings changed, people are still campaigning but it was felt that a supportive prayerful Quaker space would be most appropriate now:

"A place for spiritual support and nurture and sharing of asylum/refugee/migration concerns. People can bring concerns, campaigns, difficulties, hope, news of local refugee families etc not in a formal setting with an agenda and notes, but more like worship sharing and very much in the spirit of supporting one another."

Quakers in Britain have formed Quaker Asylum and Refugee Network QARN 

A theme that came out of the first meeting was listening - the importance of listening and listening well, particularly as a support to others, afterwards David sent us this:
this short teaching by Tick Nhat Hanh to be of value:
others might find it useful

Also there is a Kindler's book written by James McCarthy Listening as a Quaker Practice