Council Area: Armagh City Banbridge & Craigavon

We would like to share our Al Taaleem Weekend Arabic Culture and Language School in this event through a short film.

The school was set up by NI Hyatt, a social enterprise focused on supporting and providing a voice to vulnerable members of the refugee and migrant communities.

Every Saturday morning for the last two and a half years, two classes – a primary age class and a secondary age class – have been held at Emmanuel Church in Lurgan, led by a group of four dedicated volunteers. They deliver classes to teach Arabic speaking children and children from other backgrounds who are interested in learning about Arabic culture and language. Most of the children come from a Muslim background but there are also Christians and Kurdish as well as other religions.

It’s not only about classroom-based activities, they go on trips as well. For example, the mums and children went on a trip to the Ulster American Folk Park where they enjoyed learning about local culture, history and what happened during the famine. It’s all about fun, learning the language but also establishing friendships. It’s also about making the non-Arabic speaking children part of the group, learning from each other, and sharing experiences.

The project helps the Arabic speaking children to hold onto their heritage and sense of the culture they come from, it also boosts their confidence and sense of belonging. The children participate in local events, such as singing at local performances, or taking part in sports events such as football games. It builds their confidence, helps them to keep their language and gives them the opportunity to share their culture with others in an open and inclusive environment.