A BRING and Share event was organised by the Bromsgrove and Redditch Welcomes Refugees Committee to celebrate Eid.
Several Syrian refugee families also went along to the special banquet, which reflected the mix of cultures present.
While the refugee families presented home-made traditional Syrian cuisine, other guests brought dishes such as quiche, pasta, salad, cheese and an assortment of cakes.
Naeem Arif, chairman of the committee, recited a few words from the Quran and thanked everyone for their kindness and for making the effort to celebrate Eid with the refugees.
An elderly Syrian man expressed his deepest thanks to the people of Worcestershire for their hospitality.
Another elderly woman spoke about her heartfelt wish to be re-united with her daughter – the only remaining family of her member who is alone in Lebanon.
A young man struggled to keep his tears at bay when his voice broke as he spoke about the friends and family he has lost and his desire for the Syrian war to be over.
Bromsgrove resident Meena Sodha said hearing some of the stories was a reminder of her own status as a refugee in the UK when she left Uganda with her family in 1972.
Despite the language barrier, there was plenty of communication between refugees and residents, demonstrating the progress both parties have made in learning each other’s languages.
The Eid celebration was held at the Ecumenical Centre in Redditch on Monday (September 12).
