Syrian refugees say a tasty thank you to the Granite City

19 February 2018

Aberdeen’s Syrian Refugee’s Women’s Group said a special thank you to the Granite City on Saturday (17 February) by cooking homemade dishes for the elderly and homeless.

The group felt that they and their families had been made to feel so welcome in their new home that they had to give something back to the city.

Working with Aberdeen City Council’s Refugee Project Team, food charity CFINE and The Cyrenians, the women dished up some traditional Syrian rice and chicken, pastry and cake dishes for sharing with church members, the homeless and care homes for the elderly.

Councillor Yvonne Allan, Convener of Communities, Housing and Infrastructure, said: “It was great to meet our Syrian ladies today and I was deeply moved by the stories they had to tell. I was also heartened by their good humour and by their affection for their adoptive home of Aberdeen. It’s fantastic that they have all been made to feel so welcome here that they wanted to give something back to say thanks to the community.

“I know that their fantastic cooking has been enjoyed by our homeless and elderly this weekend and everyone has given their efforts a massive thumbs-up. I’d like to thank them, our Refugee Project Team along with our partners CFINE and the Cyrenians for all their hard work in making such a wonderful gesture a reality.”

The food was prepared in CFINE’s community kitchen before being delivered by the ladies to the Cyrenians, Jesus House in Torry and to sheltered housing accommodation for the elderly.

The ladies chatted to the sheltered housing tenants and have promised to come back again in the future.