Direct Provision a very difficult place to spend the festive season

'We know what the conditions are like in Direct Provision for these kids, and in many cases, this sadly isn't their first Christmas with us'. Picture: Pexels

A South African mother who has spent eight years in Direct Provision has said it is a very difficult place to spend the festive season.

Last week 150 children from the refugee community were treated to a Christmas party by students and staff at the Aula Max in UCC.

Natalie Mehmood said the event is something the families “very much appreciate”.

The party in UCC is one of five that takes place across Cork in December and is organised over the course of the year by volunteers through a GoFundMe page.

Ms Mehmood who lives in the Kinsale Direct Provision Centre said she is extremely grateful for the efforts of the organisers, whom she has supported since she moved to Ireland.

“It is a challenge for sure,” she said. “You can only imagine how the children and their parents feel.

“But anything that puts a smile on a child’s face is wonderful,” she said. “It is a great feature of those parents who are here with those little ones.

“It is a beautiful gesture from all the donors and organisers.” 

 The mother of two came to Ireland with her children and was placed on the international protection system for six years.

Three years ago, she was awarded refugee status which allows her to work part-time.

“I am in the Kinsale Unit, with my two daughters and since I got here, I have been involved in these Christmas parties with UCC.

“My children were only young then, but they are much older now.”

The parties are organised by several volunteers, including former UCC student and Cork woman Sinéad Mulry.

Santa chats with some of his helpers Alison Ni Threasaigh, Sinead Mulry and Bhooshita Soyjaudah at UCC during a Direct Provision Christmas Party. Picture: Larry Cummins

The 29-year-old is a graduate of International Development and Food Policy and receives support from others on campus.

The aim is to raise €15,000 over the year to provide a Christmas party for 11 Direct Provision Centres in Cork.

Party

The Irish Examiner was invited to the party in UCC on Saturday, December 2.

“We call it Direct Provisions Events Cork” Ms Mulry told the Irish Examiner. “We work with the migrant centre.

“We have an Easter party, and we then raise funding for Christmas parties for the children. In UCC this month we had up to 150 children who were given presents and went to the party, we just feel it is something fun to do for the children.”

Ms Mulry said the success of the parties is the result of spending all year raising funds with the help of other volunteers.

“We have enormous amounts of volunteers to help,” she said. “Out of the main group of volunteers around six or seven of us will coordinate it. This includes Bhooshita Soyjaudah, Jacqui O'Riordan and Mike Fitzgibbon.

“They also include UCC lecturers and friends like Failte Refugee Society on UCC and Saoirse - Ethic Hands on Deck volunteers.

Alison O'Reilly request- irish Examiner -Santa meets some of the children at the Direct Provision Christmas Party. Picture: Larry Cummins

“We start raising money online and purchase gifts from wholesalers.

"Some centres will have their own volunteers internally that throw the parties and our job is simply to supply the presents. For others such as UCC we organise the party as well and Mike puts in his appearance as Santa Claus.

“The children range in age from mere babies up to until 17 years of age. If there are any young adults there as well, we give them a little present too and a voucher.

Our goal at the start of every year is to give everybody a gift and everybody gets a voucher of €20; This can be challenging however depending on how much we get in donations.

The parties include face painting, craft tables, games, food, and music.

“It’s basically one big party for those in the centres and it’s a lot of hard work but extremely rewarding and we hope to build on this” she continued.

“Our target is usually to raise €10,000 each year, but we had over 100 more kids this year, so we had to raise an additional €5,000 to cover the cost.

Grace NiLaoighre, Cliff Masheti and Jacqui O'Riordan at the Direct Provision Christmas Party. Picture: Larry Cummins

“Thankfully, despite the demand, this year we were able to hit that target due to generous donations from the public and some sponsors. Some sponsors like Himalaya Yoga, Scally Supervalu, Corporate Care Relocation, Apache Pizza Clonakilty, PizzaAmore, and The White Rabbit Cork City.”

'We'll keep bringing the Christmas cheer'

The latest figures from the Department of Integration show there are a total of 26,000 international protection applicants living in accommodation provided by the state.

“We know what the conditions are like in Direct Provision for these kids, and in many cases, this sadly isn't their first Christmas with us,” said Ms Mulry.

“Hopefully someday this will change but until it does, we'll keep bringing the Christmas cheer for those who need it."

Meanwhile, Ms Mehmood said she “loves to assist at the parties” and will continue to do so.

“I am a refugee currently living in Direct Provision and like so many in Ireland, I can’t find a home, so until we can move forward in this way, we just try to do our best for the younger ones. That is all I am doing, trying to help the little ones”, she said.

“I have always assisted UCC in collecting names and helping with the distribution and gift wrapping. I have been doing it for 8 years.

“My own children were much younger when they arrived, but they are older now, and these parties go on for around 3 to 4 hours, and they organise a bus for us to get to and from the party.

“There is everything from live puppet shows, to photos and Santa gift bags, I don’t think people realise the effort and hard work that goes into organising these things.”