More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
An arts charity is helping to break the language barrier between Kent communities and Syrian refugees.
People United, an arts charity in Canterbury, organised a series of workshops for newly-settled Syrian mothers to spend time with mothers from Ashford.
The project was commissioned when the charity was made aware women were dropping their children off at the school gates each day but not talking to one another.
The sessions wanted to break down the language barrier and encourage women from vastly different backgrounds to socialise and find a common ground.
Liz Flynn helped organise the project for People United and said the early sessions had some challenges.
She said: "The Syrian women spoke Arabic and the English women didn't speak any Arabic, so we had a translator to support us throughout all the workshops.
"So they started to use symbols and signs to gesture what needed to be done. And then the English woman started to learn some words in Arabic."
The project has culminated in an exhibition titled 'Home', on display at The Beaney museum and Gallery in Canterbury.
The artwork includes collaborative pieces by the Syrian and Ashford mothers, as well as hand paintings made by their children.
The Diocese of Canterbury and Ashford Borough Council worked alongside the arts charity to bring the project to life.
Domenica Pecoraro, refugee officer for the diocese, wanted the sessions to reveal similarities between the mothers, and art ability was besides the point.
She said: "Whether you're good at drawing or you don't know how to draw - it's a good laugh.
"It brings people together as humans, regardless of their immigration status."
Anna Ray, a textile artist, ran the sessions leading up to the exhibition.
Throughout the project, she realised the shared connections between everybody who was taking part.
She said: "I think for women, in general, we tend to be the ones who create the home. We often have to reinvent our homes as our lives change.
"What we discovered through the project was that we all have different stories of home."
