Arriving and Belonging

As part of the Arriving & Belonging exhibit at the St Albans Museum, a number of items made by local refugees are on sale in the gift shop for a limited time. 

The face coverings were made by "A" who was born and brought up in Afrin in Northern Syria; one of ten children. When the Civil War began in Syria he fled to Lebanon with his wife, where they lived for almost 7 years with their three small daughters in one room.

“The people there did not like Syrians and I could not find work,” A said. “It was a very difficult time.”
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Then, in June 2017, A and his family arrived in Hatfield, as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons’ Relocation Scheme, to be supported by caseworkers from the Refugee Council and members of Herts Welcomes Refugees. When the first lockdown started, A used his tailoring skills to make face-coverings, which were sold in aid of HWR.
“We have been welcomed to Hatfield and everyone has been so friendly that I wanted to give something back,” he said.

Sadly, A has a damaged back and cannot work at present, but was determined, with his wife’s help, to make the face coverings for this exhibition.


The cards were designed by Enas. Enas came to the UK with her mother under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons resettlement Scheme in 2017. She had previously been studying for a degree in Fine Arts but was unable to complete this because of the situation. She designed these cards for us to help raise money for our charity which we sold widely in 2017& 2018.
"I very much want to give back to this country that had provided a refuge for me and my mum."

Enas worked hard to improve her English and is now studying Interior Design (3 year course) at Middlesex University. This is what she has said:
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"Being able to study this course was the realisation of a long held dream. As a trained Interior Designer I hope to be able to support my mother and myself while also helping future clients to turn their homes into spaces they love."