For the last three years HBTSR has run a competition for local schools to submit either writing or art on a subject to do with seeking sanctuary. This year the subject chosen was Safe Passage and Rowland Jepson, HBTSR Schools’ lead ,visited a number of schools during the spring to discuss why most Refugee charities feel that there needs to be an expansion of safe ways for people to seek sanctuary in the UK.

Rowland explained that we agree with the present Government , and the last one, that we want to ‘stop the boats’ . It is in no one’s interests that people have to endanger their lives by coming to Britain on small, unsafe boats across the Channel or by hiding under lorries and trains coming through the Channel Tunnel. We disagree with them though on the best ways of doing this…

No- one from Ukraine or Hong Kong had to risk their lives to enter this country on a small boat, paying a people smuggler because the government opened up safe routes / safe passage for them. They were able to apply for sanctuary from outside the country, and then, if their application was approved, they could travel here safely. The way the government did this for people from Ukraine or Hong Kong and a small number of people from Afghanistan, shows that it can be done, and done quickly. But currently Syrian, Eritrean, Iranian, Palestinian, Venezuelan people fleeing war or persecution don’t have this option. . The only ways that people from countries like these can seek sanctuary in the UK is to enter the country as tourists (if they are allowed to) or hide under a lorry or train in the Channel Tunnel, or put themselves at further risk by getting into a ‘small boat’ on the French coast.
Children in local schools were challenged to think about this and then either wrote a poem or a newspaper report or created a picture or a poster about the need for safe routes for people escaping war and persecution. Their entries showed considerable empathy and concern.

There were over 500 entries from 8 schools and a panel of 10 judges were involved in the very hard task of selecting just 62 entries for awards. There were a few collaborative entries with infant classes from one school entering hand coloured welcome bunting and a large collage of migrating birds and from another school a poster and Video presentation from a year 3 Ukrainian pupil and his mother. The winning entries were mounted as an exhibition in Brecon Cathedral on 9th June and on 23rd June went to Hay Castle to be on display for a further two weeks . All winning entries can be seen here in detail or below.

On 20th June the awards evening was attended by over 200 people including most of the talented children whose work had won an award. They , their parents , teachers and a number of local dignitaries were welcomed by Chair of HBTSR Margaret Blake. Following a short introduction by Rowland, the certificates and prize monies were handed out by Chair of Powys County Council William Powell, Deputy leader of Council Matthew Dorrance, Sanctuary seekers Ludmila Souproun and Michael Mc Baye, Brecon Mayor Marie Matthews, MS Jane Dodds and Major Khusiman Gurung from the Nepali Village project. Each School was also given a certificate marking their contribution and teachers were thanked for the additional work involved in assisting pupils to enter.

The evening finished with a short video made by Sacha and Iryna about their journey to Crickhowell from Ukraine and their desire to live their best, safe and happiest lives in Wales. This was described by a number of people as being very thought provoking .

Thanks to Llangattock CiW School,Crickhowell Community Primary School, Llangors CiW School
Hay-on-Wye Primary School, ,Clyro CiW School, Ysgol Y Mynydd Du, Brecon New Start Centre and
Archdeacon Griffiths CiW School for their entries. Thanks also to Tom Owen, Dylan Matthews, Liudmyla Souproun, Carola Tipton, Jasper Fforde, Rhiannon Davies, Phil Clarke, Nadia Epping, Michael Beya and
Punch Maughan for acting as judges. Thanks to Virginia, Neil and Lisa for helping with certificates and photos. Many thanks to the people listed above who helped to hand out the awards and to Melrose, Claire, Lis, Philip, Lynne, Sally, Nadia, Tim, Mike, Carola, Penny and Lawrence for provision of refreshments, washing up and selling raffle tickets. Thanks also to Major Gurung for the loan of screen, projector and for ensuring the laptop and projector spoke to each other throughout the evening. ! Thanks also to Brecon Cathedral for Hosting the event, to The Dean and father Steven for facilitating this and Shane for helping to set up.

Thanks to Rowland for all his hard work on this project and above all to the 500 pupils who entered work. There was so many marvellous entries that it was very hard to chose the winners.