Appeal made to public to host 30 Ukrainian families in the area
AN APPEAL has been made for hosted accommodation in Dublin for 30 Ukrainian families, including six primary school children, who are among the 247 displaced Ukrainians in the Clondalkin IBIS Hotel, reports Aideen O’Flaherty.
They are primarily looking for hosts in Clondalkin and surrounding areas, as many of the children and their families, who are primarily women and children, attend local schools and work locally.
Helping Irish Hosts is working with the Irish Red Cross to help the Ukrainian refugees in the Clondalkin IBIS Hotel move into hosted accommodation before Friday, November 28.
Late last week the 247 Ukrainians, mostly family units of women and children, received letters that they would be moved out of the Clondalkin IBIS hotel to unknown destinations elsewhere in Ireland.
“We are calling on the Ministers for DCEDIY and Education to intervene to keep women with school aged children in accommodation in the local Clondalkin area,” said Angie Gough, CEO and co-founder of Helping Irish Hosts.
“We are calling on the local public to pledge accommodation with us, so we can keep as many people locally in or near Clondalkin in Dublin, where they have jobs, connections and access to supports they need, after [their] lives have been brutally interrupted by the war in Ukraine.”
The call to keep the Ukrainian refugees in Clondalkin has been seconded by the principal of Scoil Mhuire National School in Clondalkin, Siobhan McKiernan.
“A move away from our school puts them back at the beginning again, having to make new friends, meet new teachers and embark upon brand new routines,” she said.
“We are upset and extremely concerned as to the detrimental effect a move will have on these children who have already experienced great trauma and emotional upheaval.”
Staff at Scoil Mhuire in Clondalkin have rallied to meet the needs of 12 Ukrainian children currently in attendance, aiding their social skills and building relationships with them since their arrival in April.
The students, aged from six to 12, have settled in well after a slow and emotional beginning, according to Helping Irish Hosts.
Ms Gough added: “Helping Irish Hosts has placed over 1,000 Ukrainians in 402 host homes since March.
“We are here to help hosts with the tools you need to host in your home and to connect you with a supportive community of people who have opened their homes, travelling the road together and doing what we can to make an impact in the lives of others in their time of need.”
If you, or someone you know can offer accommodation in Dublin, particularly within commuting distance of Clondalkin, please complete the online pledge form at https://linktr.ee/helpingirishhosts or text or call Paul on 086 283 1083.
