Community mural in Pill celebrates solidarity with refugees

After receiving funding from GAVO and partnering with organisations such as The Gap Newport, Pill Unity and Pobl Group, Solidarity Stories launched a mural competition earlier this year encouraging primary school pupils from Pillgwenlly, St Michaels and Maindee Primary Schools to design a mural to celebrate diversity in the community and welcome refugees.

After receiving over 300 entries, a panel consisting of Newport residents who have lived experience of seeking sanctuary, chose the winning design from Pillgwenlly Primary School. With the help of Cardiff-based artist, Peaceful Progress, the winning entry was painted as a mural in Pill Community Gardens for everyone to enjoy.

Solidarity Stories is a youth-led organisation run by Ayesha Ali (24), Monisah Ali (24) and Faye Jordan (22) which started as a social action campaign to spread positive news and stories about refugees living in Wales.

The group were inspired to start the campaign to counteract the negative media surrounding refugees in Wales during the Penally camp crisis. The campaign is active on Instagram and Twitter and has since spread to community-based work. The group were recently awarded the Young Global Citizen of the Year Award and Overall Winners at the WCIA Young Peacemaker Awards 2022.

To keep updated with Solidarity Stories, you can follow them on Instagram and Twitter.