Refugees say Dungannon help centre allowed them to feel at home in NI

Dungannon is one of Northern Ireland’s most diverse towns, with more than 3,500 people living in the area who who were born outside of the UK or Ireland

First Steps Women Centre works with women from more than 20 nationalities on everything from language classes to employment help and childcare.

It runs a number of workshops that include a mix of women who are refugees and have only been in Northern Ireland for a relatively short time, as well those who have lived here for years.

Alesea, who is originally from Moldova, has lived in Dungannon for seven years.

“I came for work and when I first arrived my English was not that great, But First Steps helped change all that,” she said.

“It’s a lovely place to be, I started meeting a lot of people from different countries, from different communities, I feel a happiness when I’m here, it feels like a family.

“Because I’ve been here a while now, I recently helped do some translation for a lady who joined the group from Romania, I know what it’s like to be in a new place, so we all look after each other.”