From 31st July till 7th August, Welsh Refugee Council will be holding a stand at the National Eisteddfod, this year to be held in Ebbw Vale. Following on from our award-winning 'Bala-Baghdad' Café at last year’s Eisteddfod, this year the café will have an African theme.
In the light of the recent World Cup tournament, the café will aim to explore the differences and similarities between South Africa 16 years post-apartheid with Zimbabwe, a country that people are still seeking refuge from and where it is unsafe for refugees to return.
Ebbw Vale - and Wales as a whole, have similarities with both South Africa and Zimbabwe, for instance, all three countries share a mining history. Likewise Rugby is a popular sport in all three places - and a matter of national pride particularly for the Welsh and South Africans!
The name of the cafe, Café Msasa, is named after a tree that provides shelter in Zimbabwe reflecting Wales as a nation that shelters and protects individuals who need our help. In the past Wales gave sanctuary to South Africans at the time of the apartheid and now, it offers sanctuary and shelter to Zimbabweans.
We'd love you to see you at Café Msasa so drop by for a cuppa and relax amongst our cushions, take in the African decor, listen to music and find out more about South Africa, Zimbabwe and the Welsh Refugee Council.
www.welshrefugeecouncil.org