A SPECIAL mural welcoming Syrian refugees to Aberystwyth has been unveiled at Ysgol Gymraeg.

The mural, which was a collaboration between pupils at Ysgol Gymraeg, Aberystwyth-based artist Valériane Leblond and Oxfam Cymru, includes messages of welcome to the refugees who were settled in Aberystwyth on 9 December last year and was unveiled on Tuesday, 13 December.

Valériane worked with youngsters from the school to paint the mural after the messages written by members of the public were collected in Oxfam shops in the town.

Two pupils from Ysgol Gymraeg’s Year 4 class, Cari and Steffan, said the pupils had helped create the mural after learning about why the refugees were forced from their own homes.

They said: “We’ve been learning a lot in school about refugees, about why families have to leave their homes and come to Wales and why it’s important that we make them feel welcome.

“Then Valériane came to school and helped us paint the mural. We hope everyone will like our mural of welcome.”

Valériane, who is originally from France but now lives in Llangwyryfon, said the mural showed how welcoming people in Aberystwyth had been toward the 11 refugees who have settled in Ceredigion.

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