Syrian refugees who have spent their first full week in Fife will give something back to the country that has given them a new life in the coming weeks and months, the Fife Arabic Society says.
Around 140 Syrian refugees are expected to come to Fife over the next four years and the first group touched down on Scottish soil on December 9.
More than a dozen Syrians have now been resettled in locations across central Fife, though Fife Council has remained tight-lipped on exactly where the families have been housed.
But members of the local Arabic community have met the Syrian families and offered them instant membership of the Fife Arabic Society which was formed 15 years ago to help them settle in.
Adnan Miyasar, speaking on behalf of the society, said: “The society will offer the new refugees a comprehensive rehabilitation and integration program, towards full integration in their new home, with emphasis on education, including the English language, training, leading to employment opportunities, as well as counselling and advice on domestic, financial and legal issues.
“Caring for the local Arabic community over the past three decades has seen the second generation of Fife Arabs blossom into a dynamic and successful group of young people, with graduates in the fields of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, psychology and many other disciplines.
“This should inspire the new families to continue with the ethos of hard work and good, clean living.
“Being embedded in the heart of the community will give them the chance to serve their host country that gave them the chance of a new start in life.”
The society met with the refugees at the weekend and a major charity dinner is likely to be held in February to support the families arriving.
Members of local group Refuge Fife, set up to support refugees in Fife and overseas, also met Glenrothes MP Peter Grant recently to discuss their work.
Mr Grant said the UK Government’s offers of help to the refugees had gone from “shameful to miserly”, adding: “Let’s send out the message that Scotland welcomes refugees.”