Syrian refugees have donated 100 meals to Aberystwyth’s Bronglais Hospital to thank the NHS for their hard work during the coronavirus outbreak.

One hundred vegetarian meals were delivered to Bronglais on 23 April by the Syrian Dinner Project, based in Aberystwyth, as a sign of gratitude to the NHS.

The Syrian Dinner Project is a pop-up restaurant set up by five Syrian women who came to Wales with their families under the Syrian Resettlement Scheme, supported by the British Red Cross, in 2015.

The five women started the business as a way to build strong relationships with their local community.

The idea to donate the 100 meals came from Latifa, one of the founders of the Syrian Dinner Project, and was motivated by a “desire to reciprocate the generous help and support they received from the Ceredigion community”.

Latifa, 32, said: “My family were welcomed and have settled in Wales. The people are very lovely here. It is very important to help them.

“Now, especially in these worrying times, we should all work together. I cook from my heart. I really care about our new community and I wanted to say thank you.”

Refugee support case worker Emma said: “This was incredibly inspiring and was initiated by the Syrian Dinner project. They wanted to donate 100 meals for staff in the NHS. It’s all come from them.

“I rang the hospital to arrange it, while Latifa from the Syrian Dinner Project was busy cooking and getting everything organised.

“They prepared and designed a menu of healthy vegetarian dishes: rice wabiazlila, which is a mixture of rice cooked with vegetables, and yalengy, a Syrian dish of stuffed vine leaves – it’s incredible.”

A Bronglais Hospital spokesperson said: “We all feel very appreciative but also a little in awe.”

Ceredigion County Council leader Cllr Ellen ap Gwynn said: "It is particularly heart-warming at this very difficult time for all, to hear of this very kind gesture from the Syrian Dinner Project.

“I’m sure that we are all in Ceredigion extremely grateful to the Syrian ladies for their practical offer of help and support to the hard-working staff on the front line caring for those suffering from Covid-19 in Bronglais Hospital.

“Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi i gyd.”