A FORMER Penglais School pupil has spoken of her experiences taking laughter, fun and play to Syrian refugees living in camps in Greece.

Bridget Potter, from Eglwysfach, spent the summer volunteering with the Flying Seagull Project, a charitable organisation which tries to improve the lives of the world’s most disadvantaged children through entertainment.

Bridget, 20, volunteered for the project, which is described as “a troupe of clowns, magicians, circus performers and musicians”, in refugee camps around Greece taking circus, games, songs and workshops to the children living there.

Speaking to the Cambrian News this week, Bridget, a student of international development at the University of East Anglia, explained why she felt the project was so important.

She said: “In the case of the refugee situation in Greece there are many complex issues that need to be addressed to ensure that people fleeing violence and detention in their home countries are properly housed and can start anew in a country far away from those threats.

“However, the simple things like allowing a child to have some kind of childhood in amongst the turmoil and often severe trauma that they have experienced are often overlooked.

“The Flying Seagull project takes fun activities and laughter to these children with the sole intention of making them smile and to help them on the road to recovery to build a new and happy life.”

Bridget said that following a week of training, she was thrown in at the deep end but soon found a role which suited her strengths.

“I felt that my main function within the group was maintaining enthusiasm and making sure all children were included in the games and felt comfortable and excited about the sessions.

“Not only was it great to see the joy that we brought the children, who were often bored as there was nothing for them to do in the camps, but it was also great to be able to act like a kid again and laugh and jump around all day for the month that I was there.”

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