4th June 2025

Providing hope, help and healing to young refugees

Ronnie and Carolyn Dawson have a simple philosophy for life. They want to bring hope, help and healing to those who need it.

It was this desire to help children and young people which convinced the couple to open their home on the outskirts of Armagh to young refugees who have travelled to Northern Ireland seeking asylum.

They are currently caring for a young man, named Geesi*, aged 17 from Somalia.

Ronnie said: “Carolyn and I were foster carers about 25 years ago and we got a great deal of satisfaction from helping young people. But my father became ill and later passed away and I suppose life circumstances changed for us.

“About two years ago we decided to go through the assessment to become supported lodgings hosts.”

Fostering and adoption is something which plays a central role in the Dawson family, and it was inevitable Ronnie and Carolyn would once again welcome young people into their home.

Ronnie said: “My daughter-in-law works for a charity, my son has adopted and fostered while my daughter is also a foster carer. It was natural that we would get back into it as well.”

Speaking about Geesi, Ronnie added: “This young man has been a delight to have in our home. He is so happy to be here and despite everything he has been through, he just wants to get on in life.

“He arrived just before Christmas but already his English is improving, and he is settling in very well.”

Carolyn said: “We would always encourage others to become foster carers or supported lodgings hosts, it has been so rewarding for Ronnie and I. It has been a privilege to be able to provide a safe, secure and loving home for these young people.

“As well as the rewards, there are also challenges and we would say people must go into fostering with their eyes open. You will get great backing from the social workers who do a wonderful job in not only in helping the young people but also in supporting the carers.

“It is often the things most of us take for granted that mean the most to these young people – being able to provide a loving home with a family atmosphere can mean the world to them.

“Being able to teach practical life skills such as managing finances and cooking is hugely beneficial to a young person trying to establish independence. If you think you would like to become a carer then our advice is to make the call, we did and we don’t regret it!”