Swansea Bay, with its unique character of urban city, glorious countryside and magnificent coastline, is steeped in Celtic history, but is also a modern, cosmopolitan region. Its people, with their own strong sense of identity and community, recognise the importance of other cultural groups.
The wide range of exotic cuisine on offer from the numerous ethnic restaurants is testament to that. From Chinese to Japanese, Indian to Banglashi, Turkish to Lebanese or traditional British to European, all are represented here.
Like most other cities around the world in recent years, people from overseas have been arriving in larger numbers, bringing with them their own unique cultures and traditions. As such, the region has seen a growth in different communities. New people integrate well into the area, adding their own colourful touches, creating a distinctly multi-cultural feel.
On St Helen’s Road in Swansea, there are a number of ethnic and hallal shops selling a great choice of groceries including exotic fruit and vegetables plus spices and herbs from the Middle East. A large number of the city’s Asian restaurants and take-away outlets are also located here.
The Chinese supermarkets in Swansea city centre, and local supermarkets around Swansea Bay offer a wide choice of food products from around the world, with special sections that cater for Polish, Asian and Chinese cooking in particular.
Swansea students
Swansea Bay holds many events to celebrate major international cultural festivals, held not only to unite communities but also to explore their diversity. Festivals include the Chinese New Year and Autumn or Moon Festival, the Asian MELA!, and the Indian Diwali or 'Festival of Lights'. Of course, the area also celebrates Wales’ own national day, St David’s Day, on 1st March.
With Swansea University and Swansea Metropolitan University attracting scholars from 120 countries round the world, there is a very strong international community on the campuses.
Students run many clubs and societies, and regularly organise events based on international themes. For example the Japanese society runs language classes and sushi evenings, whilst the Indian society offers yoga and meditation classes. There is also an International Fiesta where students put on acts and shows from around the world.
Both universities offer overseas students opportunities to improve their professional and self knowledge by encouraging them to attend social activities and mix with local people, which allows access to cross-cultural views.
At International College Wales Swansea (ICWS), based on Swansea University’s beachfront campus, students can choose from a huge range of study projects that lead into over 100 different degree programmes at Swansea University.
- Abdulrahman Alasoomi from the Kingdom of Bahrain says: “Marhaba! My experience with ICWS has been great, it feels more like a multinational community than a college –which I enjoy. I have met a lot of great people from all over the world that I will continue to stay in touch with for the rest of my life. I recommend that everybody comes to ICWS because it’s a great place to study, meet lots friends and get a high class degree.”
Actually, many people who come to Swansea Bay only to study, fall in love with the place and, recognising it as a very special place to live, end up staying.
In fact, since Swansea City Council introduced its special citizenship ceremonies in 2003 more than 1,000 adults and children from far flung countries such as Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Australia and Papua New Guinea now call Swansea Bay home. With numbers increasing every year, people from 92 countries have taken an oath and pledge to mark and celebrate becoming Welsh citizens, creating a wonderful mix of ethnic cultures in the region.
Did you know?
- Recognised as a welcoming place for people seeking sanctuary from war or persecution, Swansea was officially named a ‘City of Sanctuary’ in February 2009.
- The Brangwyn Hall in Swansea holds annual events to celebrate Chinese New Year, Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, and Mela – a celebration of the best of Asian culture, history and entertainment.
- Students representing over 120 countries around the world are currently studying in Swansea Bay.
- Swansea University runs additional non-curricular programmes to ‘internationalise’ students from the UK; the ‘study abroad’ exchange scheme and ‘learn a new language’, such as Mandarin, are two examples.
- Port Talbot Neighbourhood Policing Team won the “Diversity in Action” category at the South Wales Police Awards 2009 and was short-listed in the Jane’s Police Review Gala Awards 2009.
