Refugees from Syria gave Carlisle an insight into their lives and their cities in their home country before it was ravaged by civil war.

The inaugural international film night, hosted by AWAZ Cumbria, at Harraby Community Centre kicked off on Monday with a look into the lives of people from five Syrian cities - Aleppo, Homs, Daraa, Damascus, and Hama.

It was a well attended event that was packed out by families and members of the local community who were interested in learning more about the world.

The speakers shared stories from their respective cities and spoke about what they loved, general facts about their lives and a group of children spoke about what they love about Carlisle.

Rasha spoke passionately about the ancient city of Hama and the air which refreshed the souls of all who lived their.

She ended her talk by saying: “I am waiting for the day when I can go back to my hometown after peace prevails in Syria.”

The videos were a combination of photos, traditional Syrian music, and short clips of important landmarks in the cities.

The children spoke highly of the schools, their friends, and how welcoming Carlisle had been to them.

One said: “I think Carlisle is so beautiful because it is safe and there are lots of activities for children.”

Another spoke of her experiences in school: “The teachers make the subjects interesting, even if you think that you won’t like it.”

Nicole Cottingham, development worker for AWAZ Cumbria, said: “It was exciting to see so many people attend.

“The Syrians I was supporting to deliver the event were so nervous beforehand, but I think they did a brilliant job.

“They put so much work into preparing and they can be proud of what they achieved.

“It was heartwarming to see the children confidently and spontaneously share about their positive experiences of living in Carlisle.”

The international film night will become a regular feature of the Carlisle event calendar, with at least two more planned for the future and plenty more in the works.

In September, there will be a Filipino night and in October, there will be a Nepalese film night.