Jennifer Zamparelli has been praised for meeting with asylum seekers in Cork.
The TV presenter travelled down to Cork to visit a direct provision centre, where she met with residents who are seeking asylum in Ireland.
Posting a photo with some of the residents on Instagram, Jennifer wrote: “When I met the lovely residents who live in #directprovision in Cork. Such warm grateful humble people.”
She continued: “I did well to hold it together when they told me stories of the disgusting conditions they live in with their families but I lost it completely when a girl of 17, who came here for a better life after losing all her family said she was working hard to get her leaving cert but found integrating difficult.”
“Kids in her school wouldn’t speak to her because she lived in a direct provision unit. These people exist. They are as much part of our society as anyone else and deserve to be.”
“Keep the conversation going because we can make a change. Firstly by teaching our kids to be kind and understanding and fair. #enddirectprovision,” she added.
Many were quick to praise the RTÉ star for shining a light on the direct provision issue.
One person commented, “God bless them, well done for highlighting this,” and another wrote, “Well done Jennifer for this. Using your platform to give a voice to these lovely people. Thank you.”
