For many young people in Britain, going to their first music festival is a big milestone. It means watching live music in a field with thousands of others, sleeping under the stars, and spending time with both old and new friends.
The Green Man festival in Wales has been offering that same experience to refugees and asylum seekers. They get training placements that help them build useful skills as they work to create new lives in Britain.
Now in its 10th year, the refugee training programme is run by the Green Man Trust, the festival’s charity arm. It has worked with 191 refugees and asylum seekers. Most are between 18 and 28, but the oldest have been in their late 50s.
“It’s a proper training scheme,” said Fiona Stewart, who owns and runs the festival. “The idea is that they learn about communication and integration. They learn front-of-house work, like dealing with the public, giving directions, and asking questions.”
“Some of them also ran their own food stall for a while, so they had to learn about health and safety, food management, and money management. It’s been a mix of many different skills.”
Mina, who was a cyclist in Afghanistan, fled the Taliban in 2022. She said working at Green Man helped her “feel more connected to life in the UK.” She joined the programme because she “wanted to learn more about British culture and also connect with people.”
Mina will graduate from university this summer. A few weeks later, she will return to Green Man, which this year features headliners like Wolf Alice, Mogwai, Wilco, and Four Tet.
“I really enjoyed being at the festival,” Mina said. “It was my very first festival experience and my first time camping.”
“I got to know a few other refugees with similar backgrounds, but from different countries, who were displaced, asylum seekers, and refugees,” she added. “I built connections with them, got to know them, and we’re still friends now.”
Javid, also from Afghanistan, said the festival, set in the beautiful Bannau Brycheiniog national park, was his first ever music concert. Under the Taliban, he explained, “there is no music, and it’s banned to listen to any. If someone is seen with a musical instrument, they could be prosecuted just for having one.”
“Visiting Wales was really exciting,” he said. “Camping and festivals are new to me. All of those were first-time experiences, and yes, they got me excited.”
“I enjoyed the music and the camping. Before that, I was a bit anxious about how to camp, but the whole experience was really good.”
He also learned about Welsh culture and some of the Welsh language, he said. The communication skills he gained have helped him in his current job as an interpreter.
“The psychological benefit of taking part in Green Man was that, for people in my situation, sometimes there’s bad news, and a big chunk of negative energy can affect other parts of my life,” he said.
Before joining the programme, Javid had received some bad news that stopped him from doing things he enjoyed, like running. “Then taking part in Green Man gave me a big chunk of positive energy,” he said, “and it helped me start running again.”
Refugees and asylum seekers from 52 different countries have trained at Green Man. Last year, the festival had participants from Afghanistan, Libya, Sudan, Pakistan, Syria, Nepal, Yemen, and Ukraine. They are given everything they need for the festival, like camping gear and warm clothes.
“Overall, it’s really something that gives you a fresh start, and I’m pretty sure when we return…”Olga, from Ukraine, said, “Going home, it’s all very positive vibes. And you can pass that on. The crew entertainment was really great, and it made you feel like you were part of the team. I think this group is very special—and it genuinely feels that way.”
Sophia, another Ukrainian participant, said, “It’s really rewarding to get such a good opportunity. It’s a great idea because you can give something back. We’re happy not to just get this for free, but to contribute.”
Stewart noted that while not every festival would provide a safe enough environment, Green Man did. “I’ve worked at other festivals where this just wouldn’t be possible because of the noise level, or behavior issues, or whatever,” she said. “But I think it works at Green Man, so we’ve had the best chance to make it happen.”
Stewart said the program felt especially important at a time when communities are divided and refugees and asylum seekers face hostility. “I know from feedback that some of them have felt quite intimidated by what they see and what’s going on,” she said. “It’s horrible hearing some of the media coverage of these things. When you meet people like this, they’re trying to make the best of their lives. No one would go through what they went through if what they were leaving was great. They just want to be accepted, and they have a lot to offer—they can bring so much to our culture too.”
M, from Egypt, said, “When I first came here, my English wasn’t great, and I wasn’t comfortable talking to strangers or random people.” Taking part in the project helped him “get out of my comfort zone to talk to people,” he said, and he now works in a cafe. “I’d never been to a music festival before in my life,” he said, but now he sings in a choir and is “really interested in the arts.” He’s coming back this summer for the fourth time and said, “One day maybe I’ll perform at Green Man.”
“For us, it’s a wonderful thing to do, but it’s also incredibly inspiring to see,” Stewart said. “Just watching them integrate with the rest of the team is lovely, and it’s great for the team too.” She added, “No one necessarily knows they’re refugees or former asylum seekers unless they bring it up. It’s that feeling that they’re just a kid in a field with everyone else.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the headline Green Man celebrates 10 years of training refugees A big source of positive energy
General Background Questions
1 Who or what is Green Man
Green Man is likely a company organization or festival that has a specific program dedicated to training and supporting refugees In this context it refers to the organization running the training initiative
2 What does the 10 years of training refugees mean
It means that for the past decade Green Man has been running a structured program that provides skills training work experience or vocational education specifically for people who have refugee status or are seeking asylum
3 Why does Green Man train refugees
The organization sees it as a way to give back to the community fill labor shortages with motivated individuals and provide a big source of positive energy to both the refugees and the organization itself Its about integration and mutual benefit
Program Benefits Questions
4 What kind of training do the refugees receive
The training likely covers practical skills needed for the events or hospitality industrysuch as catering barista work customer service event setup or gardeninglandscaping
5 What are the main benefits for the refugees
They gain valuable UK work experience learn English in a realworld setting build confidence get professional references and often secure paid employment It helps them rebuild their lives and integrate into society
6 What are the benefits for Green Man
The headline says its a big source of positive energy Practically it brings in dedicated hardworking staff improves team morale and enhances the organizations reputation as a socially responsible employer
Common Problems Practical Tips
7 What challenges might refugees face in such a program
Common challenges include language barriers cultural differences trauma from their past experiences lack of previous work references and navigating UK bureaucracy
8 How does Green Man overcome language barriers
They likely use simple clear instructions visual aids buddy systems and possibly provide translation support or ESOL classes alongside the training
9 How can other businesses start a similar program
Start by partnering
