Lord Mayor welcomes Ukrainian teens for week-long cultural visit to Birmingham

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zaker Choudhry, welcomed a group of twelve-to-seventeen-year-old visitors from Zaporizhzhia on 16 September as part of a week-long cultural exchange. The teenagers were received at the Council House, where they met the mayor and were given a guided tour of the historic building.

Over the coming days the young guests will take part in a range of civic and educational activities across the city, followed by a visit to London and a tour of Parliament. The programme also includes trips to West Midlands landmarks such as Warwick Castle, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and a cruise with Brindley Cruises.

Community support and host families

Bosnia House has been central to organising the visit, recruiting volunteer host families and coordinating safeguarding and practical arrangements. Families from Birmingham and surrounding neighbourhoods have opened their homes, allowing the teenagers to experience everyday family life in the city. The network’s involvement builds on the experience of the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network, which was founded by Bosnian survivors who settled in Birmingham after the 1990s genocide.

Historical ties and future links

Birmingham’s relationship with displaced communities dates back to the 1990s, when Bosnian refugees found safety and a fresh start in the city. Today, the Bosnia and Herzegovina UK Network uses that legacy to support Ukrainian youth, illustrating how former beneficiaries can become supporters. Lord Mayor Choudhry said the city is proud to welcome the young people, noting Birmingham’s long tradition of aiding those forced from their homes. Dr Anes Cerić, Honorary Consul of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the Midlands, highlighted the city’s multicultural character and the importance of communities helping one another.

Continued contact between the twin cities is expected to reinforce the bond created during the visit, demonstrating how a city’s welcome can be passed from one generation to the next.