At the end of last year, we took a brave step and, for the very first time in Nowzad’s history, joined the Exeter Christmas Market 2025. It was a big and slightly scary experiment. With a very small team (believe us, much smaller than the amount of work and love involved!) and a demanding market schedule — 30 full days, starting at 10am and often finishing at 9pm — it was certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Some days the weather tested us, with rain pouring from morning to night. On others, the sun appeared, warming our hands, our hearts, and lighting up the faces of everyone who stopped by.

Every single day brought a new story. We met long-standing supporters and future friends alike. We spoke with students who had never heard of Nowzad before, but left our chalet inspired and eager to help after heartfelt conversations. We met dogs rescued from Ukraine and listened with joy to their incredible journeys. We welcomed friends from Afghanistan who came to the UK through Operation Ark in 2021, moments that truly reminded us why we do what we do.

And then there was little Ewok. The moment he arrived at our chalet, a wonderfully chaotic queue would form, with everyone hoping for a chance to meet him and give him a cuddle.

Each day at the market felt like a lifetime of its own, filled with your kindness, encouraging words, generous donations, and even homemade mince pies lovingly delivered by our amazing supporters🥰

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all the volunteers who stood by us, to the supporters who returned again and again, and to everyone who stopped to buy a toy or a treat for their pets — every purchase made a difference. A very special thank you to Pen, who gave multiple live interviews and welcomed every visitor to our cosy chalet with passion, warmth, and dedication.

Christmas may be behind us now, and we don’t yet know what next year holds, but we would like to extend our sincere thanks to the organisers for such fantastic organisation, it truly was a wonderful experience. 

If you visited our chalet at the Exeter Christmas Market between 20th November and 19th December, we would love to hear your impressions and memories!