A Call for Change
Esther (not her real name) is originally from Central Africa. She came to the UK nearly a decade ago to seek asylum. In these years, she has faced numerous challenges and has developed resilience. She is sharing those experiences, hopes, with a call for change.
I do not speak good English, I could not learn the language as I do not have a calm mind. You have got to learn English; you cannot do anything without it. When I initially submitted my asylum claim, I had access to learn English at college. But my attendance at college did not continue following the refusal of my case. I can access the ESOL classes from other organizations, but I cannot focus.
Every path that I have gone down to get my refugee status has been difficult. When you claim asylum, the Home Office gives you a house temporarily, but does not allow you to work. You should be able to work because working makes one feel part of society.
Upon refusal, we become homeless. If you are homeless, it is challenging to get evidence for another fresh claim with the stress and it is difficult to access free solicitors. Upon refusal, you cannot do anything.
I am homeless, I am not allowed to work, and I do not have access to public funds. I was living with someone, but I was asked to leave. Then I found a freind from my country who allowed me to stay in their house just to sleep. However, I cannot stay during the day, and I do not have food.
My dream coming here was to be safe, learn English and work. However, I encountered issues which I was not expecting, and then I lost my peace. If you do not have peace, you will lose everything.
Living in the UK for nearly a decade, I have seen migrants without status losing their minds. That worries me very much. I have seen people get their papers within three or four months and I have also seen people earning their status after 20 years. I have hope, yet the life I am living is not the one I want. I feel distressed and frustrated.
Every week I buy a £20 weekly bus-fare ticket to visit different charity organizations, because if I stay in the same place, I feel stressed. The charities encourage us not to worry about being without status, but to focus on the life that God has given us. That is a very encouraging message for me. If it were not for charities, how could we live? The only family I have is my friends I met here. In those places we talk, laugh, draw flowers, take care of plants, and keep ourselves busy.
I also sing and it helps me very much. Even if there are loads of things in my mind, singing helps me focus, there are no other thoughts when I sing – I sing for God.
Hopefully, when I receive my papers, I will feel free, and I will go to college.
I will be able to work. I will go to college in the morning, and I will work in the afternoon. Then I will not have to be dependent on friends and charities. When I am working, I will get money, and I can do whatever I want to do.
For that to happen the government needs to change its approach. It should not add more pressure onto us through its policies and laws. They must give us peace. If I lose my mind now, then even if I get my papers later, how would it help me?
For us, refused asylum seekers, the government must relieve the stress and allow us to work and learn. They should let us stay in a house until we get status. They should not make us homeless.
MDF's Message
We all should stand together against the use of destitution as a weapon of immigration control, so that everyone can live with dignity, no matter where they come from.
Recently, Migrant Destitution Fund has launched a campaign to - #EndDestitution campaign for migrants. Please support us by signing the campaign and sharing our voice to the wider public for sustainable change.
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