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Refugee Stories |
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Ever since she arrived at the asylum hotel a year ago, Shirin (not her real name) has been studying, to complement her Masters Degree from Iran. Whilst waiting for a place on an ESOL English class, she took short courses at College to help her employability as well as attending the ESOL sessions run by our volunteers. She is now studying English at College and volunteers at a charity shop.
In addition, we were delighted to hear that Shirin was accepted on to the Future Leaders Flagship Leaders Programme for young refugees, especially as there were only 20 places nationally and she was the only participant from Hertfordshire. You can read about the Programme here: https://www.futureleadersprogramme.org/ Shirin has now graduated from the 8 week course and sent our volunteer Elisabeth this lovely message: “I finished the Future Leader online course that you recommended. It was a very good course! It was a great opportunity for me to learn and improve myself. I also met many new people. Thank you for giving me this chance. I really enjoyed it and I would love to take more courses like this in the future. 🙏🏼” Yesterday we joined Shirin at the wonderful Threads of Courage exhibition created by the Future Leaders graduates who shared their visions for the future and their threads with the past. Well done Shirin for showing such Courage as you wait for your asylum claim to be heard. We are proud of you!  Dr Marianne Coleman, author of Forced to Flee, has written up this harrowing story of the circumstances that forced Hafsa (not her real name) and her mother and siblings to flee Sudan and make the treacherous journey to seek asylum in the UK. With Hafsa's permission we are now sharing it with you.
Hafsa’s story Hafsa, now 18, is the eldest daughter of her family with three younger sisters and a little brother. She was born in a little village near Al Fashir in the Darfur region of Sudan where the family had a small farm, farm producing vegetables and grains, selling any surplus at the local market. They also had a few sheep and goats. Women and girls in rural Sudan are sheltered and normally do not leave their homes. For example, the women and girls in Hafsa’s family did not even go to the local market which was only 10km away. Hafsa, and her mother before her, had never attended a formal school and the only free education in her village was studying the Quran at the local mosque. There was no hospital in the area, and births were attended by local women. Hafsa said that when she was growing up in Sudan, she imagined that her life would be simple, staying with her family and helping at home. She could not have imagined that she would leave her country and travel through so many places. Hafsa’s father came from Chad and the marriage of her parents was an arranged one, a bargain struck between their two grandfathers. Both were traders travelling between Sudan and Chad selling clothes and food from the farms. When the war in Sudan began to directly affect their area, her father travelled back to Chad and the family never saw him again and they think that he may be dead. Since he and Hafsa’s mother were married in Sudan, the marriage would not be recognised in Chad, so there was no question of the family going there. As Hafsa grew older, the lawlessness increased in Darfur and conditions worsened, particularly for women, who were in danger of being raped if they were out by themselves. The Rapid Support Force were fighting to take over Sudan. Their tactics are to target non-Arab Sudanese and they are violent killers, destroying whole villages as they advance. As Hafsa’s family are not ethnically Arab they were in real danger as the RSF approached. They were aware of other small villages and towns where the RSF militia had ridden in and shot indiscriminately, killing people in their houses. They heard of a family whose daughters were raped by soldiers who came in the night and who, as well as raping the girls also broke their legs by stamping on them. They saw videos of people having their farms taken away. They heard of children being killed by fire bombs being thrown at them when they were in a group. The soldiers were killing people including children without any reason. Conditions were generally harsh with severe food shortages and her aunt and her children died of starvation. Hafsa’s mother became increasingly fearful for her four daughters and for her own life. Near the start of 2022, in light of the worsening situation, the family made the momentous decision to leave their home. Hafsa was then 14 and her youngest sister only four. They had no adult male with them but they packed some bags and left. Straight away they joined the stream of those seeking safety, initially just walking for about two days. Everyone was trying to leave the country, some to Ethiopia, some to Chad and some to Libya. They made the long journey to Libya walking and getting lifts some of the time. They saw places where whole families were killed and dead people were lying in the streets. It took them about one month altogether to get into Libya. As a family with young children and no male support, people along their route took pity on them and helped them. However, their lifts were intermittent and they often had to hide, and then evade border controls once they got to the Libyan border. Once there, they were able to make contact with other Sudanese people who were established in Libya and were supportive and it was through these people that Hafsa and her siblings started to learn English. They then improved their English watching lots of videos. They had plenty of time to learn. Hafsa’s mother got work to support them, mainly cleaning in a restaurant and earning money to buy food for the family. While her mother was working, at first Hafsa tried to take her siblings out to play because it was so hot, but they soon found out that they had to hide during the day as children armed with knives and guns attacked them if they saw their darker skins on the street. They were in Libya for about a year making their way towards the coast getting lifts in trucks and travelling, often by night, on side roads. They were passed along from one smuggler to another through a network of agents. They were in several towns, Benghazi, Kufra and finally Zawiya which is on the coast. From there they managed to board a small and overcrowded boat to Italy. They along with some others were let on the boat because they were so vulnerable even though they could not pay. Hafsa said that some of the people on the boat looked as if they were starving. The crossing took four days and was horrific. The boat let in water and they had to continually bail it out. Many people were ill. The landed in Italy and although they were finger printed there, they received no help or support and were not interviewed. There was no control. They were in Italy for eleven months and lived informally with Sudanese people they had travelled with. They were not in an official setting but were living in houses that had been abandoned. There were men amongst them who were able to work for a little money and brought them food. People told them where to go and what to do. Not just Sudanese people, but also Somalians and others, who were all Arabic speaking. When they left, they walked for about a day and then, following the advice of others, managed to get on a train to France but they had no money to pay. When they were thrown off the train, they simply waited and got on another. Hafsa thinks they got to Paris, and they were there for five months. Her mother managed to work a bit but not legally. They spent time in two informal camps in the woods near Paris, but had no help from the authorities, just from charities who gave them food. From what they had been told, the family knew that they wanted to go to England. By this time Hafsa and her siblings knew some English and her mother was aware of the historic ties of Sudan with the UK. No one mentioned that there was a second sea to cross. They got on a train thinking it would take them to England, but they found themselves in Germany. They stayed there for 11 months, but received no official help. Like in Italy they stayed in abandoned houses with others who all supported each other. Hafsa’s mother was able to work a little unofficially and managed to save some money. Hafsa remarked that people gave her the jobs they did not want to do. It was difficult for them to know where they were and where they might go as they had no phones. They made a decision to go back into France. They just followed people and took their advice. They got on a train into France, first to Lille and then to Dunkirk where they stayed in the Jungle (rough camping in woods) for about four months. They were able to pay about £200 from the money that Fatima had earned in Germany to get them across the Channel. They kept trying to get on a boat and got turned back by the police. Twice they were on the beach and could not get in the boat, the third time they went into the water and the police did not follow them. The journey across the Channel took six hours, starting at midnight. Again, it was a terrible crossing the boat let in water. Two men argued and started fighting. People were crying. A young woman died and her body was thrown overboard. They were very cold, particularly Hafsa’s little brother, whose colour changed. When the Border Force came out and met them, they wrapped them in blankets and they felt safe. They arrived in the UK in September 2025. Since then, they have been in a town in Hertfordshire, where they have managed to settle well. The younger children all got school places after a little wait, but it was more difficult for Hafsa who was then 17. At that age it is difficult to fit into the education system. When the time came for her to enrol at the local College, the course that was appropriate for her was full. Instead, she found an alternative through First Rung College, where she has been able to continue her education studying for a level 1 qualification in Business, and improving her English which is already very good. Hafsa’s ambitions are to succeed in her education, improve her English and work towards a career where she can help others, such as becoming a nurse, or a teacher or a support worker because she enjoys helping others and making a positive difference in people’s lives. Although they are hoping to receive their Leave to Remain very soon, Hafsa and her family will be moving on shortly, under the direction of the Home Office to a different town. Once settled Hafsa hopes to study Health and Social Care at a new College. Finally, Hafsa says of HWR that we have: ‘played an important role in my life since I arrived. It has supported me, made me feel welcome and helped me find direction and hope for my future.’ We so admire the strength Hafsa and her mother and siblings have shown, and wish them all the best for the future. We are so grateful to the author of this piece. Although the asylum process does not always go so smoothly, we hope you appreciate this moving account as much as we do and we wish the author all the very best for his new life here. "I am from Tibet. Before 1959, Tibet was an independent country with a rich history of more than a thousand years of religious culture, language, and writing. I am proud to be Tibetan. In 1959, China invaded Tibet and took control of our land by force. More than 3,000 monasteries were destroyed, and tens of thousands of monks and civilians were killed. From that moment on, we lost our country. In a situation of no choice, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the highest spiritual leader of Tibet, was forced to flee to India, where he established the Tibetan Government-in-Exile and appealed to the United Nations about China’s invasion and occupation of Tibet. China’s occupation of Tibet has continued for seventy years. These conditions have made it extremely difficult for Tibetans to survive in our own homeland.  Flag of Tibet Image Credit: Wikipedia Generation after generation, countless Tibetans have been forced to risk their lives crossing the Himalayas on foot to flee into Nepal. From there, many continue their journey to India through Tibetan refugee reception centres to apply for political asylum. About five years ago, I applied for political asylum in India and successfully passed all the required investigations and assessments. However, from the perspective of personal safety, I could not have complete security in India. This was the main reason why I later came to the United Kingdom to apply for asylum again. Around the end of 2024, I came to the United Kingdom on a short-term tourist visa. When I left London Heathrow Airport, I had only £60 with me. I decided to go directly to the Home Office Asylum Office to apply for asylum. The airport staff were very patient and explained the route to me, and I took the subway to the Asylum Office. On the way, I felt extremely anxious because I had no money and feared that without proper accommodation, I would be homeless.  Map of Tibet Image Credit: Medium.com About two hours later, I arrived at the Home Office Asylum Office and was then directed to a waiting room for an initial interview. The officer conducting my interview was very polite and highly professional. During the initial interview, she asked whether I had a place to stay or any money, and I answered all her questions honestly. Around midnight that same day, I was taken to a hotel in Hertfordshire. The hotel conditions were very good, and free meals were provided daily, far exceeding my expectations. I was deeply impressed by how this great country takes care of every asylum seeker so well. A few days later, several volunteers from Herts Welcomes Refugees visited the hotel. They offered assistance within their capacity, such as helping asylum seekers find free legal representation, providing clothing and SIM cards, and arranging free haircuts. All their help was completely free and without any expectation of return. I was especially touched by Lynne and Alex, who provided enormous support and comfort throughout my journey from applying for asylum to obtaining refugee status. Their care was warm and thoughtful, just like that of a mother. About two months after submitting my asylum application, I received a notification from the Home Office to attend a second in-person interview at the scheduled time. The Asylum Caseworker who interviewed me that day was a British woman. Her voice had a compassionate and warm tone, which gave me a bit of comfort during the tense interview. Lynne had previously reminded me to bring lunch to the interview because it usually lasts a long time, sometimes even a whole day. I had prepared lunch from breakfast, including a banana, eggs, bread, and a glass of water. During the interview, my answers went smoothly overall. But when the Asylum Caseworker asked about my parents, I couldn’t control my emotions and started to cry. My feelings became extremely complicated in that instant, because I had not been in contact with my family for the five years since fleeing Tibet. If I tried to contact them, they might be threatened. The interviewer gave me about five minutes to compose myself before we continued the interview. She mentioned that the interview would soon be over and asked me to be patient. About two hours later, the interview ended. The process was much faster than I had anticipated, perhaps because I hadn’t made any mistakes in my answers. Regardless of the outcome, the interview had gone smoothly. The interviewer also expressed hope that I would receive a positive result soon. When I walked out of the Home Office Asylum Office building, I couldn’t help crying again. I missed my parents very much and felt sadness: why is the fate of us Tibetans so difficult? Where are our basic human rights? Where is our freedom of speech? But after crying, I felt much lighter somehow, and for some reason, a sense of relief filled my heart. On the subway ride back to the hotel, I received an email from the Home Office Asylum Office. Oh my God, my asylum application had been approved! Was it approved so quickly? I could hardly believe it, really. When I received confirmation of my refugee status, the first thing I should have done was share this good news with my parents. But I couldn’t. The reality of the Chinese government’s repression of Tibetan people is so harsh that I am unable to tell anyone at home about this. Instead, I shared the news with Lynne and Alex and thanked them deeply. Truly, without their support, I might not have obtained my refugee status so quickly. When the Home Office asked me to provide a translated version of one of my evidential documents, I simply couldn’t afford the translation fee, nor could I find a certified translation company registered with the UK government. In the end, everything was resolved thanks to Lynne and Alex’s help. I am so grateful to them. After being granted asylum, another major challenge I faced was housing. I had no friends in the UK, let alone any relatives. In the end, with Alex and Lynne’s help, I submitted a housing request to the local Council. On the day my hotel stay finally reached its limit, Alex personally took me to the Council office to ask for accommodation. The interviewer agreed to arrange housing for me on the spot. I knew I had done nothing wrong, and my housing difficulties were real, so I truly believed that the Bodhisattvas had been protecting me. I am deeply thankful to the Council, and to Alex and Lynne. After the appointment, Alex was so kind and thoughtful. When it was time to say goodbye, Alex drove away slowly. I waved at her, and she kept looking back at me until she turned out of sight. In that moment, I felt an unexpected sadness. Perhaps I had grown used to relying on her help. The scene reminded me of my mom seeing me off at a bus or train station, watching me leave for somewhere unknown. It is a moment I will never forget. After I moved into my new accommodation, I started working hard in a warehouse. After living there for just under three months, I decided to return the housing that the Council had provided for me. At the same time, I also requested to close my Universal Credit claim, because by then I was able to support myself independently. I felt that I should give the housing back to the government so that they could offer it to other refugees or people in need, just like I once was. The UK government is truly remarkable, not only does it accept refugees, but it also takes such thorough care of every asylum seeker throughout the process. From now on, the UK will always be my second home. Thank you, UK. Thank you, Home Office."  Congratulations to another recent graduate!
Mariam, featured here https://www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/news/update-from-mariam has just graduated from the University of Westminster with a first in Biomedical Sciences. We have been supporting Mariam’s family since they arrived from Syria in 2016. So proud of you Mariam, you have shown such dedication and focus, whilst also having a huge following on Instagram! Mariam added these inspiring words for any refugees embarking on their studies: “To every refugee beginning their studies: You are living proof that courage can rise from the hardest circumstances. Your journey may be filled with obstacles, but so is it filled with possibility. Your voice matters. Your dreams are valid. Let your past fuel your purpose, not define your limits. Seek knowledge boldly and ask for help without fear. You are capable, you are worthy, and you are never walking this path alone.”  “Never stop believing in what’s possible.”
Inspiring words from Hazem, who we heard from at the start of his degree studies (see https://www.hertswelcomes.org.uk/refugee-stories.html) Hazem has just graduated with a degree in Aerospace Engineering from Brunel University and is currently looking for job opportunities to start his professional journey. We asked Hazem what advice he would give to young refugees starting out and this is what he told us: “As a refugee, pursuing higher education in a new country was not easy, but with determination and the right support, dreams can become reality. To any young refugee out there: never underestimate the strength within you, and never stop believing in what’s possible.” Many congratulations Hazem, we are so happy for you and wish you all the best in your career.  Today in Refugee Week, we hear from Aanisha:
“My name is Aanisha, and I am from Sri Lanka. I have been living in the UK for two years, currently pursuing my degree in Geography and Environmental Science at Kings College London on a Sanctuary Scholarship with my second year beginning in September 2025. As an asylum seeker, I wanted to use my time meaningfully rather than staying idle, so I chose to volunteer at a charity shop in my local town. This role allows me to contribute to the community, improve my English, and connect with people from diverse backgrounds, all while gaining valuable skills in teamwork, communication, and customer service. Looking ahead, I aspire to become a geography teacher, where I can inspire students to explore the world with curiosity and critical thinking. To prepare, I plan to seek teaching placements, further develop my subject knowledge, and engage in education focused training. My journey from volunteering to pursuing higher education has taught me the power of resilience and giving back, and I hope to carry these values into my future career.” Thank you for your inspiring words Aanisha, and we wish you well in your studies. We were pleased to work with Stevenage Community Trust to provide you with a laptop to continue your studies outside of university at the hotel.  We were so grateful to Dania for pre-recording her reflections on Syria now that the Assad regime has been replaced. This interview was shown at our recent Annual General Meeting. Thank you Dania, and good luck with the rest of your degree! Click on the photo to watch the video.
 Violet was introduced at the AGM by John Borton. We heard that Violet has been here now for 2.5 years. She has two sons, one with special needs. Violet’s first asylum application was refused. Her appeal last February was successful. Violet has served on our Advisory Group for 18 months. John asked about the process when Violet arrived.
Violet thanked John for this opportunity to speak about her life. When she arrived in the UK, She spent the first 90 days in a hotel until a report found the hotel was not suitable for her son. She moved to the accommodation where she is now. It was not easy to get support for her boys. But when she came across HWR the job became very easy. It took all the worry from her. Everything became easy. “They took care of me so I was able to take care of my kids. So I got the most help and support. “ John B: “So this experience of not being able to find a legal aid lawyer, which is quite common, how was that? What was it like submitting your claim without the support of a lawyer?” Violet: “It was very scary. But I searched for a legal aid lawyer for a very long time. Nobody wanted to represent me. The first question they ask is ‘Are you paying or not? Once I said no they were like no, they were busy. It was very hard. So I went to my asylum interview alone, by myself, without any legal support. And it was very unfortunate that I was turned down and I was rejected. And after I was rejected I got a lawyer that represented me.” John B: “Fortunately you were able to access good lawyers through the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants and they supported you. But you had this 16 month wait between being turned down and then the success of your appeal. So what was that period like?” Violet: “It was horrendous, it was hellish. Waiting for something where you are not sure of the outcome. You’re not sure if your application is going to be accepted or not. You’re just there in the dark. You don’t know your fate, you just, it was very hard, it was depressing for me. It was very depressing because I was always on the edge, I don’t know where I am standing, I’m not here, I’m not there, I was never hearing anything from the Home Office. I don’t even want to think about it. I’m happy I’m past that stage but it wasn’t a good story that I like to talk about.” John B: “I remember that time you felt that others that were coming in to your house and were moving through the process more quickly than you and they were getting approved and they were moving out of the house and yet you were stuck in the house with no progress, that must have been so difficult.” Violet: “It was. I became envious of them. Why were they come and gone and I’m still here? You know I was envious of them. I was angry, I was angry with everything, with everyone. Like ‘Why am I still here?’ Because before I went into the whole thing I was told because of my son they were going to make it faster. But why was I rejected in the first place? Why am I still here in the same house. Other families they come, and within six months they are gone. I’d been there over two years, it wasn’t a good experience for me…” John B: “So you’ve been supported during the two and a half years by three particular volunteers, Denise, Carolyn and Pam. How did they help you? How did it feel to be supported and helped by them?” Violet: “I can’t really mention what they have done, it is so enormous to say, but let me just simplify it. Imagine having one, two, three mums taking care of you, just imagine that, because that is what they were to me.. they were like my mum, they were there for everything, for everything they stood for me. When I was looking for a special school place for my son Denise was there, she did everything.…I think they spoilt me actually, they’ve done so well for me, all of them.” John B: “But you’ve also given back. You’ve volunteered in an Oxfam charity shop, you help at the playgroup at your local church and you’ve been on our Advisory Group for 18 months now, 19 months, and you’ve contributed actively to that, for which we are very grateful. What makes you want to volunteer?” Violet: “Because I felt I have a lot in me, I haven’t just let it die because I am an asylum seeker, I felt I have something in me to give to other people. The same way I received from them, let me also go out there and help out too. Besides that, my sons go to school in the morning, if they are at school what am I doing at home from 9 o’clock in the morning to the afternoon, I am not doing anything so I use that opportunity to go out there and volunteer because I don’t want my life to just centre on being an asylum seeker, I wasn’t able to change the situation, I didn’t want to bury myself, I wanted to live instead of merely existing, waiting for the Home Office and all that. And the help I got, it helped me a lot to be a better person, to be a better version of myself. Because the stress wasn’t 100% on me any more. So I got the time and the mindset to go out there and volunteer and help others too.” John B: “With that sort of attitude, we really appreciate you as a volunteer for the charity and I think we’re lucky to have you here in the UK, you and your sons. So thank you very much.”  We were so pleased that JK agreed to speak to us at the AGM, in an interview with John Borton. Here is their conversation:
John B: "What were you doing in Afghanistan before the Taliban takeover in August 2021?" JK: "Before the Taliban takeover, I was working in Afghanistan in the education and development sector. I was assistant professor at various universities in Kabul, Afghanistan, where we were running various projects, for instance, empowering women through education, digital literacy and information technology. These projects were run by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and were funded by the USAID. I was also involved in local as well as national politics for a number of years to serve my local community as well as the people in Afghanistan." John B: "How did you come to the UK? I understand it was on a student visa?" JK: "Yes, indeed, I came to UK on a student visa to pursue a master's degree. I was fortunate to be accepted into University of Hertfordshire master's programme in software engineering. That was aligned with my career goals and aspirations. Luckily, I completed my studies in software engineering in 2024." John B: "How was that period for you personally?" JK: "It was an incredibly difficult, emotional and challenging time for me. Although I was feeling grateful to be in a safe country, but I was deeply worried about my family and friends back home. I was disheartened and heartbroken by the situation in Afghanistan, particularly the ban on women's work and girls' education. I left Afghanistan exactly on the same day, which was 15th of August 2021, when Taliban was about to take over the Kabul International Airport and the whole country. And we were on the last official flight from Kabul to Islamabad. Our flight was initially delayed for a few hours and we never know what's to happen with us. But luckily, we landed safely in Islamabad, where I had to stay for a few weeks in order to get my UK visa. And I didn't have any contact with my family for over six or a few weeks initially. And when I arrived in the UK, I was shocked and surprised to see I didn't have access to my money, the savings, the savings that I had for my tuition and for my university, because all my accounts, alongside other Afghans' accounts, were frozen by the Taliban government. And it was extremely difficult for me to pay for my rent, pay for my accommodation, food, other expenses, because my accounts were frozen. Soon the top of all these worries, the university was continuously sending emails and messages to pay my tuition fee. I went into depression and anxiety because I didn't have the solution for all these problems. And I thought I was travelling in a dark tunnel where I couldn't see the ray of hope or ray of light. But I was fortunate that the university offered me a tuition fee waiver scholarship and accommodation. This way, I continued my university degree." John B: "Where have you worked since your Masters degree?" JK: "I was fortunate because I got paid employment during my placement here while I was studying at University of Hertfordshire. And I was working as a web developer in one of the companies, in software companies in London. I'm really thankful to Herts Welcomes Refugees for providing me this opportunity. Especially, I'm thankful to Irene, John and Andy and the rest of the staff who are working with Herts Welcomes Refugees. Since completing my master's degree, I have taken on some of the roles on voluntary basis with Herts Welcomes Refugees as an IT admin. And I have recently been promoted to an advisory group in Herts Welcomes Refugees. I'm also working as an MIS management information system and exams coordinator in one of the colleges in Hertfordshire." John B: "How has the experience been of trying to find jobs suited to your qualifications?" JK: "It has been challenging. While I have the academic background and work experience, it's really difficult to translate the international work experience into the UK job market. There are also some barriers like recognition of the qualification, limited networking, and sometimes I'd say uncertainty around the immigration status can make it really hard to find the right opportunity." John B: "Refugees face many challenges when arriving in the UK. What do you see as the key challenges?" JK: "This question is really interesting. One of the biggest challenges is integration, not just in terms of learning a language or navigating the system, but finding a sense of belonging. Additionally, there are some other hurdles, for instance, accessing to housing, education, employment and mental health support. Many refugees are highly qualified and they are really motivated, but they face systematic barriers and these can sometimes make it really difficult for them to rebuild their lives and contribute fully. It has been challenging. While I have the academic background and work experience, however, it's really difficult to translate the international work experience into the UK job market." John B: "You are now volunteering for Herts Welcomes Refugees helping with IT issues and as a member of the Advisory Group. What has your engagement with the charity been since you arrived in Hertfordshire and why do you want to support the charity now?" JK: "Since arriving in Hertfordshire, Herts Welcomes Refugee has played a crucial and significant role in helping me feel welcomed and supported. Volunteering with them has been incredibly rewarding. I've helped with IT support and recently I am now serving on the advisory group. For me, it's really important to give back to a community that embraced me during my difficult time and I want to help other refugees navigating their own journeys with dignity and hope." Thank you so much JK, we are very grateful for all that you are doing for Herts Welcomes Refugees as you make your new life here. |
