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Refugee Stories blog |
 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. |