Today we are delighted to introduce Soha, our new volunteer who has already helped with some great graphics to encourage new volunteers and to spread the word about the updated Forced to Flee report.
Here Soha tells us a bit about herself and what motivates her to volunteer:

"I am 22 years old and recently graduated from university, so I've just moved back home. I studied History, Politics and Economics for my Bachelor's, and History and International Relations at Master's level. My family is Pakistani, but I've always been surrounded by people from different cultures and all walks of life. My perspective and experience is that people from other cultures enrich our lives, and are not an intrusion by any means. 
 
I became interested in politics around the same time that the Syrian Refugee Crisis had started, and I started following the work of charities such as Choose Love and the RNLI after finding their advocacy through Instagram. I found the images on the news completely heartbreaking, and my hope for refugees and asylum seekers to be treated humanely really stems from here. 
 
I came across Herts Welcomes Refugees after I moved back home from university. I did a Google search for how to help refugees locally, and got in touch with Annabel, the Volunteer coordinator.
 
I have always been really interested in volunteering with refugees and asylum seekers, but moving back home during such a divisive political climate motivated me to finally get on my feet and try to do my part in helping out. I disagree strongly with the current rhetoric surrounding 'small boats' and asylum seekers.
 
In the current political environment, where discussions around refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants are so tense, I think it is really important that work on the ground remains focused and prioritises the people who are the most in need. When you interact with refugees and asylum seekers, you learn human stories which are so important in helping dispel harmful myths surrounding those who come to the UK from other countries. HWR is doing such crucial work locally, and I really believe that every small act of kindness is hugely important in ensuring the political climate does not fall to hateful and reactionary forces. 
 
If you're thinking of getting involved with HWR, really do get in touch! There are so many ways you can help; I am currently helping with social media remotely, and will also help out with ESOL classes when possible. It is flexible and every little thing really helps. I didn't take the first step for so long, and I am so glad I have now."

Thank you so much Soha! We are so pleased you are taking time to volunteer with us.

Today we hear from new volunteer Martin:

"Hello! My name’s Martin and I signed up with Herts Welcomes Refugees last September. The Bell Hotel in Epping was all over the news and protests were happening up and down the country, and I thought I should do something practical to make a difference.

A quick Google search led me to the HWR website – I was very impressed what they had achieved since 2015 and signed up immediately. Annabel and Veronica were very welcoming and helped me through the introductory process and the necessary on-line courses. Unfortunately I only have one free day a week, so have not yet been as involved as I might have wanted, but the various WhatsApp groups show me how much is going on all over Hertfordshire. The grant from the National Lottery and even more the King’s Award for Voluntary Service have underlined how well-regarded we are and what valuable work we do.
 
Just to give you a bit of background about me and my family: with Jewish ancestry, my Dad and his parents had to flee from Germany in 1939, very much at the last minute. At that time only two countries were prepared to offer them asylum, New Zealand and Venezuela. With hindsight they were lucky to have chosen New Zealand. As an adult Dad settled in the UK, was a priest in the Church of England and was very active in the anti-nuclear, anti-apartheid and human rights movements. He now lives back in New Zealand. His experiences as a refugee child made a great impression on me.

I was born in London, but now live on the Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire border, am married to a brilliant lower school teacher and have two daughters, both currently at uni. I work for the Co-op at their distribution centre and very much admire the values of the co-operative movement, founded in 1844 and still going strong."

Thank you so much Martin, and for raising funds for us by running a marathon.  See our news item and
you can sponsor Martin here: https://gofund.me/f5a30b46b