Refugee Week. 18th 24th June 2012

Transcription

1 Refugee Week 18th 24th June 2012

2 Suffolk Refugee Support Forum This booklet and Refugee Week Ipswich are organised by Suffolk Refugee Support Forum Charity No; Company No: St Matthew s Street Ipswich Suffolk IP1 3EP We provide expert advice and support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Suffolk. To support our work or to learn more, please visit our website at telephone We have an active Volunteer programme, a Membership and Donations Scheme and are always looking for Trustees to join our Management Committee. Thank you for your interest we hope you enjoy reading about Refugee Week For more information ; Refugeeweek@srsf.org.uk or telephone Suffolk Refugee Support Forum on

3 Contents 2. What is Refugee Week? 4. David s Story 6. Timetable of Events 8. How to get involved 10. Said Alod Said s Story 12. Something for the kids % British, created by Refugees 15. Something for adults 16. Map of Ipswich 17. Map of Felixstowe

4 What is Refugee Week? National Refugee Week Refugee Week is an annual national celebration. Every year the communities in the UK pay tribute to the contribution of Refugees to our society. It is also a chance to learn about who Refugees in your community are. Who are Refugees and why are they here? 2 A Refugee is a person who is forced to leave their country and seeks protection in another country. This can be because they fear persecution in their own country due to: race, religion, nationality, membership of a social group or political opinion. When a Refugee arrives in a country they are an Asylum Seeker until granted Refugee status.

5 Suffolk Refugee Week There are many charities and institutions in Suffolk which support Asylum Seekers and Refugees. These groups and other members of the community have grouped together to host several events for this year s celebration. We wish to not only celebrate the contribution of refugees to Suffolk, but we hope for new friendships and relationships to be formed. Please take a look at our Get involved page to see what you can do for your community. See pages 6-7 for events happening in Suffolk this week. Look our for the MYTH BUSTERS. The UK is home to less than 3% of the world s 3 To leave behind everything for an uncertain future is a tough choice. Most asylum seekers say goodbye to their families not knowing if they will ever see them again. Numbers of asylum claims in the UK by country of origin for 2011 Top 10 countries Iran 2,485 Pakistan 2,411 Sri Lanka 1,758 Afghanistan 1,271 Eritrea 810 China 777 Libya 721 Nigeria 714 Sudan 689 Bangladesh 612

6 4 David s Story This is an extract from the booklet Refugee Stories it has been composed from a number of refugees that have lived and sought refugee in the county of Suffolk. Look out for the free booklet at our events. David was an officer in the army of an East African state, with ten years of unblemished service. During his time as an officer he had made friends with various colleagues. One of these friends left the army and went on to become leader of the country s main opposition political party. Some years later, David saw him again, setting off a chain of events he could never have imagined. It was a recreation place, people playing pool, playing darts, drinking, chatting about their day-to-day affairs. So we happened to meet; it was not a premeditated meeting. I wasn t in politics being in the army I was not allowed to engage in politics. But there was no way I could avoid this person; we just bumped into each other and had a chat, saying hello, long time, that sort of thing. David was aware of government suspicions that the opposition leader was trying to create factions within the army. However, because it was a social situation, he had no idea they were being spied upon. The next day, he was in his office at the army camp when he was asked to account for his movements the previous evening. Being in the army for ten years, that was a familiar phrase to account. I d seen people being asked to account on various issues, and they were always referred to a safe house, which is a euphemism for torture chamber. So automatically I knew that something was wrong. I was asked by the intelligence officer, and I knew about his inhuman ways of retrieving information from people. Their techniques are horrible. There s what they call weighing your potential. If the interrogating officer tells you that, boy you d say anything, just make it up. Weighing your potential involves tying two kilos on your testicles and then asking you to stand, and when you stand these 2 kilos hang. Another thing they would call a manicure, which is using pliers to pluck out your nails.

7 5 Back home I was an officer, getting good pay. I enjoyed my work. Not for a single day would I have wished to be here. I knew exactly what would happen if I stayed. I knew the conditions we were working in, but I will stress that because I was strict, I had stayed clear of anything which would lead me into trouble. But now I had to think of how to leave the camp immediately. In this heightened state of danger, David phoned a friend who was a government official. He asked me whether my car was there and I said yes. He advised me to leave my car keys in my office, leave the car, and find a way out. So what I had to do was injure myself. I got a piece of sharp metal and injured myself on my right arm. I told the guards I need to rush to the pharmacy to dress this because they were ordinary soldiers they didn t know what was taking place, so they said ok sir. I dressed my wound and rushed to this person s office. Nobody knew where I was by then. David explained all that had happened. He was advised his only option was to leave the country. Although his friend was a member of the ruling government, he trusted and confided in me. This person knew that I wouldn t put his job at risk. He was given civilian clothes and a letter from his friend, and taken to the consulate to apply for a visa. He didn t know which country the visa would be for. In the meantime, he went back to his friend s place and was told don t go to your house, don t tell anyone where you are, don t call anybody, don t answer the phone. David hid for two weeks while he waited for the visa to be issued. His wife was told that he was safe, but not where he was or what had happened. Eventually he was given a visa for the UK, and arrangements were made for him to leave immediately. He was asked whether he knew how to board a plane without being noticed. Because I d been in the army, I knew how to beat the security. So I said we should get a plane that leaves at night, and it should be between 9 and 10 not earlier, not later because that s when the guards are changed, and in that period of time it s not as strict as other hours. And so David found himself on a plane bound for Heathrow. I remember when boarding that plane I was totally confused. To be honest, I did not think of what was ahead of me. I was thinking of my little children, I was thinking of my family, will I ever see them again? I left the country, but it was the body leaving. My soul and mind were back with my children, my family.

8 Refugee Week 2012 Monday 18th June Key - T Tuesday 19th June Recent research proves that the majority of asylum seekers are unaware of the welfare system in the UK. And when they first arrive they are only entitled to 35 a week Wednesday 20th June Thursday 21st June Friday 22nd June Saturday 23rd June Sunday 24th June

9 Timetable of Events urn to pages 16/17 to find our where our events are Public Launch Stalls and displays, free food and hand-outs.. RefuTea Enjoy free tea and cakes and the various cultures from the community With crafts, knitting, sewing, board games Cornhill, Ipswich, Outside the Town Hall Ladies That Lunch Tea room, Fore Street Ipswich Annual International Women's Group Picnic Bring a dish to share Refugee Health Open Day Health advice & information, Everyone welcome, light refreshments Skills Sharing with Karibu, Numerous textiles activities; textiles, sewing, tie-dying Everyone is welcome Pub Quiz Family friendly and after the Euro semi finals 1 entry Dance Party International music, International food Family Friendly, Free Food Kite Making at Felixstowe Free kite making and flying display. Ideal for kids! Ipswich Town of Sanctuary Launch Christchurch Park (by the playground) Marginalised Adults Health Team, St Helens St, Ipswich Burlington Hall, Burlington Rd, Ipswich PJ McGintys pub, 15 Northgate St Ipswich Ipswich International Church, Barrack Corner. Portman Rd, Ipswich Felixstowe Leisure Centre Town Hall Ipswich, Council Chamber

10 How Can You Get Involved? Everyone is welcome to come along and support out events, but if you want to do more, visit and here are a few more ideas; If you would like to help out at any of our events, or would like to organise your own event, please contact Refugeeweek@srsf.org.uk or telephone This campaign is brought to you from the Refugee Council,. The idea is to have a nice event which you can raise money and donate to their cause of supporting refugees in the UK. Here is a snippet from their website: Every day we meet asylum seekers and refugees who have fled the most unimaginable situations, including war, torture and persecution. They are simply looking for a place of safety, as any of us would. Flaws in the decision-making process mean too many people who genuinely need protection here are turned down. They then live in limbo unable to return home safely, forbidden from working and reliant on very limited financial support, or left destitute and homeless. As a result, many live in poverty and have poor health. Some estimates suggest that there are around 500,000 destitute, refused asylum seekers living in Britain. Your RefuTea will help us raise the vital funds we need to continue our life saving and life changing work. We can t think of a better reason to put the kettle on. Another campaign commissioned by the Refugee Council is the Simple Acts campaign. Just one of these post-its can make a big difference to somebody's well-being. So have a go! 8 Visit the website

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12 Said Alod Said s Story Said says, I lived in Kisimayo (Somalia) until the fighting became very bad. Then I left with my mother, brothers and sisters. We had to pay to go on this boat with many, many other people. At night we were cold with the wind and during the day we were burnt by the sun. It should have been fun, but the old people were sick and we were leaving our home behind. For one day OK, but two weeks! When we arrived in Mombassa we had to wait to be allowed into the country. It was terrible. I know that nobody wants refugees, but do they know that we don t want to be refugees? 10 There is a higher proportion of qualifications and skills among asylum seekers than in the UK population.

13 Image of the boat journey drawn by Said. It was terrible. I know that nobody wants refugees, but do they know that we don t want to be refugees? Said Alod Said, aged

14 Something for the Kids Imagine you are about to take a trip away from the Earth to another planet. There is a lot of luggage you want to take with you - 20 items, you think are important for a happy life. However, your baggage allowance is limited and you need to cut down. You will have to leave ten items behind. Decide which things are essential for you to survive. Put them in the rucksack. Now think which things are necessary for a happy life, and add these up to a total of 10. The items you are taking with you are needs and the things you are leaving behind are wants. When your luggage is weighed, you find you have room for one want. What will it be? 12 Food Your own room Toys Shelter Sweets Clean Water Clothes Education Health Being Listened to Time to play Computer Medicine Love and friendship Trainers Television Protection from Danger Holidays Bicycle Clean Air

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17 Something for the Adults What do you think defines being British? Think about what you think it means to be British, for example What elements create British culture?. Now take the time to research the history of these elements and find out how many things have been influence or introduced. Look out for our British Tree Our tree will be at all our events around Suffolk. We want everyone to write down something they love about Britain and British culture. The idea is to make us all realise how much of our culture and history is influenced by the world around us, especially those that have arrived here seeking refuge. 15

18 16 Map of Ipswich

19 Map of Felixstowe Many asylum seekers have left behind highly skilled jobs and businesses behind and are keen to work. However they cant until they are granted refugee status or exceptional leave to remain. 17

20 Suffolk Refugee Support Forum is supported by: