Showing posts with label money. Show all posts
All Are Welcome at the Table of God
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| A photo by Jürgen Treiber_Fotor.com |
Here is a reflection by Jyoti, who volunteers at the JRS Day Centre since 2
years
The
vision of the JRS Day Centre for me comes from the Bible: the table of God
where all are welcome, regardless of caste or creed. This is the place where all
are given their place, their respect. This is the atmosphere we have here and
this is the welcoming attitude we have for our guests.
I
like of course talking to each person! First of all opening the door… Open the
door, give a smile and a welcoming gesture. It is for me an openness to receive
each one, the receptiveness, and then you see the smile on the other’s side. One
of them who came recently was a new one, it was her first time. The day she
came she was really down, the second time she came here her face was so
peaceful and calm. I asked her and she said it was because I met the cheerful
people, the good people here.
That
is the difference we make. Those who come with their burdens, feelings of what
is happening to them… so even one smile makes a big difference. What I see
differently, what I have learnt myself as a volunteer, well as you can see, a
smile is my main motto here! Sincerely, despite all the difficulties, if they
can smile, what if I can not give a smile. I see that from the other side, so
it brings such a difference.
Then,
I was on the desk for the travel money. Money is a big thing in their life,
they don’t have money, and although we are giving little, it is very supportive
to them as other organisations do not give it, they have no access to money. So
JRS is doing a very purposeful work which can help them to go to the place they
want, the necessary solicitor or reporting at the Home Office. And all the
various activities of course, they are ways of freeing them from the tension. Like
the massage, the touch makes the person feel healed and loved, all the
activities for our guests are very down to earth, and so very helpful for them.
For
me dignity is one JRS value that is important to me. People come to the UK looking for
dignity a good life, but they end up with nobody respecting them. But this is
one of the place that we have that good practice or a very good deep model of
dignity. Overall I feel this is a place of hospitality where one feels at home
and each volunteer and staff member are so open to cater to our guests in a way
they feel welcomed. And of course our compassion to them in their suffering. We
give that to each person, respecting them as they are as a person, regarding
their person as the image of God.
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Nothing can stop you to become what you want to be
I did not know if I would be able to study this year as it was so expensive. I was so desperate to study this year, I did not believe I would be able to continue my course. Inside of me I was not sure, where could this money come from?
Last year I got a reduction in my college fees, as even if someone wanted to help me, the fees would still be a lot. So when I went to the college and showed them that there were people who would help me to study and explained to them my situation: as an asylum seeker, I am not working, I do not get benefits… so they gave me a 50% less, but this year they could not give me the discount.
I showed Louise at JRS how much they asked me to pay this year. But Louise said, why you are stressing too much? Don’t worry! I was stressed, but she made me not stressed… this time I felt it would not work, but she was very comfortable that we could do something. Let’s just try, she said, so we started to make applications.
Last week when I came for help from Jonathan, I had to come early, I really wanted to study! So I put my alarm at 6am, as I did not want to be late to miss my chance to see him. He was so surprised that I was so early, even at 8.30am! That day I had finished a letter and had put it in an envelope, when the message came to Louise. Louise came out of her office and said “stop, stop!” we don’t need any money, the people we first wrote to had replied.
Myself, I was very surprised, that someone who did not know me, would pay for these college fees. It solved all my problems in one go! At the same time, I was very, very shocked. I am so grateful, because when someone who does not know me would pay, just like that, I was quite touched. I wanted to cry, but I was happy at the same time. I am very, very grateful. Louise had the faith that it would be possible.
Going to college is very important for me, because in my situation, for me to continue to study means everything. It is very important, I am not isolated. If I am not doing anything, I will be thinking about my situation, about seeking asylum, it is not good for me. But at college, we are all the same, I am the same as other people, there is no barrier for me there… I am still going on with my life, nothing is lost.
This year, I will also be a team leader in my voluntary work, last year I was an ambassador there as well. I do other volunteering, mentoring, so many! Maybe when you are doing something positive, you don’t know where doing good things will lead you, I am not doing something for nothing.
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Talking about money
Asylum seekers who are entitled to hard-case
support receive an Azure card of just over £35 per week which is meant to cover
all food, toiletries, clothing, travel and other daily essentials. The card is
only redeemable in certain named shops for a restricted range of items. 'Solange' from the
Democratic Republic of Congo speaks about her experience of this system and how
it makes her and others she knows feel.
Some people, they are
getting voucher, there are different voucher… They come from the government,
they give asylum seekers vouchers or pre-payment money cards to survive. Maybe there is something
you want to buy, but you can’t buy because you have voucher. Even in the
supermarket, there are something you can buy and something not e.g. you can buy
food, but not mobile phone top-up. Maybe you don’t want food, you might want
some cream from the chemist or clothes. In the supermarket there are clothes,
but you might want to go to another shop, but you can’t because you can’t use
the voucher. You can only go to the supermarket, and not all the supermarkets
are selling clothes, not the one in your area, to go to another supermarket you
have to take transport. Something you need you can’t find it.
I think they (the
refugees) are not feeling good, it is a stress, if you use a voucher everywhere
you feel better, if you can just use it. It is a different culture here, maybe
you want to buy food in the African shops or Asian shops. At the check out, many
people don’t know what (the card) is, they say wait, they call the manager, if
the manager come, they check the list. Some people feel ashamed because when
they bring the card. In the queue, they are feeling shame and stress, the other
people in the queue are waiting and everyone starts looking, what is her
situation?
Why don’t they just give
them money? Why is it different? They can’t use it. Maybe it is better to give
people something they want, or give them a voucher that they can use
everywhere. It is not easy to manage.
If they found jobs for asylum seekers it would be better. Some people would
like to work but don’t have papers to work, it is better for someone to work,
it is better. It is a good way to help government for the economy, paying tax…
not giving money it gives nothing… it is better to give work
than give money. If you (are in) a good condition, you can work, some people
they have a problem with language, but you can work, some jobs you don’t need
to speak.
Their life is not easy. I
don’t know what to say about that, (asylum seekers) get nothing, no papers, no
work, no benefit, many people they are getting stressed, getting heart attack.
And some people become thief in the shop to get food, and then they get caught
and put in prison. Some friends are helping them, some charity are helping
them, but I don’t know how so say it, it is not a good life. If you don’t have
a strong heart, you can do bad things, because you don’t have nothing, there
are too many problems. It is not easy. You had a problem back home, and you
think if you come here, you will have peace and then you have another problem!
