Showing posts with label refugee. Show all posts
It is wonderful to speak out
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What can we do together to improve the lives of asylum seekers here in the UK? JRS UK staff and advocacy volunteers share what advocacy means to them.
Sr Margaret Baxter SSMN, Detention Outreach Co-ordinator, helped two detainees give evidence to the UK parliamentary inquiry on detention via a video link, co-wrote JRS UK’s submission to the inquiry and herself also spoke at the launch of the report.
"For me, being involved with advocacy means to create an opportunity for the detainees I work with to self-advocate, then to help them prepare. For example, for the detention inquiry, we all wanted to be clear on what we wanted to say, so that it was a balance of their experience. On the moment of the hearing, I sat with them and then took each one into the room and then left, to allow them to speak for themselves. When they came out of the interview, I saw a liberated delight in these young men who had been empowered and now able to speak for themselves. That their stories were taken with credibility was in contrast to their experience of coming into country and making their asylum application against disbelief. There is nothing like the sincerity of the person themselves advocating on their own behalf. And with the detainees, there is a sense of solidarity with one another, even in the midst of their vulnerability."
Souleyman Sow, refugee poet and anti-detention campaigner, used to attend JRS UK’s Day Centre and now often speaks at events to explain the negative impacts of detention on the lives of vulnerable detainees, most recently at a school sixth-form education day.
"To be honest, before getting involved in campaigning, I did not know where I was, I had nowhere to start. It lifts me up and puts me on my feet and without it I would be somebody else. My main message is detention. It has an impact, it keep people in limbo. So to decision makers, I say that we have to put detention on trail, it is a waste of tax payers’ money. And let’s have a time limit on detention and we will see some of the problems for detainees ended. It is wonderful to speak out, I have been a tour guide, I have spoken at the parliamentary inquiry. Advocacy is not about money, it is not about food - you have to get involved in the community, after your release what have you contributed to the community? When I see my colleagues, I tell them come and get involved. So just involve yourself!"
We look to the positive for each other
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Women 4 Women meets monthly at JRS UK as a peer support for women who have been made destitute by the UK asylum process. Facilitator and participants share why it matters.
All the ladies who come have no way to get money so we have to help them for transport and also for food, so they can eat first. Sometimes they are hungry when they come, so a fruit or biscuits helps them.
“For me, it has improved my life, otherwise, there is nothing for me to do in the day, you take it away, you take away my life. The others, they need it too. The staff are very friendly, we look to the positive for each other. I appreciate it very well.”
For the women's peer support group, it is a very clear piece of time for them, doing exercises, learning how to do massage or some mediation, it is time out for them. It is about their wellbeing, to feel, they can focus on themselves, such when we do creative things. They do drawing or colouring, expressing themselves in some way, they have gone back to a time in their lives that they can't have now, when they can just be.
We started off with 4 and those who have moved on have their papers, but it allows others new to come in as others move on. There is now a stability (in the midst of very chaotic lives). This year we started with a couple of Eritrean women who have now brought their friends. There is a sense of belonging and connectedness, it is not just a piece of fruit or the bus fare that they benefit from.
It depends on the person, but it can give a certain confidence. Some come uncertain and withdrawn, but now are more expressive and relaxed around people. It helps them more to be themselves also. Their confidence has been shattered with what they have been through.
“As asylum seekers we have lost our competence. I would like to improve, to do some training, share skills in cooking, baking, sewing, drawing... all creative things where we can have the satisfaction that we have made something from start to finish. To have some skills where in future I will be able to learn to stand again on my own two feet.”
A couple of participants now help lead. One has come out of herself and has more confidence and tremendously helpful. They help with preparation and good to see women who have had the same experiences can now lead.
Make a donation to help pay the bus passes of the women who attend: www.justgiving.com/jesuitrefugeeservice
World Refugee Day - Push Forward, Not Back
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|
A woman
rejoices during traditional dances at the International Women's Day celebration
in Doro refugee camp, Maban, South Sudan (Angela Wells / Jesuit Refugee
Service). - See more at:
http://en.jrs.net/news_detail?TN=NEWS-20150609094306#sthash.LUkLGWqh.dpuf
|
A
woman rejoices during traditional dances at the International Women's
Day celebration in Doro refugee camp, Maban, South Sudan (Angela Wells /
Jesuit Refugee Service). - See more at:
http://en.jrs.net/news_detail?TN=NEWS-20150609094306#sthash.LUkLGWqh.dpuf
Rome, 15 June 2015 – For World Refugee Day this weekend, the Jesuit Refugee Service urges you to remember that the key to change is within each of us. While governments decide to accept or reject refugees, only we have the power to truly welcome them. We must change our fixed view of refugees as 'the other.'
Refugees around the world are being pushed back and pushed out. Australia is pushing refugees from Nauru to Cambodia. Colombians are being kicked out of Venezuela. Kenya has threatened to expel nearly half a million Somali and other refugees. Boats with Rohingya asylum seekers are turned away again and again by countries in Asia Pacific, left stranded at sea. Thousands of people are drowning attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from the Middle East and North Africa.
Even where refugees are not literally expelled, they are often shunned, mistreated or jailed. Their very presence is criminalised, and they are often excluded from their host communities. In South Africa, foreigners are facing violence and riots, forcing them to flee their homes. In Europe, refugees are forced to rely on the informal labour and housing markets. In the United States, refugees fleeing widespread violence in Central America are held in detention.
The key to change need not always be a top-down approach. Swedish policy makers have exemplified that leaders can encourage this shift in our societal perception, but we must start with our own individual perceptions. Refugees are the 'we,' the 'us,' as opposed to 'they' or 'them.' Let's not just save lives; let's save dignity.
"Integration and hospitality are not only about opening our borders, but opening our communities. The latter does not result from the decisions of a few leaders, but from our own personal decisions. To change our countries we must start with our communities, and to change our communities we must start with ourselves," said JRS International Director Peter Balleis SJ.
We can push governments to welcome refugees, but let's not wait indefinitely for the macro decisions of our leaders to trickle down. Let's micromanage change in our own communities.
"We must all be able first to see, and then help others to see, migrants are not a problem to be solved. They are our brothers and sisters who need help, who should be welcomed and loved," said Kenyan refugee and Jesuit Refugee Service international volunteer, Anthony Mukui.
So let's not push back; let's push forward – push ourselves, our neighbours and our communities to open our doors. Then, together we can unlock potential. Together we can welcome. Together we can advocate. Together we can.
Visit a videoclip: here
For more information:
Jacquelyn Pavilon
International Communications
Jesuit Refugee Service
Tel: +39 06 69868 609; +39 348 993 1544
Jacquelyn.Pavilon@jrs.net
@JesuitRefugee
facebook.com/JesuitRefugeeService - See more at: http://en.jrs.net/news_detail?TN=NEWS-20150609094306#sthash.LUkLGWqh.dpuf
This story is originally from JRS international website: here.
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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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Discovering Oneself behind the Lenses - Photo Session Epilogue
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| Photo by Fourtotwentychars from Foter.com |
Ingrid, photographer and Founding Director at Fotosynthesis, shares her experience of organising a portrait day at JRS.
What did you today?
We had fun! Taking pictures of people and catching their smiles.
How many people came? How many photos did you take?
27, I can’t count how many pictures we took, they would not stop posing!
What did you see?
I saw people coming from the outside and looking cold and shy or hiding behind coats and hats. And then I saw them glowing, proud, some really felt like models. That was quite nice to see. They quite surprised to see the result and how beautiful they are... The people who came showed us a secret part of their person, it was quite an intimate afternoon with strangers. And they all want the pictures!
What do you enjoy about taking portraits?
I like the interaction you need to have with people, to engage with them. You have to make them feel relaxed and joke and... it’s funny, I don’t know their names or where they are from. It was more like ‘hey! come in, let’s relax and do the pictures’. It was quite enjoyable. I enjoyed working with M, my colleague, he is good about making people laugh. I liked the simplicity with the people here. I do a lot of photo shoots, but I didn’t see anyone being critical, they just felt good the way they were, which is not often the case. I really liked how people left the room full of energy. One thing is there is a lot of trust, they really trusted us to tell them, which position to sit in or pose, so they did very well.
Did you learn anything today?
I don’t know if I learned anything new, but I remembered again the transformative effect that a photoshoot has on people. The photoshoot breaks the wall, it has an instant positive effect. It was a very therapeutic and hopeful day.
One of the participants said: “It was the best, it made me happy!” Is there anything else you would like to say?
I’d like to be a little mouse and see people’s faces when they see their pictures and see their reactions to the photos, to hear their experience of being photographed. And I’ll be excited to see where the images end up, in a family album or who knows?!
More information on Fotosynthesis, visit here.
Look out for more information and images telling a story about JRS’s work here on this blog soon...!
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Homelessness and Hospitality... ‘At Home’ Prayer Pack Is Ready!
Just in time for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees this Sunday, 18th January 2015, Jesuit Refugee Service UK, together with Christian Life Community, has prepared the JRS reflection guide on homelessness and hospitality: ‘At Home’ Prayer Pack!
With so much material wealth in modern societies, there are still many people whose livelihoods are not secured and thus have to worry about day-to-day survival, as you can find out in the prayer pack:
“It is not known how many asylum seekers are living destitute in our cities. Being ‘destitute’ means that you are not permitted to work or claim statutory benefits and so you become reliant on friends or charities to survive. This can happen while an asylum claim is being processed or has been refused.
We know that many rely on a hostel place, often short-term, or ‘sofa-surfing’ with friends or wider family members. Some sleep on the night buses, unable to lie down to sleep, or in doorways, fearful of violence or abuse. Daytimes can be a circuit of visits to day centres for hand-outs, meetings with lawyers and often waiting in libraries or other ‘anonymous’ public spaces.” - From the Prayer Pack
Along with practical help such as volunteering and giving donations, prayer is an excellent way of showing our genuine concern and solidarity for the destitute. Louise Zanré, Director of JRS UK says:
“Many of the people we accompany at JRS derive a great deal of strength and hope from their faith. They are always pleased when I tell them of church services or community prayers I know to be taking place during which refugees are prayed for. Praying for refugees is one way in which solidarity and care can be shown. What I hope you will be able to experience from using this prayer pack, either in a group or as an individual, is being able to enter at least a little into the experience of the people we accompany and those who host them in their homes. That prayerful encounter will provide solidarity, but will help deepen your awareness of some of the problems our refugee friends might have in their lives.”
We invite you to use this prayer pack and remember our brothers and sisters who need our acts of hospitality. These acts can take place in various ways and prayer is certainly one of them!
Packs are available to download as a pdf here.
An on-line version with spoken reflections and music is available at: www.pray-as-you-go.org.
To order a pack, please contact uk@jrs.net or call 020 7488 7310.
You can see the related news on JRS UK website at http://www.jrsuk.net/news/news2/index.php
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Advent Together
Kate and Rosemary both took part in Pax Christi’s annual Advent Service at St Aloysius church near Euston in London this week. Kate shares what she enjoyed about the occasion.
Jesuit Refugee Service UK was invited to offer a testimony and focus for prayer for a gathering of people who work for justice all the way through the year. We were together to listen to stories, reflect on scripture and sing. The event was both intercession for people who all year round struggle in impossible circumstances and a festive celebration at the same time.
This service was particularly important to me. It was beautifully designed and presented with a lot of thought and love - whether through the choir, Westminster Deaf Service interpreters or the different creative stations for prayer. It is not often that I feel my worship truly reflects my work and commitment to working for peace. So I am grateful that on occasion we were able to honour refugees, those caught up in the troubles in the Holy Land, women who suffer from violence and those who seek to transform conflict throughout the world.
Each theme had a scripture verse, a personal story, a prayer from Pope Francis or a litany and a song. During the service we were all invited to make a pilgrimage around the church to each area, by way of accompanying people throughout the world who find themselves in situations of flight, discrimination, trafficking or isolation. We sang in English, Arabic and Hebrew and made a commitment to instil in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. It meant a lot to me to share those words with a mix of people who I know do that in their daily lives.
After the service, we all went downstairs to share a mince pie and glass of wine. JRS had a stall with crafts made by refugees in Kenya (www.jrsea.org/mikono) and sold more than £100 of products. Thank you to everyone who bought something from us.
Read more about Pax Christi’s work: www. paxchristi.org.uk
Read more about JRS’ work in Syria: http://en.jrs.net/campaigns_
The collection was taken for Pax Christi and JRS Syria. You can donate here: https://en.jrs.net/donate
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A Poem - Cold and Rain
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| A photo by Elvis Payne from Foter.com |
Cold and Rain
by Muler
Cold and rain
is my patience
because it remind me
my past experiences.
Cold and rain
Is my experiences
For many reasons.
Cold and rain
Is my frustration
Because he is madness.
Cold and rain
He give me bad welcome
when I wake up on the morning.
Cold and rain
he is the one reminded me
my friends on my time
been sleeping on the street.
Cold and rain
he is my best friend
because he always is with me.
Cold and rain
when I think of you
I always remember
London. When I think of you
I think of London.
Cold and rain
You give hope when you show
You for light
Like the light on the fridge.
To me it is not be my part.
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Me and JRS
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| Photo by Nathan - from Flickr.com |
Pauline, from the Democratic Republic of Congo, told us about her experience with JRS-UK. She has been in the UK for 6 years and coming to JRS for 3 years. She attends our Day Centre regularly on a Thursday and is a member of our Women’s Prayer Group which meets every week on a Tuesday.
Coming here for me, I have a nice story here. It has given me joy! If I did not come here, I would not feel good. I don’t know what it is about JRS, but I love it too much here!
Here, they help me, This one is my house, when I come here I am happy. I don’t have family here, so in this place, I have tea with my friends. They are helping me. I have my plate and my mug which Louise gave to me. So when I see them I see her!
This country gives me no work, no job, no chance to earn money. But if you have your appointments, you still need your Oyster card... Here they give you money for your tickets: to sign in (report) for the Home Office, for hospital appointments...
Every week I have appointments. I have been in the hospital three times. Jonathan from JRS came to visit me. He was so kind.
I was going to college, but I was sick, so now I can’t go. Maybe next year I will start again to study English, I would like to improve my English.
These challenges... they go on for a long time, many years. This country, many people are coming here, with then lots of problems: no places to sleep, staying only with friends... This place, JRS, helps all people.
Every Tuesday, I come here with the women to pray. The massage with Magda is helping me too. I love it, I feel good!
What is next for me? I don’t know, I am very sad in this country, it is too hard. One day when I have my papers, I will go to work. I will go to college and get training. I would like to do care work, to care for others. I am a very caring person.
When I pray, I pray for God to help this charity, to go a long way, it helps everybody who is coming here.
I like to say God bless these people, I thank God very much for these people.
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JRS Europewide!
Our volunteer Liliane
visited Romania from 13th to 15th Oct to take part in a
JRS meeting. She kindly answered for an interview after the trip.
Q: Tell me about the event in Romania. What was the
occasion?
Liliane: It was JRS Europe Annual General Meeting. The topic
was Accompaniment this year. In the workshop, JRS staff and volunteers from all
around Europe participated. From our JRS UK, Jonathan, Kate, Sr Margaret and I
participated.
Q: What did do you and learn?
L: During the three days, we looked around a hostel for
asylum seekers run by the city council in Bucharest, attended workshops, and
visited JRS Romania main office, ‘My place’ as they call it. And we had a
chance to see the sights and to have meals out to enjoy each other’s company.
We also had a Mass together on the last day of our visit.
In one of the workshop sessions, we were divided into small
groups and discussed. Afterwards we had presentations. In the first workshop,
the questions were what the difficulties we face in our working places were,
why they were difficult, and how we solved the issues.
We also listened to the differentprocesses of welcoming
refugees in various countries and we talked about how to accompany others. I
learned, in order to accompany them, we need to be passionate and listening to
them attentively.
I could see that different countries have different
situations. I met one refugee who was complaining about the lengthy process he
had to undergo, but I told him that in some other places, it could be worse.
I also saw that JRS Romania was doing many good works.For
example, they run language courses, help the refugees to obtain citizenship and
accommodation, and give legal advice. It is possible because they have many
staff members.
Q: How did you feel about this trip and what did you like
most?
L: I was very excited about this trip because it was the
first of such a kind of trip in ten years. It was great to meet people from
different backgrounds and to share our works with each other. I learned a lot.
And the place we stayed was also very nice.
Q: Finally, anything you would like to say?
L: Well, I really enjoyed the trip and am grateful to JRS
for giving me this opportunity. I am also proud of our JRS UK for what we do.
Thank you very much.
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A Visit of Heart to Heart
London, 04 July 2014 - In this testimony from the UK a JRS volunteer describes her unexpected encounter with an Afghan man held in an immigration removal centre. This chance meeting of two people, one free and the other detained, reveals a surprising role-reversal and highlights the inner human spirit that knows no borders.
One day I made an unscheduled visit to the detention centre. Neither the officials nor the detainees were expecting me, so I settled down in the multi-faith room and looked around at the books of different religious texts, the floor, the walls, and the carpet. There were no windows in this room making it impossible for anyone to connect with the outside world. Time passed slowly and alone I began to regret not informing the centre of my intended visit.
Then suddenly I saw Feizal.
When I first met Feizal he was very pale and was constantly being admitted to hospital. Often depleted of energy, he seemed withdrawn and sad. English is not Feizal's first language and he struggled to express himself the first time we met. However, today was different.
Like most detainees, Feizal has a sad story. Feizal's hometown is in Waziristan, a troubled border area between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Taliban killed his father and then tried to force Feizal to fight for them. A school teacher, and a pacifist, he could think of nothing worse than killing another human being: so he refused. Consequently, the Taliban issued an order that Feizal be killed. He had to go into hiding. Feizal's mother managed to give him enough money to travel to the UK.
As soon as Feizal reached the UK he claimed asylum. His claim was refused and he was placed in immigration detention.
On seeing me sitting alone, Feizal immediately came up and sat next to me. His health had greatly improved and his downtrodden demeanour was replaced with one of strength. His English had also greatly progressed.
Feizal told me stories of his childhood and how he loved playing cricket. I complimented him on his dramatic improvement in English: he said this was due to him attending English classes at the detention centre. In the future, he hoped to teach English.
One gesture that will always stay with me was when Feizal pointed upwards and said with a big smile, "Above everyone, above the Taliban, above the law, there is Allah."
Despite all of his difficulties, Feizal still retained complete trust and confidence in God.
I left the centre feeling extremely humbled. I had set out with the intention of helping detainees. Instead, I had received care from a detainee. Although Feizal had so many problems of his own, he cared about my well-being and spent nearly an hour trying to make me feel valued, so that I wouldn't feel I had wasted my time in coming to the centre.
I realised that Feizal's actions were ones of true love: the giving of the self to the other. Feizal did not have money, did not have power nor even his liberty but still he had his heart and he chose to use it to make me feel better. And for that I will be forever grateful.
---
Bianca Venkata is a volunteer member of the JRS UK detention-outreach team and visits detainees at an immigration removal centre in the UK.
If you would like to join as a volunteer, come and visit JRS UK Volunteering.
If you would like to join as a volunteer, come and visit JRS UK Volunteering.
