"When I arrived, I had nothing but my clothes and a small doll for my child." We received this heart-rending account from an asylum seeker, known as E:
"I have a small family consisting of a child and my husband. Life forced me to leave everything I owned. To leave my hobbies that I cherished and was happy with in our country. I came last year on December 15, 2022 to this country, and before this date I had left my country and fled with my family empty-handed.
Life chose the United Kingdom as a home for my small family. Upon our arrival we were left at the airport on a dark winter's night. Due to fear and cold, I was very desperate, but I was pretending to be strong for the sake of my family.
They sent us the next morning on 16/12/2022 to the Home Office. Then they sent us to the Hotel. When I arrived, I had nothing but my clothes and a small doll for my child.
Fortunately for us, they told us that a charitable organization comes every Tuesday and Wednesday and this organization can help us with anything we may need.
I waited for them, and when I saw them for the first time and saw the smile and welcome, I cried from my heart because I saw how much they loved to do good deeds even though they did not know us.
Every time, I thank my Lord because in the harshest moments of life, He sent us this institution and they listen to all our needs and meet what they can do.
Sometimes a little help means life for those who have been disappointed in the estrangement and harshness of life."
"I have a small family consisting of a child and my husband. Life forced me to leave everything I owned. To leave my hobbies that I cherished and was happy with in our country. I came last year on December 15, 2022 to this country, and before this date I had left my country and fled with my family empty-handed.
Life chose the United Kingdom as a home for my small family. Upon our arrival we were left at the airport on a dark winter's night. Due to fear and cold, I was very desperate, but I was pretending to be strong for the sake of my family.
They sent us the next morning on 16/12/2022 to the Home Office. Then they sent us to the Hotel. When I arrived, I had nothing but my clothes and a small doll for my child.
Fortunately for us, they told us that a charitable organization comes every Tuesday and Wednesday and this organization can help us with anything we may need.
I waited for them, and when I saw them for the first time and saw the smile and welcome, I cried from my heart because I saw how much they loved to do good deeds even though they did not know us.
Every time, I thank my Lord because in the harshest moments of life, He sent us this institution and they listen to all our needs and meet what they can do.
Sometimes a little help means life for those who have been disappointed in the estrangement and harshness of life."
Today we hear from E from Albania who has been in the UK since May 2022. She lives in one of the hotels with her daughter who is 13 months old.
She tells us about the difficulties she has encountered but also speaks touchingly about the help she has received from Herts Welcomes Refugees:
"I know that every asylum seeker is having a difficult time but we feel better when we have good people around us."
She tells us about the difficulties she has encountered but also speaks touchingly about the help she has received from Herts Welcomes Refugees:
"I know that every asylum seeker is having a difficult time but we feel better when we have good people around us."
It is always lovely to receive feedback from our refugee partners. Here we spoke to Marcus, who is from Eritrea.
We asked Marcus to tell us a little bit about himself, and how Herts Welcomes Refugees has helped him. You can listen to the interview here.
How wonderful to hear how he describes the volunteers who support him: "They're like friends, they're like family.'"
We asked Marcus to tell us a little bit about himself, and how Herts Welcomes Refugees has helped him. You can listen to the interview here.
How wonderful to hear how he describes the volunteers who support him: "They're like friends, they're like family.'"
Our Area Convenor Karen was so moved to receive this from one of the families: ‘We want to express our most sincere gratitude for the support you have given us, your help has been essential to get through our current situation, and we cannot find words to express how much it means to us.’
