Opinions

Migrant Voice Blogs

07/08/2018

The EMIN bus tour across Europe - reflections by a UK volunteer

I needed to access Job Seekers Allowance when I was looking for work. As a single person you get £73.10 a week which I felt was not enough to eat, travel and have a social life whatsoever in London, so I needed to change my lifestyle, when I eat,…

29/05/2018

A diary of a Migrant…Goodbye France

A diary of a migrant is written by a migrant in the UK about his time living abroad in France and Germany. It was almost 8pm when I looked at my watch, and as I boarded the Stansted Express heading back to central London, moments of serenity and peace…

15/07/2017

A migrant’s experience - grief and mental health

I started writing this piece way back in May in recognition of mental health awareness week (8-14 May 2017) but was unable to complete it. Why? You ask – Because I was going through a process of trying to keep myself whole. See, when you’re caught up in the…

29/06/2017

W(right)ing the Narrative?

I sit in the front row of the audience at a Refugee Week event titled “Sanctuary in the Media”, featuring Coco Khan and Darren Chetty, both contributing authors to the bestselling book, The Good Immigrant (2016). The short novel is composed of stories from 15 minority ethnic writers who explore…

28/06/2017

What Do We Gain From Refugee Week?

I sit at my desk on the Monday of Refugee Week and just so happen to scroll upon an article that lists 10 contributions made by refugees to British society. These achievements include: The architectural designs of Hampton Court, The potential origins of fish and chips, Marks and Spencer, and…

08/06/2017

These first-hand encounters with the reality of immigration alter one’s perspective indefinitely

“Were they vetted?” my father asked. “They fled their country to save their lives,” I replied. “How do we know they won’t kill anyone?” “To have refugee status means that they went through extensive background checks,” I replied. “Were they part of Al-Qaeda?” he asked. “They were running from Al-Qaeda.” …

30/05/2017

A Migrant’s experience - Dealing with the peddling of hate

I woke up this morning (23rd May 2017) to the tragic news of the Manchester bombings – 22 dead and 59 injured. And I prayed: Dear God, I believe that you are But there are those who don’t. I ask dear lord, that you Receive the souls of those Snatched…

15/05/2017

Falling from the Sky

I recently finished a six month placement at the Bromley-by-Bow community centre, located in Tower Hamlets, one of the poorest and most ethnically diverse boroughs in London. 43% of residents are born outside of the UK and come from over 200 different countries. My desk was placed in the English…

04/05/2017

EU nationals can make a difference in the general election

Since Britain narrowly voted to leave the EU, European citizens in the UK have been in constant limbo. There has been very little clarification on whether they will be able to continue their lives uninterruptedly. Throughout the referendum campaign, the national dialogue on immigration has deteriorated. Any sensible discussion has…

20/04/2017

Farewell UK

I’m writing this piece from a tiny room that I’m staying in at a friend’s place. I look around me and see bags of clothes, boxes of shoes and packets of odds and sods strewn around the small space. There are bits and pieces lying on the floor, piles of…