Articles

Jacob Lind's Story

I am a PhD student at Malmö University, Sweden and came to Birmingham for six months to do research among undocumented migrants and destitute asylum seeking families. In Sweden I am actively involved in refugee rights. I am married and will become a father in the autumn of 2015. In Birmingham it has been easiest to integrate with other migrants; you share being an outsider. But I have also made contacts through the university. It is important to have a context to integrate through, that makes it easier. Sweden and…

I am a PhD student at Malmö University, Sweden and came to Birmingham for six months to do research among undocumented migrants and destitute asylum seeking families. In Sweden I…

Abdel Aziz Musa's Story

I came to the UK in 2002 from Sudan, fleeing persecution and now live here with my partner and child. In Sudan I studied Economics and Political Science, but I studied further in the UK and did a Master's Degree in International Business at Coventry University graduating in 2009. After completing my degree I worked for several companies including for Tesco’s as a customer services worker in Solihull and as a marketing consultant for an accounting firm. I then worked for a private College in Walsall in their marketing Department…

I came to the UK in 2002 from Sudan, fleeing persecution and now live here with my partner and child. In Sudan I studied Economics and Political Science, but I…

'Cast Away' survival stories

Writing in 2015, Mike Berry made a basic but important point about British coverage of the recent refugee crisis: he calculated that on average only about one in ten newspaper articles made any reference to the voices of the refugees themselves. The ratio varied from title to title. In the Daily Mirror, about one in four articles included refugee’s words; in the Daily Mail, fewer than one in fourteen. Without this vital dimension, refugees can become a faceless, mindless mass, gripped by irrational urges to travel to the UK. It…

Writing in 2015, Mike Berry made a basic but important point about British coverage of the recent refugee crisis: he calculated that on average only about one in ten newspaper…

Hassan: stick to your goals

Award-winning photographer, electrical engineering student, community mentor, and world traveller is quite an impressive list of accomplishments for any 26 year old. Take into account that just 10 years ago that individual arrived in London by himself, speaking no English, forced to move to a new society 2500 miles from home, and impressive seems too minor a word to describe such a feat. Meet Hassan Al Mousaoy. Hassan first came to Britain in 2006 as an asylum seeker from Iraq. Despite the successful life he has since created for himself,…

Award-winning photographer, electrical engineering student, community mentor, and world traveller is quite an impressive list of accomplishments for any 26 year old. Take into account that just 10 years ago…

Best of both worlds

A very welcome addition to their union, my mother and father were overcome with joy at the prospect of raising me in a country that represented autonomy. After all, they had been granted asylum and permitted to create a new ‘home away from home’ in the ‘vast riches’ of Islington. I recall the heart-wrenching moment when I clung to my mother’s skirt as she dropped me off at nursery for the very first time. As she desperately tried to free herself from my grip, I recoiled at the thought of…

A very welcome addition to their union, my mother and father were overcome with joy at the prospect of raising me in a country that represented autonomy. After all, they…

Hope for UK's North Koreans

In October 2015, Jihyun Park will be launching a series of North Korean Refugee Support Projects. The project will include language classes, skills training, women’s rights workshops, and the Phoenix Internship project, a mentoring programme for young North Korean refugees in the UK. Jihyun Park is a North Korean refugee and Project & Outreach Officer at European Alliance for Human Rights in North Korea. Here she tells Migrant Voice about the new projects. What sort of problems do North Koreans have adapting to the UK after coming from such a restrictive society? There…

In October 2015, Jihyun Park will be launching a series of North Korean Refugee Support Projects. The project will include language classes, skills training, women’s rights workshops, and the Phoenix Internship project, a…

Achilleas Mavrellis' story

South African by birth, Greek in origin, now a subject of Her Majesty, Achilleas Mavrellis’ family comes originally from the beautiful but remote islands of Lesvos and Lemnos in the north-east Aegean. As on other Greek islands, Byzantine relics and artefacts are scattered all over. “The scent of a great empire fills the air,” he says. Or maybe it’s the slowly-roasting baby octopus on beach-side coal fires. Inspired not only by the airs of the isle but also by the mysticism surrounding the baptism ritual of his daughter in Lesvos…

South African by birth, Greek in origin, now a subject of Her Majesty, Achilleas Mavrellis’ family comes originally from the beautiful but remote islands of Lesvos and Lemnos in the…

Mara Sese's story

Without a vision a nation will perish. The UK is a nation with an amazing vision. It has a very diverse community that is a result of migration. Migration is inevitable. It is a constant flow, like a beautiful river. This is another exciting year for a migrant like me. It is time to renew my visa. Where should I start? What are the new guidelines? Where should I go? What are the new requirements? How much will it cost? Am I eligible to apply? What documents do I need?…

Without a vision a nation will perish. The UK is a nation with an amazing vision. It has a very diverse community that is a result of migration. Migration is…

Justice for Cleaners - Consuelo’s story

Cleaners employed through ISS to clean at SOAS University in London were going on strike on the 4th and 5th of March 2014. The strike is part of their campaign to be employed directly by SOAS on the same sick pay, holidays and pensions as others working for the university, rather than the work being outsourced. Here is the story of one of the cleaners and why she is going on strike: My name is Consuelo Moreno. I am Colombian and I arrived in London in January of 2002. I…

Cleaners employed through ISS to clean at SOAS University in London were going on strike on the 4th and 5th of March 2014. The strike is part of their campaign…

Exchanging experiences

Ognyian’s story: exchanging experiences - diversity and equality Ognyian Stanchev is a 36 year old who was born in Razgrad, Bulgaria. He is from a city in an area of the country known for hosting international annual festivals where people from different ethnic groups who live there take part, such as the Turkish, Roma and Bulgarian communities. Ognyian has been living in the UK since 2007 and has a professional background back home. He has studied economics and graduated from the D.A. Tzenov academy of economics in Svishtov - a…

Ognyian’s story: exchanging experiences - diversity and equality Ognyian Stanchev is a 36 year old who was born in Razgrad, Bulgaria. He is from a city in an area of…

Articles

Articles

Jacob Lind's Story

I am a PhD student at Malmö University, Sweden and came to Birmingham for six months to do research among undocumented migrants and destitute asylum seeking families. In Sweden I…

Abdel Aziz Musa's Story

I came to the UK in 2002 from Sudan, fleeing persecution and now live here with my partner and child. In Sudan I studied Economics and Political Science, but I…

'Cast Away' survival stories

Writing in 2015, Mike Berry made a basic but important point about British coverage of the recent refugee crisis: he calculated that on average only about one in ten newspaper…

Hassan: stick to your goals

Award-winning photographer, electrical engineering student, community mentor, and world traveller is quite an impressive list of accomplishments for any 26 year old. Take into account that just 10 years ago…

Best of both worlds

A very welcome addition to their union, my mother and father were overcome with joy at the prospect of raising me in a country that represented autonomy. After all, they…

Hope for UK's North Koreans

In October 2015, Jihyun Park will be launching a series of North Korean Refugee Support Projects. The project will include language classes, skills training, women’s rights workshops, and the Phoenix Internship project, a…

Achilleas Mavrellis' story

South African by birth, Greek in origin, now a subject of Her Majesty, Achilleas Mavrellis’ family comes originally from the beautiful but remote islands of Lesvos and Lemnos in the…

Mara Sese's story

Without a vision a nation will perish. The UK is a nation with an amazing vision. It has a very diverse community that is a result of migration. Migration is…

Justice for Cleaners - Consuelo’s story

Cleaners employed through ISS to clean at SOAS University in London were going on strike on the 4th and 5th of March 2014. The strike is part of their campaign…

Exchanging experiences

Ognyian’s story: exchanging experiences - diversity and equality Ognyian Stanchev is a 36 year old who was born in Razgrad, Bulgaria. He is from a city in an area of…

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