Articles

Immigration - A window of hope and a door of death

Maybe the crisis in Lampedusa, Italy, and the drowning of hundreds of migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia, will force the world to confront the terrible tragedy and complicated issues, both legal and humanitarian, that the refugee question presents. This is a matter of national and international legislation, and one that affects us all. The floating bodies in Italy in October 2013 brings the subject to the surface again and this crisis is spreading all over the world. Who is migrating? Where do they come from and where are they going?…

Maybe the crisis in Lampedusa, Italy, and the drowning of hundreds of migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia, will force the world to confront the terrible tragedy and complicated issues, both…

Mahdi Bahrami – Football Coach, Glasgow

To be honest, at first, I wasn’t a footballer; I was a hyperactive street fighter boy! I am an only child. My dad passed away when I was very young and my mum brought me up on her own. We weren’t a wealthy family but we had an easy and happy life. My background is in football, and in Iran I played at three different levels of national youth team. I was very lucky to be sent to Glasgow because Glasgow is a city of football. I was looking to…

To be honest, at first, I wasn’t a footballer; I was a hyperactive street fighter boy! I am an only child. My dad passed away when I was very young…

Hing Fung Teh – Tai Chi Instructor, Kirkintilloch

I was born in Malaysia, of Chinese ancestry. I came to the UK in 1973 as an accountancy student studying for ACCA in Birmingham Polytechnic. I felt a lot of excitement and had many expectations on my arrival to this foreign country, especially of seeing real snow. On one of my many trips around the country I met my future husband, Leong, in Glasgow. We have been married for 37 years now and have two grown up children, Han and Ying. We have lived in Kirkintilloch for the last 28…

I was born in Malaysia, of Chinese ancestry. I came to the UK in 1973 as an accountancy student studying for ACCA in Birmingham Polytechnic. I felt a lot of…

Gealass’ story: The scene I could never erase from my memory

Gealass Al Khalifa was born in 1951 Kirkuk, the richest city in the world for oil. Kirkuk in northern Iraq was also known for the outstanding beauty of its surrounding towns and villages. The beautiful nature, the smell of the roses, the water falls, the sparkling streams with bright stones and clear water, all this nurtured Gealass’s creativity and love for beauty which she has later articulated in words. Gealass with her four sisters and a brother grew up in a house, which was always full of people from all…

Gealass Al Khalifa was born in 1951 Kirkuk, the richest city in the world for oil. Kirkuk in northern Iraq was also known for the outstanding beauty of its surrounding…

Efat story: I will forgive the people who tortured me if they would say sorry

Efat Mahbaz was born in 1958 in the city of Langerood in Iran. Langerood, near the Caspian Sea, is famous for two staple items of a Persian's diet - rice and tea, and alongside other northern cities in Iran, it has more equality between men and women. Efat spent a predominant part of her childhood in this city which has a beautiful river flowing through it. Her love for being near water comes from this time in her life. As a child, she says "I was treated as an equal…

Efat Mahbaz was born in 1958 in the city of Langerood in Iran. Langerood, near the Caspian Sea, is famous for two staple items of a Persian's diet - rice…

Margret Olin: Where is home?

Margreth Olin is one of Norways most influential film makers and journalists. For over 15 years her documentaries have shone a light into the darkest corners of humanity. Margreth has exposed attitudes towards groups that are often made to feel voiceless within society, including people dealing with addiction, disabled people, and refugees. A stark campaigner for reform, she has become as well known politically as she is culturally and has been awarded the Amnesty International award for her contribution to human rights for six consecutive years. Here she speaks to…

Margreth Olin is one of Norways most influential film makers and journalists. For over 15 years her documentaries have shone a light into the darkest corners of humanity. Margreth has…

‘Not being able to work kills people’

Remzije Sherifi arrived in Glasgow in 1999 after being evacuated by the British army from a refugee camp in Macedonia. Her whole family had been forced to leave Kosovo where she had worked as a radio journalist. Now 58, she is a writer, theatre producer, and migrants’ activist. She talks to Marzanna Antoniak How has the situation of migrants changed since you arrived in this country? During my 14 years in Scotland I’ve seen changes in policy related to migrants, especially with regards to deportation and children. I’m proud that…

Remzije Sherifi arrived in Glasgow in 1999 after being evacuated by the British army from a refugee camp in Macedonia. Her whole family had been forced to leave Kosovo where…

The Power Of Listening

_ Emina Hadziosmanovic was a child when she fled to the UK in 1992 to escape the siege of her home town, Sarajevo. She tells Nishit Morsawala that her degree enabled her to “finally understand why I was where I was, studying psychology and what I wanted to do with it. I was motivated to help others achieve this understanding and to move forward with their own lives.” Emina Hadziosmanovic grew up in an environment of war and trauma in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and as a result “always had a desire to…

_ Emina Hadziosmanovic was a child when she fled to the UK in 1992 to escape the siege of her home town, Sarajevo. She tells Nishit Morsawala that her degree…

Ognyian’s story: exchanging experiences - diversity and equality

Ognyian Stanchev is a 36 year old who was born in Razgrad, Bulgaria. He is from an 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 small student town. After this he went on…

Ognyian Stanchev is a 36 year old who was born in Razgrad, Bulgaria. He is from an city in an area of the country known for hosting international annual festivals…

Mariko's story: There is something new to learn every day

My name is Mariko Hayashi. I am 25. I was born in a small town in south of Japan. I currently live in Peckham, South East London. I came to the UK almost 7 years ago to study at university. I love being in London because it always make me feel connected to the whole world. I enjoy meeting people from all over the world and finding out about their country, culture and lives. There is something new to learn every day. I am now working as an administrator for…

Articles

Articles

Immigration - A window of hope and a door of death

Maybe the crisis in Lampedusa, Italy, and the drowning of hundreds of migrants from Ethiopia and Somalia, will force the world to confront the terrible tragedy and complicated issues, both…

Mahdi Bahrami – Football Coach, Glasgow

To be honest, at first, I wasn’t a footballer; I was a hyperactive street fighter boy! I am an only child. My dad passed away when I was very young…

Hing Fung Teh – Tai Chi Instructor, Kirkintilloch

I was born in Malaysia, of Chinese ancestry. I came to the UK in 1973 as an accountancy student studying for ACCA in Birmingham Polytechnic. I felt a lot of…

Gealass’ story: The scene I could never erase from my memory

Gealass Al Khalifa was born in 1951 Kirkuk, the richest city in the world for oil. Kirkuk in northern Iraq was also known for the outstanding beauty of its surrounding…

Efat story: I will forgive the people who tortured me if they would say sorry

Efat Mahbaz was born in 1958 in the city of Langerood in Iran. Langerood, near the Caspian Sea, is famous for two staple items of a Persian's diet - rice…

Margret Olin: Where is home?

Margreth Olin is one of Norways most influential film makers and journalists. For over 15 years her documentaries have shone a light into the darkest corners of humanity. Margreth has…

‘Not being able to work kills people’

Remzije Sherifi arrived in Glasgow in 1999 after being evacuated by the British army from a refugee camp in Macedonia. Her whole family had been forced to leave Kosovo where…

The Power Of Listening

_ Emina Hadziosmanovic was a child when she fled to the UK in 1992 to escape the siege of her home town, Sarajevo. She tells Nishit Morsawala that her degree…

Ognyian’s story: exchanging experiences - diversity and equality

Ognyian Stanchev is a 36 year old who was born in Razgrad, Bulgaria. He is from an city in an area of the country known for hosting international annual festivals…

Mariko's story: There is something new to learn every day

My name is Mariko Hayashi. I am 25. I was born in a small town in south of Japan. I currently live in Peckham, South East London. I came to…

Get in touch

Pages

Policies

Our Social Links

Sign up for our mailing list