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My dreams were shattered due to Covid-19

Here I am, the sun lazily dipping beneath the treetops, absent-mindedly tracing the brim of my shimmering, sun-struck wineglass on my back porch. And as I’m sitting here with my right hand on my keyboard and a German Shepard excitedly panting to my left, I can’t help but think: What on earth is going on? And this isn’t just today. This is just like any other steamy summer evening in July breezing by on the other side of the Atlantic marking the 104th day of my social distancing journey. In…

Here I am, the sun lazily dipping beneath the treetops, absent-mindedly tracing the brim of my shimmering, sun-struck wineglass on my back porch. And as I’m sitting here with my…

What do international students mean to the University of Westminster?

There are a lot of conversations going on now, due to the pandemic and the resulting travel and visa restrictions, about the value international students bring not only to UK universities but also globally. There is no doubt that international students make a valuable contribution to our universities and also to the wider community that the University sits in. The value of international students has and always will be about much more than the financial contributions they bring to universities. The University of Westminster has been involved in international education…

There are a lot of conversations going on now, due to the pandemic and the resulting travel and visa restrictions, about the value international students bring not only to UK…

Why isn't the Government supporting international students?

International students in the UK bring in over a whopping £4.8 billion a year in tuition fees and an additional £5.4 billion in accommodation, food and other expenditure. What the government forgets, however, is that international students are often from low- and middle-income families. Most are motivated by the pursuit of better opportunities and international experience. We are not born with silver spoons in our mouths: we are dependent on scholarships and part-time jobs to get by. But unprecedented times means that we have moved from lecture halls, labs and libraries to online…

International students in the UK bring in over a whopping £4.8 billion a year in tuition fees and an additional £5.4 billion in accommodation, food and other expenditure. What the government forgets, however,…

My journey through Covid-19 as an international student

I loved my time as an undergrad at the University of Westminster and knew I wanted to come back and live here. I was on my way to doing this in 2019 when I returned to start a master’s with the goal of obtaining a job after I finished. This all changed in the wake of Covid-19. Many of my friends, who were semester study abroad students, were recalled to their home countries. Mid-March the West End closed and effectively cancelled all shows, six of which I had tickets for.…

I loved my time as an undergrad at the University of Westminster and knew I wanted to come back and live here. I was on my way to doing this…

Britain’s fruit and veg crisis is a foretaste of life after Brexit

The impact of coronavirus on migrant labour in the UK – and the UK’s response – could be considered a warning of what might happen after Brexit. Due to travel restrictions, many seasonal migrant workers who might normally come from Europe to work in the UK’s agricultural sector have not been able to travel. This threatened to cause a crisis in the UK’s food supply, forcing some of the UK’s largest food suppliers to bring in workers from Eastern Europe on charter flights. But I have a question. Why should any…

The impact of coronavirus on migrant labour in the UK – and the UK’s response – could be considered a warning of what might happen after Brexit. Due to travel…

Being an asylum seeker during Covid

If Covid-19 has an impact on UK citizens, it also and particularly has an impact on asylum seekers and those who are homeless. Even if the government has taken measures to help some of them, their lives during this period are very different, with support from charities much less available and a real discrepancy between the money received and actual needs. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, British people are advised to stay home to protect the NHS and save lives. This lockdown has been implemented progressively across different sectors, with…

If Covid-19 has an impact on UK citizens, it also and particularly has an impact on asylum seekers and those who are homeless. Even if the government has taken measures…

Coronavirus, NRPF & visa fees

With the outbreak of coronavirus, the undocumented migrant community is susceptible to go through all kinds of struggles and exploitations. Some don’t speak English and are afraid to ask for help because of fear for themselves and their families. They become anxious, hungry and homeless, or are fearful of being deported. Many want to regularise their stay, but the fee for 2.5 years Limited Leave to Remain (plus NHS fee) is astronomical for someone who is not supposed to work. Home Office fees go up most years and the goal…

With the outbreak of coronavirus, the undocumented migrant community is susceptible to go through all kinds of struggles and exploitations. Some don’t speak English and are afraid to ask for…

Two poems in response to the Lockdown

The following poem was written in November 2019. Reading it now, it seems to speak directly to the current state of the world and where we are as a collective consciousness. Stuck in a cycle By Michelle Fuller (Nov2019) As it was told to me; In a place filled with giants and ogres, Where the ground cracked beneath every boot, And the air smelled of decay. Where LIFE itself did not enter. In this place, the many were born one in division. Their energy extracted to build. They laboured…

The following poem was written in November 2019. Reading it now, it seems to speak directly to the current state of the world and where we are as a collective…

What does Women's Day mean to you?

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Gloria Steinem On 9 June 1914 a woman named Bertha Ryland slashed a painting in an art gallery in Birmingham. It became one of the major incidents of the militant suffrage campaign – the campaign for women’s right to vote in elections. There are several other famous incidents that happened around the world to establish women's rights. A hundred years ago,…

"The story of women's struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organisation but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights.” Gloria…

International Women’s Day reflection

It’s a rainy Saturday morning and COVID-19 is headline news. Everyone is trying to avoid coming out and mingling with others. But here I am, ready and excited to go with my friend to attend the International Women’s Day event in the Scottish Parliament debating chambers. The theme of this year is Women and Democracy. Scotland has been a pioneer in the advancement of women's rights. The Scottish government has done tremendous work in moving things forward to ensure that there is equal opportunity for men and women. For example,…

It’s a rainy Saturday morning and COVID-19 is headline news. Everyone is trying to avoid coming out and mingling with others. But here I am, ready and excited to go…