Articles

Archive

Amnesia in history

Migrants to England are all too aware of a loss of identity and an absence of recognition for their efforts and contributions. One of the burdens of a migrant’s life is the difficulty of making it predictable. As Migrant Voice has observed, migrants are ignored in nearly 90% of debates about migration. Seeking to rectify our ignorance of the 1.5 million African porters who were among the two million Africans who served in the British, French and German military during the First World War, the South African artist William Kentridge…

Migrants to England are all too aware of a loss of identity and an absence of recognition for their efforts and contributions. One of the burdens of a migrant’s life…

Equality before the law?

Everyone is equal before the law - aren’t they? Two African migrants are in the dock after an incident on a bus. They were picked up by the police on the basis of a description by the driver. But were they recognised by their faces – or by their ubiquitous T-shirts? Is it another example of that well-known crime: sitting in a park while black? Amanda Cooney unpicks the misconceptions, short cuts, misunderstandings and prejudices that can inexorably, agonisingly, turn flimsy shards of evidence into a life-wrecking prison sentence. The…

Everyone is equal before the law - aren’t they? Two African migrants are in the dock after an incident on a bus. They were picked up by the police on…

Poems by H. Chikowore

Handsen Chikowore is a poet originally from Zimbabwe and has written many poems on topics such as human rights, poverty and animals. As an accomplished poet, Handsen has been published in magazines such as The Spectator, The Parade, The Southern Cross, De La Mancha and Philosophy Now. Having fled Zimbabwe through the Limpopo boarder, Handsen went on to read his poems at Exiled Writers Ink, Paris Poetry Festival, Limmud, Black History Month and Brecon Poetry Festival. ‘Poetry helps me to express thoughts and provide me with an exciting platform to…

Handsen Chikowore is a poet originally from Zimbabwe and has written many poems on topics such as human rights, poverty and animals. As an accomplished poet, Handsen has been published…

Settlement denied

Until very recently, Turkish nationals had the right to start a business in the UK with the ability to settle after four years of continuous residence. Visa holders were initially granted a one-year visa. They could then apply for a three-year extension, at the end of which they were eligible for settlement. On 16 March 2018 the Home Office announced that it will no longer accept settlement applications made under this category, with immediate effect. The changes apply to those already in the category — there's no cut-off date and…

Until very recently, Turkish nationals had the right to start a business in the UK with the ability to settle after four years of continuous residence. Visa holders were initially…

Migrant voices, women's vote

It is 100 years since British women won the right to vote. Few know that members and leaders of campaign groups included women and men of migrant heritage, from Germany to the USA, from Guyana to Australia. When plans to deliver a petition to Parliament on women’s suffrage were drawn up in 1866, signatures were collected at Aubrey House, a centre of radical thought in London. The signatories included Harriet Martineau, a descendant of Huguenot refugees from France whose popular writings condemned slavery and the inequality of women. Another signatory…

It is 100 years since British women won the right to vote. Few know that members and leaders of campaign groups included women and men of migrant heritage, from Germany…

Joyce means business

Migration is a necessity not a luxury, says Joyce Ong, a Singaporean-born businesswoman who has lived and worked in London for 13 years. “For a city like London to thrive,” she explains, “you need sensible migration policies to bring the best and brightest to the country - but at the same time recognising that UK has a long record in helping migrants and refugees from certain parts of the world to have better life in this country. “The reason UK does that is because it is a basic right for…

Migration is a necessity not a luxury, says Joyce Ong, a Singaporean-born businesswoman who has lived and worked in London for 13 years. “For a city like London to thrive,”…

Kelly's Home Office battle

Moving from West Africa to Britain at the age of nine was hard enough for Kelly, but 10 years later staying here proved an even bigger crisis, when she was told she might not be able to stay in the country she considered home. As a child arriving in the UK with her family Kelly was the youngest of the children and spoke very poor English. Her diplomat father was advised by a colleague to place the children in public schools, so they could adapt quicker to the new culture.…

Moving from West Africa to Britain at the age of nine was hard enough for Kelly, but 10 years later staying here proved an even bigger crisis, when she was…

Kiran and David’s story

Kiran was born in a southern Asian country where being gay is a criminal offence and condemns him to being labelled a paedophile and mentally ill. It’s a country where custom dictates the disowning of family members because of their sexuality and where newspapers carry stories of homes being set ablaze because someone has been ‘found out’ and they and their family become targets for abuse. By the time he applied for asylum in the UK he had been in a relationship with his British partner, David, for four years.…

Kiran was born in a southern Asian country where being gay is a criminal offence and condemns him to being labelled a paedophile and mentally ill. It’s a country where…

Vilma Corpuz's Story

When I was young, I used to look at the sky and say “What is the feeling of going up there?” I really didn't expect I'm going to go to another country. Being the only daughter – the youngest – I never dreamed of going away from my parents. My mum she was a midwife. When I was in primary school my Dad decided to go to Saudi Arabia because the expenses were getting harder and harder. Back home you have to pay everything: if you don't have money you…

When I was young, I used to look at the sky and say “What is the feeling of going up there?” I really didn't expect I'm going to go to…

Ozlem Green's Story

I am from Turkey and grew up in Ankara, the capital city. I came to the UK to learn English in 1996 and met my husband in 1998 and stayed. I now live in Birmingham where I teach dance, English and Turkish. My love for dance came at a young age. I practiced dance from Primary School, throughout High School and University. While I lived in Turkey I performed in many cities across the country. I got my dancing qualification in 1996 and when I moved to the UK I…