Eleven years ago I lived
with my young family in Ethiopia. Life was enjoyable, but the escalation of an
already precarious political situation meant it got harder; eventually I had to
leave Ethiopia and seek asylum in Britain.
11 years later, I’m part of
the London community. I’ve given back to the city by volunteering for The 2012
Games, and through my work with Citizens UK I support other refugees who hope
to make this city their home. My story shows that refugees can start a new
and successful life in Britain, but I believe the city could still do more to
help people seeking refuge. Here’s just three ways we could do better:
Language is the greatest
barrier
My experience has taught me
the importance of welcoming refugees when they arrive in London, to support
them into society, rather than shut them out. When I arrived in Britain I was
immediately locked up in a detention centre as if I were a criminal, unaware of
when I would be released. I was incredibly fortunate that I could speak English,
because it meant I was able to communicate with the officials there, unlike
many refugees.
There should be a dedicated
centre to support refugees arriving in London which should be equipped with
translators. This should help newly arrived asylum seekers with their
applications, but also support successful applicants to integrate and become
part of our society. English lessons would break down that barrier and help
them to get jobs and revive their confidence. It should also be extended to
other migrants. They say, "language empowers".
Recognise their potential
Highly skilled refugees are
not often able to get jobs which match their skill levels. So, as a country we
lose out on valuable skills. I see qualified people in different professions
working totally unrelated jobs as they have been unable to get jobs they are
qualified for. Many are overqualified for the jobs they are doing. I regularly
hear people saying they are willing to help refugees; it is important to make
practical steps to do this. The corporate world should be willing to provide
refugees with opportunities for success.
London must remain open and
welcoming
The mayor, Sadiq Khan, is
ready to make sure that London remains a welcoming city, open to people from
across the world. But if we want people arriving in London to engage in society
then we need to make sure that they’re welcomed into the community and helped
to get started in the city - in terms of job opportunities, homes and
education. As I write this piece, there are 65.3 million people displaced; 21.3 million
refugees stranded in camps across the world. Most these refugees are hosted by
developing countries who are not equipped to deal with the influx. I believe
that London must set an example and show the rest of the world how refugees and
migrants alike should be welcomed and integrated into the city.
I know how
civil wars and political unrests can strip people of their dignity as human
beings, and I feel a deep concern about the current refugee crisis. I fear for
the people in Ethiopia and across the world who are being persecuted for their political
beliefs, religion, race, sexual orientation, and who are forced to flee
their homes.
