Can’t Stay. Can’t Go. Refused asylum seekers who cannot be returned 27
seekers. I can advise them where to go. It is
important to me to meet people who are in
the same situation. When you are at home all
the time on your own, you think you are the
only one. (Violet, Zimbabwe)
Kasim (Iraq) volunteers at the Red Cross and at
Justice First: “I’m come to office of British Red
Cross, I’m very happy. If when I finish I go outside
I sad”. Kasim likes to welcome people who are
new to the area and show them where to go. He
encourages people to get out and do things, like
attending free weekly English classes at the local
church:
I take there a lot of people who are new
coming here. I say, “If you stay home more
and more, you’ll get bored and you’ll get
upset”. I know this. (Kasim, Iraq)
If Kasim is granted status, he would like to work
for a charity:
I want to more and more help British Red
Cross and Justice First office. I want to more
and more help…. I’m happy when I come in
and I’m working. I want more and more have
job here. Yeah, actually, actually I want to do
this. (Kasim, Iraq)
Samir (Algeria) reported that his girlfriend makes
him feel stronger and helps him cope. Bisrat
(Eritrea) copes by not thinking about the future;
he prefers to focus on the here and now:
So every time I think about today, not the
future. If, finally, if I get a paper, if I get
granted, I will think about the future, I will think
about everything. (Bisrat, Eritrea)
Anwar (Somalia) reported:
I’m not strong. I told you, I need to go back
home…. I want to be there now…. I’m not
happy to live here. And I have a kid here, but
I’m not happy. I have a kid, but I’m not happy
with my kid. Really, serious, I’m not happy.
(Anwar, Somalia)
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