I came to Lancaster in September 2017, we came with another family, we had met at the embassy in Egypt.  Because we were part of the resettlement scheme when we arrived we went to the town hall for lunch.  For 2 weeks, maybe 3 weeks, a lady called Anna helped me, she helped us to go shopping, to do everything, then she left and we had Nadia as our case worker.  We had been to Global Link for lunch, she take me and my children to the job centre to complete some forms, and also to the bank, to open an account.

My children did English in school in Egypt, I put them in an English school because even there I can ask them to help me with problems in English.  But I did not have English then, only ‘yes’ and ‘no’.

Global Link has been very very good for me.  When the case worker finished after 2 years they could say ‘enough Aida’, but they did not say it, they give me help for a long long time.  Gisela is a good person.  She doesn’t focus on money, she doesn’t say ‘I’m not going to help you now’, we are still in Global Link!  I got the opportunity to learn to cook, to learn how to use the laptop, I used to sit near my daughter when she did something on the laptop, I just looked, but after doing a course I can use it.  Eleanor has helped my older children to find school and college.  When we have difficult things in life like bills and computer or problem with the landlord we run to Global Link and they still help.  I pray for them to continue and not stop because they give so many good help.

It is good that you can go and cook, we don’t need people to be lazy!  Every Tuesday, if you want to cook please come and cook!  It’s good to encourage people to do cooking, if people just stay home they get sad.  And it’s good to learn to give time: Global Link helps you with papers and everything, so you have to give back.  Someone might think that Global Link is not interested in you, but if you go there then every time you can find connection, it’s no good staying in the house, you have to come out.  For Tuesday lunch Global Link pays for the food and you share your cooking with the other asylum seekers.   I used to cook more, but now I have a small child and some jobs, so less time.  But this week Gisela asked me to cook for people going on a trip on Sunday, she gives me money to buy the food and to help with 1 or 2 hours of work.  Sometimes I do the cooking but say ‘no, I don’t want the money, you can leave it’.

After lunch they bring people to talk to us, they bring police, they bring a doctor to explain about health things, like too much sugar.  And safety, like to turn off the washing machine at night. A lot of things we learn from Global Link!  Because we need to understand everything, to know the rules in this country.  One time I asked to learn about English culture and they did a class on that.  It’s useful.

My first job I got from RAIS, I said to Lizzy I need a job, she find a job in Christ Church shelter, cleaning in the hall and also inside the church.  After that I ask Global Link about job, me and Sara write my CV together, she made copies.  Sophie suggest me to go for housekeeping, I take my CV to two hotels but they didn’t answer me.  I went back and the didn’t know where the CV was.  So I need to go again.  I also do cleaning at St Thomas church, 4 hours each week, and 2 hours 2 times a month at a house that used to be a house of the church, where they have rooms for refugees.

I wanted to do the community interpretation course but they say first I have to improve my English, I say ‘no problem’.  I go to English classes, even today I have been to exam practice at the college class at Friends Meeting House.  I have to work, I have to learn, when you have good language you can find good job and everything is good.  I need to finish college. I’m not want only to be a cleaner, I like to work for the police, or in a care home.

3 years ago many of us Sudan people go to Claver Hill, we enjoyed, and collect garlic, potato…they give vegetables for everyone to take.  But now I don’t have time for it.   Zia did give me onions I put in my garden but then my daughter mowed them!

I am a volunteer in the history project, Migration Stories.  I looked at the story of children refugees from Spain in 1937, ten came here, to Nazareth House.  I enjoyed the project, it was good for my language.  We did the walk the children did from the train station to Morecambe, and from the bus station to Nazareth House, they came to the Ibis to see films because it was a cinema then. A guy called Henry helped me research, we did it together, I learned how to use google… if it goes wrong I ask my daughter to come help me!

Global Link do party for Christian people and Muslim people, people with religion and people with no religion, they don’t choose, we celebrate all the festivals!  All are OK in this country, if you have religion or no religion, I like this.

I think they treat people equally, for me it is fair.