Hossein’s interview

An asylum seeker from Iran who volunteered his time and skills to improve Global Link’s new building talks about his experience of Global Link before his transfer to another city

Without Global Link, I cannot imagine what would have happened to me or other guys. I don’t want to be transferred somewhere else. Talking and being involved with Global Link has helped make my mind free and I have had a lot of good times with you. It has been a really good experience and good opportunity to make new friends from different countries and different cultures, to get to know more information about them and have communication with them. I am going to be transferred and losing Global Link is a big loss for me. Global Link is like a second home. When we left our country, we always miss our parents. But Global Link is our new family here. So, yes, I am leaving Lancaster now and I am really sad about it because I cannot visit and meet you all regularly. But I hope that in the future I have some opportunity to come and visit you again.

For me, and for other guys who volunteered at Global Link, we are always happy to help  other people. So sometimes when we realized that we could solve or fix or make a solution or something for someone else, it could be really satisfying for us and yes, makes us feel really fulfilled. And yeah, very happy. Very happy. Volunteering for Global Link has been really good for me because I could make a new experience here. I could meet new people and learn about culture and made really, really good friends, locals, British people and other people from other countries. And I liked introducing some new attractive and interesting systems in Global Link, like the lighting and music system and the security surveillance camera system. We did it together, and I really appreciate all of you. That’s because you gave me this opportunity and you trusted me to do all of this for you.

I think this type of charity is really helpful to enhancing the health of asylum seekers, refugees and even local people, because I saw during this time many local people are involved with Global Link – sometimes they donate items to Global Link, or come to volunteer. And yes, I think it’s really helpful for all of us – asylum seekers, refugees and local people, British people and everyone. If you can get involved to help together. And I just hope that in other cities and towns you can inspire others to start to do something like you.