I arrived in England in May 2021, I came by boat, was taken to Dover, and then to a hotel in London where I stayed for 2 months before being moved to Napier Barracks.  I stayed there 3 months, the men stay in a big room with curtains between the beds, maybe 27 men in the room so it is quite noisy.  I spent my time in the recreation centre and only came back to my bed when I felt the need to sleep.

They told me I am going to Lancaster, I was trying to search this place! The manager of the camp told me it’s in the North West, close to Manchester, it will be fine.   I travelled by minibus with three men, all going to different places, we dropped one to Rochdale, one to Liverpool, another somewhere, I was the last.  It was stressful!  I didn’t know where I was going, where I am, I was alone.  The accommodation in the camp is worse, but I had relaxed with that, I had enjoyed it OK as I like to be sociable, but now I was being moved, it was confusing and depressing, I didn’t know any portion of the road or where I am going.

I had been in Lancaster for a week before the Serco manager came to my home and told me there is this charity in town, refugees gather there on a Tuesday, you can chill and chat and speak with others… after that it was easy for me!  The first time I went I arrived to the drop-in late, lunch was finished but I got there a few minutes before the part when Gisela speaks – she always gives information, welcomes newcomers.  So I introduced myself and I was told I am very welcome.

You know, when any new refugee goes to Global Link they will ask if you have a plan, I told them I want to learn, to improve my language, I want to be educated, so they told me the schedules and I got an assessment with Eleanor, then I started classes with Mary.  It has been very very supportive for me, when I came here I didn’t speak like this!  Before I tried to learn by my own effort but I can’t speak like this, I learned so much in class.  It’s very important to me.  So I did L1 class with Mary, and after being in UK for 6 months I started classes with the college, with Paul.

I have a plan to study computer science at university, so when Eleanor told me I can go to classes at the college I thought the ITQ user course would be relevant , Eleanor wrote to ask, she did some research and we decided to take the course.  But when we arrived I think the teacher wasn’t sure, he said ‘can you hold the mouse?’ and asked me if I had used computers, and I said no, not for a long time, but he gave me a written paper to put into Word and because I had practiced before it wasn’t difficult for me, so after that he says I can continue.

I’m now doing an access course for computer science at a college in Nelson, it’s 3 days a week.  It’s so interesting!  And I love that I’m on the right path to my plan, it’s a course that will support me to join university, so I’m glad.  Finding the course was all done by Global Link.  In the UK I understand that getting educated, getting the opportunity to be schooled as a refugee, it’s not easy to be honest, I can’t do it by myself, I needed people’s support.  But lucky for me I had Eleanor and Mary, I spoke with them, and after they know my plan they do their own research, they look for the course, make sure the college will pay my travel costs; they did so much to help make me successful for reaching my dream.  You know, I’m very grateful to them, I will never forget them.

I used to go to the lunch every Tuesday, I like the vibe there, I like meeting people and getting information; I go there and learn so many things that are useful to me, a lot of things we don’t know for ourselves about the UK.  And at the lunch you mix with people from your own community, but also meet people from different countries.  But now I can’t go because I have to study!  I have to go to class and also do assignments, so I am busy, but last week it was half term so I went again.

I also got the opportunity to do the Community Interpreter course from Global Link.  I did the three month course on line and got Level 2, but I think I need Level 3 to work as an interpreter.  I did it first because I wanted to improve my language and writing skills and second because I want to support my community.  Most people cannot speak English perfectly, so they need some interpretation and I want to help, especially when they want to express an idea.  But giving support by interpreting without knowledge has great difficulties, if I have the qualification then I should know how to do it professionally.  So I would like to do Level 3 if I get time to do it.

I’ve also taken part in the Migration Stories project at Global Link.  I did research with Alison about people who did a crime in the 19^th century and how they were punished and transported to Australia – the court was here in Lancaster.  I tried to show this scenario, this history, by researching someone’s story, a man who was in Liverpool, did a crime, how was his life… the information is for students, Global Link will present it to schools and put it on their website.  For me the research was interesting and it helped me improve my writing skills.

I also volunteered at The Dukes, checking tickets, selling icecreams, I got to watch the film.  It was interesting and I was enjoying, but then when covid came high they stopped it.

I have had help from RAIS a few times, I think they are also supportive, but mainly I have gone to Global Link.  When I started at the college in Lancaster it was winter time and I asked RAIS for refund for a bus ticket.  They gave it to me but after a while, I think it is about distance, they said I would have to go there by bike.  Global Link has been the main thing for me, it is my family here.  Without Global Link I wouldn’t reach this position.

I’m worried about my [Home Office] interview, especially after I finish this access course, I can’t join university without leave to remain, I need to get it, otherwise it will stop me from my dream.  English people are very serious about the queue, it shows respect, but for this it seems random, some people get an interview quickly, others do not.  I can’t predict it, perhaps it is by chance.  This situation needs patience, and being strong.  It’s difficult for me doing my course while waiting for leave to remain, maybe I would do better on my course if I had it.  If I get leave to remain I can change my life, I can change this country, and I can help my community.  If I can’t get it I may be stressed, depressed…   But I am also happy to be here, I have freedom, I can do what I want.  If I get leave to remain I don’t know where I will go, it depends on the learning opportunities, which places has my course.

Some asylum seekers are learning English but not all; some are old, or they start but give up, or they don’t think it’s important.  Some may have a plan but not patience!  They may fear to take exams, they don’t want to get low scores, I don’t know.  You need a plan, catching up on knowledge depends on me!

I don’t have any suggestions for Global Link, it’s very very nice if they can keep doing what they are doing without hesitation.  I have friends in other cities and they say they can’t get any information, they don’t have good communication, there’s no charities, or if they are they are they are not as supportive as Global Link.  They wonder when I tell them what I have as they don’t have such kind of thing where they live.  Even my friends in small towns are not getting this good service.  So if Global Link keeps going it will be fine!