I came to the UK seven years ago as a young refugee from Rwanda. Eager to integrate, I joined a local refugee community. I coordinated activities that brought together young refugees. They enabled them to meet and share ideas, learn from one another as they settled into the society. On the other hand though, the media at the time was not portraying a positive image of refugees and asylum seekers. So much was said about them being bogus, that they were here to take over all jobs and take benefits that the British people had worked for for so many years.
That is not what I was and neither were my fellow asylum seekers. In my group together with other young people from Latin America and people from other parts of Africa, we set out on a journey to challenge those negative perceptions. We organised many activities, ranging from summer festivals where we shared our heritage with the local people; career workshops which helped our integration into society; and many others that helped us to become part of our host communities.
Interacting with the local communities at these events and seeing how they responded I was determined to be part of this society. Even though at that time I was still not sure what the future reserved for me in terms of staying or being deported: I only had permission to stay for 4 years. I set out to use that time productively. I started a degree and continued to participate in activities that raised awareness of refugee and asylum issues, because I believed that refugees had a lot to offer and that it was up to us to raise awareness. As the years passed I got my degree in African and development studies and got a job working with young people.
This experience of working with different people in different areas, has served to strengthen my belief that refugees can contribute much to a resident community they live in, when given a chance, the right support and guidance. I no longer felt like a stranger and came to think of the UK as my home, and people in my local community as friends. I came to realise that my experiences as a refugee made me capable of helping young people in the different communities I lived with. I felt confident enough to think that I was no longer a refugee but a citizen of a country that needed my skills and would welcome my contribution. I guess always looking at things in a positive way and hoping for the best kept me going. Also being interested in the wellbeing of people made me realise that my refugee experiences both in and outside of the UK could help me to empower not only refugees and immigrants but the British community as well.
I realised, however, that not much had changed in regards to the perception of refugees and asylum seekers. I vowed to continue where I had left off in terms of raising awareness. I went back to the centre where I had received help when I first arrived and found people that brought tears to my eyes. Their experiences were shocking: it started me thinking about how I could help them forget even for one day what the decision from the home office might be. I approached a few members in my community and together with the centre's staff we set up a sewing group as many of the clients there were women. I am also looking into how to extend this to other participatory activities such as cooking and art. This not only to pass their time productively but also to learn new skills that they can use here or back home if the worst happens.
I believe that every individual in this world has the ability to learn and that anyone has a talent of some kind. London is such a multicultural society, home to people from all corners of the world, equipped with many amazing skills. If these skills were properly encouraged, they could contribute a wealth of knowledge and also help fight unemployment, as people learn to work for themselves and to take ownership of their lives once again.
Marie Lyse has now been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
