Amin’s* story 

“I have been in the UK for three years and five months. I remember everything that has happened, and exactly when it happened, and every time I remember the terrible things that have happened already, it makes me motivated to keep going and work towards my new life in London.

“I come from Darfur in Sudan but moved to Niger for work, where conditions were really bad. Not only was the war a constant threat, but I was working in a mine in burning heat, with no sun protection. I saw my colleagues taking their own lives out of despair. Some of the things I’ve seen are hell; and after a while, I thought that there were only two options: try or die.

“Most people don’t realise that when you leave your country for a new life, you’re so scared. You’re leaving the worst things, but you can’t know what comes next. There were no options but to travel by boat. There were times when I looked out of the boat and all I saw was the sky and the horizon, and this was for days at a time.

“I eventually arrived in the UK after a dangerous journey. But I was safe from the war. That kept me motivated. During my time in Home Office accommodation, I wanted to use my time wisely, so I spent lots of time going to Custom House library. I wanted to improve my English quickly, so I started studying in there, then I volunteered in the library and was soon making friends. The Newham community is amazing, it’s full of so many people from around the world, but we all want to make friends, have a good career, and make a life for ourselves.

“When my refugee status was finalised, I couldn’t stay in Home Office accommodation any more, so I took my things and lived on the streets in Newham. I had signed up to study English at college, but when I got back from college, my things were missing from my tent. I was constantly getting robbed on the streets.

“After four months living on the streets, I had an interview with Your Place. The thought of having my own bed and my own room after so long with so much uncertainty, I was really excited. Your Place is a good place to stay; there is lots of support for the things you need. Knowing that someone is looking out for you makes it easier to meet people and make friends. Being so far from my family is really hard, but having people around who care and listen gives me hope. There are activities that everyone can get involved with, but there’s no pressure. You get involved with what you want to do, and I’ve definitely learned some new skills from being here.

“Your Place has an IT suite and a small library, plus I’m close to the libraries that helped me build my confidence. Having this space has helped me build confidence and reminds me that I am a valued part of the community. For example, even though I’m studying to improve my English, I am also part of a skill swap at Your Place; another resident here wants to learn Arabic, so we help each other out.

“Being new in the UK, it’s really hard to understand all the different systems, and how things work, so being here with people who really care about what I have been through, but also what I am working towards, helps me learn and move forward. I want to use my Economics and Accounting qualifications from back home in my career, and I’m looking forward to making a life for myself as an accountant thanks to the support I’ve had.”

*Amin is not our resident’s real name. He has asked to remain anonymous to protect his privacy.