Pauline and Sara: a beautiful friendship
Sara, on the left here was forced at gunpoint to marry against her will. When he began having affairs and abusing her, she told her parents she couldn’t stay with him. Her parents replied that if she dishonoured their family by leaving him, they’d have her killed. She borrowed money to flee to the UK where she claimed asylum, but she was still stricken with fear, and constantly anxious. All by herself in a remote hotel in northern England, she had no friends to reassure her, no one to help her take her mind off the past. But then she …
Another refugee tragically killed in Calais
Today another refugee was tragically killed in Calais. The 25-year-old Sudanese man died after falling under the wheels of a lorry after being hit by a lorry in the early hours of this morning, French newspapers report. According to other refugees interviewed at the scene, the man had run behind the vehicle as it left the parking lot, hoping to get into it somehow. When it came to a halt, he tried to climb between the trailer and the cab when it stopped. When it began to move again he slipped, and fell beneath the wheels as his friends watched …
Refugees flee war in Sudan
Like countless Sudanese people living outside the country, our friend Khalid is terrified for his family. His parents and sister have left their home in Khartoum and are travelling to seek shelter with relatives in another city. “Their home was on fire as they were leaving their street. They couldn’t stay in Khartoum because there is no water, no electricity, no medicine, no safe place anywhere. “Even in cities where there is no fighting, the war makes people desperate because there is no food, no resources of any kind. Yesterday I called my mum and said I would send money …
Refugees to do triathlon for Care4Calais!
Seven of the amazing refugees we support have formed a triathlon team to raise money for one of our community projects. It’s a truly international team, made up of people who mostly didn’t even know each other before they found themselves in the UK. There’s Sofia and Ernesto and their two children, who fled El Salvador to escape gang violence and extortion. Then there’s Adil from Sudan, Joseph from Chad and Arsema from Eritrea, who are all fleeing war, slavery and trafficking. Between them they will swim, cycle and run together at the spectacular Blenheim Palace triathlon on the weekend …
Alaz’s story
The first time the authorities in Kurdistan threatened me, they sent people close to me to deliver threatening messages. They hacked my Facebook account three times. It was worrying, but I kept doing what they hated, which was speaking the truth. I was a journalist, and I was exposing the corruption of political leaders. That’s what journalists are meant to do. But then the threats got more serious. I was arrested and imprisoned for doing my job. Two years later, they came to my home and set it on fire. I was not home but my wife and daughters were. …
Jenga – Care4Calais style!
Today in Calais I met a rock star. I was playing Jenga with Adil, a Sudanese refugee in his twenties. It was our special Care4Calais version of Jenga, which doubles as a learning English quiz. The questions are things like ‘what’s your favourite colour?’ and ‘who’s your favourite person in the world?’ Multi tasking and having fun. Some of Adil’s replies were so funny. Could he play an instrument? Oh yes, electric guitar – didn’t I know he was a rockstar back in Sudan. Naively at first I thought he was serious, and he roared with laughter. Next – his …
Mastering the Art of the Hijab
When you’re supporting refugees, you learn that if a lady asks if you can get her a hijab, you need to be flexible. Last week I got a request from a woman refugee at a hotel, so I grabbed a few of my own spare ones, plus a selection of scarves. I guessed correctly that people might be shy about asking, but when they saw that we could help with them, several would come forward; by the end I had given out all the ones I took. But I still hadn’t sorted out the lady who first asked. She was …
Meet Faisal, refugee and aspiring journalist
When he lived in Afghanistan, Faisal dreamed of becoming a journalist, but boys his age were being forcibly recruited by the Taliban and similar outfits. Although he held out, keeping his head down and hanging onto his ambition as long as he could, he knew thart if he didn’t leave, he would eventually be forced to join “them”. And so he packed his dreams and a few possessions, and set off to make the long journey to Europe, where he believed he would be able to lead the life he wished for. I met him in Calais when …
This wonderful gift brightened our day in Calais
Yesterday we were going through our mail at the Calais warehouse when we noticed a mysterious, lumpy package from the UK. Opening it, we found dozens of EU-plug phone chargers, a power bank and a bag of Euros and cents – and a note explaining where it had come from. It turned out they were from some young refugees – all under 18 and travelling by themselves – who had crossed the Channel. Realising the stuff was unusable in the UK, they had saved it all so they could send it back for refugees in France. Connie, a former C4C …
Inspiration for 2023 and beyond!
It has been a tough year for anyone who cares about refugees, but there are so many good, compassionate people out here who support them, and make good news. We can forget to pause and reflect on the success stories and good news. So here to consider in this quiet time between Christmas and the New Year, are ten inspiring refugee stories from 2022 to warm your heart. 1 Omar wins Student of the Year! Omar, who we first met in Calais two years ago, had no formal schooling. He couldn’t read or write, let alone use a PC, and …