Asylum seekers share their dreams for future: ‘I want my children to have a safe life’

Four friends, each a refugee or asylum seeker, sit outside together on a sunny afternoon in Cardiff. They have just eaten lunch, large portions of flavoured rice and vegetables, and have come outside to the garden of charity Oasis to speak to the Big Issue about their experiences of seeking sanctuary in Wales.

Sammi Ghaderi, Navid Hjyani, Mortza Ehsani and Roozbeh (who has asked for his surname not to be included) have each fled tension in Iran and have lived in Wales for a few years. They didn’t know each other in their home country but were connected through Oasis, which offers a range of support to refugees and asylum seekers.

Wales aspires to be the world’s first ‘nation of sanctuary’ – a compassionate and safe place to live for people who have fled conflict like these four friends, who say they have been met with kindness by local residents. They have found a home in Wales, but they still face challenges, unable to work or contribute to society in the UK and dependent on the government to house them.

Read more:

• Cut off and uncared for: This is what life is like for asylum seekers in the UK
• Britain’s embrace of Vietnam’s ‘boat people’ is a lesson in how we welcome refugees, 50 years on
• I’m a gay asylum seeker – the UK’s immigration system is designed to dehumanise people like me

They speak to the Big Issue and each other about their life in Cardiff and their appreciation for the Welsh people, while sharing the difficulties asylum seekers continue to face.

‘I think all of us are very happy in Wales’

Roozbeh: Cardiff is a good city for families, and there’s kindness in the people. I don’t have any experience of another city in the UK but I’m happy here in Cardiff. People are welcoming and they support us.

Navid: I didn’t have any information about Wales before coming here or any relations, but the people are kindly. It’s one of the biggest cities that’s very hospitable to asylum seekers. 

Sammi: I’m happy here in Cardiff. I know a lot of people. They’re so nice. They help me. When I first came, I was introduced to Oasis and they have nice people who are very worldly. In the beginning, I didn’t have anything. I didn’t know the situation or rules. But they helped us with a lot of things.

Morteza: I think Oasis is one of the best places I can tell you about in the UK. Most of my friends came to England from Dover, and from there the government sends people all over the place. I think all of us are very happy in Wales.

Roozbeh: Oasis was the first place I made friends here. It provided us with the basics we need for life in the UK and Wales. 

Sammi: In the beginning, we didn’t know each other. Oasis was the place where we got to know each other. We look like family. I’m single and alone and I’m glad I have their support.

Morteza: When asylum seekers come to the UK, they all need support. Some asylum seekers I’ve met didn’t have any clothes, just what they were wearing. They didn’t have any phones. Oasis is very helpful on this issue and gives people clothes. I remember one friend didn’t have any accommodation and he was sleeping outside. Oasis helped him take a shower. 

This is one of the best places to find all our freedoms. For my children’s education, we needed help finding schools. Oasis also helped with a solicitor, clothes, a GP and they were kindly and hospitable. There are opportunities to volunteer. I think you cannot find anyone who would speak against Oasis.

‘I could be useful to society’

Navid: I’ve been an asylum seeker for more than 10 years, because I was in Greece before I came to the UK. For eight years I’ve lived in Greece and for nearly three years I’ve been in the UK. My experience with being an asylum seeker, it’s like I didn’t have any identity. 

The view of the people in the UK is that a person must be useful for society. But unfortunately, the government didn’t give us permission to work – permission to join society, or to be helpful or useful.

Morteza: Each of us has experience. Sammi is an electrician. Navid is one of the best people for researching. He has tried lots of times to write about his experience and why asylum seekers should join society but, unfortunately, he couldn’t do anything – not because of his ability, but because he wasn’t given a way to show his ability. 

And also, I think one of the best people I know is Roosbah, who is a medical devices engineer. I know he is trying to join society because of his family. He’s trying like me, like Navid and Sammi.

Sammi: When I came here, I didn’t know about anything. In these two and half years since I came to the UK, they have changed my place more than five or six times, and still I don’t know what happened. When you have this kind of problem, you can’t imagine or view your goals or ambitions or wants. 

It’s like you lost your way. I feel confused – what happens tomorrow? Will I still be here or will they move me again? Most asylum seekers have this discovery. In the beginning, I thought after I learned English, I could work. I could be useful for society. I could be useful for myself, my city and other people. I feel bad that after many years with experience and a job, you lose all of them. You come here and you can’t do anything.

Morteza: And every day we get bad news from the government. 

Sammi: Exactly. People say: ‘Asylum seekers are like this and that.’ But it’s not true. Asylum seekers have a lot of talent.

Roozbeh: We were all very good and normal people in my country, but because of some situation we had to get out of there. It was very hard leaving my family and the people I care about.

Morteza: There was the news about Starmer [announcing further restrictions to settlement in the UK]. Every day it seems like the government is against asylum seekers and refugees. But on the other hand, by some charity, they invite people to come here. In my mind, I think this government needs asylum seekers and refugees. 

Sammi: I want to be useful to the government. I’m grateful they gave me a place to live, food and everything. I’m grateful and I appreciate it. When I became a refugee [and got status] and I was allowed to work, I didn’t know how I should find work as an electrician. I have experience, but it’s not enough. I know you need a certificate, but when I tried to take a course, they said my English is not good enough. 

Roozbeh: In Iran, we have an idiom: the government gives us fish, but we want to learn fishing.

Navid: We also don’t have access and permission to protest against some of the rules if they are not good for us. Change can’t happen if we don’t have access or permission to discuss and be involved in this issue. Lots of people came here as an asylum seeker, thinking it is better to have freedom to improve themselves. I would like to help and be useful here because of the kindness and hospitality of these people, but unfortunately I cannot. 

Morteza: Refugees and asylum seekers can’t speak in parliament on behalf of ourselves and give an opinion on these rules and laws. The government puts these rules in and we can’t do anything about it.

‘For my children, I hope for justice’

Navid: I want to create something like a labour union for refugees to foster peace and contribute to the country’s progress.

Roozbeh: For me and my family, I want to use my experience and get a good job. I would like there to be more opportunities for people in Wales, so people can have money and contribute.

Sammi: Honestly, I don’t know what I want. I have a lot of hope – but put it this way, I don’t think it’s happening. I’m a little scared. With the economy in the UK and the world, I think it will get worse and worse, and I think asylum seekers – we’re big – but we’re small in society. I don’t know what will happen.

Morteza: As a person with two children, my first hope is for my children. My hope is for my children to have a safe life – for them to go to university. And because of their future, I hope for justice. I had a good job and life in my home country, but because of the situation that happened for me, if somebody now asked me where I was from, I would tell them I’m from Wales.

Promises are easy to break. Sign Big Issue’s petition for a Poverty Zero law and help us make tackling poverty a legal requirement, not just a policy priority.

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. Big Issue exists to give homeless and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income. To support our work buy a copy of the magazine or get the app from the App Store or Google Play.