When Sylvia first arrived in the UK she had escaped detention in Burundi, during which she was repeatedly raped and tortured. She had been a refugee ever since the civil war in her country, when her entire family was killed. On arrival in the UK she was extremely shocked and confused, suffering severe headaches, vomiting, back pains and sleeping problems. Despite this, she could not access the help she needed.
Sylvia was just 19 years old. Alone and terrified, she tried desperately to get help, but with a limited English vocabulary she struggled to make her case for asylum.
The Refugee Council secured her asylum status by testifying in court on her behalf. We organised permanent accommodation, and ensured that Sylvia was referred to hospital for medical treatment. We gave guidance and advice on increasing her employability by studying English, and encouraged her to extend her studies further to give herself the greatest chance of finding a job in the future.
