Supporting refugees from Sudan
Anita and Huda are supporting other refugees from Sudan who arrive in South Yorkshire - and spreading a positive message about what refugees can offer our communities.
Anita
"We came here because we need to live in peace. In our country there’s a war, a lot of bad things are happening.
I’m working in a school, I’m a teaching assistant. I love Sheffield, the people are kind, I don’t want to go anywhere else.
We would like people to understand more about Sudan, and we hope to show them who we are – from all different regions, the different cultures of Sudan. It’s very tough, we have three or four more Sudanese people who just arrived as refugees a few days ago. It’s emotional for them, we hope to show them that we’re here, and even if there’s no going back home right now, we are still strong.
People think that refugees are coming here to take something – and they think that we don’t understand anything, because we can’t speak English. But we’re learning, and we can also have value.
When we arrived, Refugee Council helped us such a lot. Without you, I really don’t know how we and our children would have managed. God Bless you."
People think that refugees are coming here to take something – and they think that we don’t understand anything, because we can’t speak English. But we’re learning, and we can also have value.
Huda
"Today we have war. People are very traumatised.
When women arrive, they’re stressed in a new place, with a new language – so we talk to them, and we help each other.
I want to thank Jason [at the Refugee Council], I don’t have words to thank him. The Refugee Council is very good, helping us all the time, giving us a place to meet, showing us we have value.
When women arrive, they’re stressed in a new place, with a new language – so we talk to them, and we help each other.
I’m here with my husband. I’ve been here one year and seven months. I’m going to college, I’m learning English. I want to be a midwife and help women and children. I love Sheffield, people are often smiling in the street."
Anita and Huda are creating a Refugee Community Organisation called Salsabil, to support other refugee families from Sudan. They hope to build a supportive community for people seeking safety in Britain and pass on the warm welcome that they have received in Sheffield. ◆
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