We are young people who left our home countries seeking safety. Along the way, we faced many hardships, after being separated from the people we love. The fear, mistreatment, and pain have damaged our confidence.
Leaving our countries was only the beginning of a very hard journey. Many of us were imprisoned, tortured, and badly treated by people who saw us only as a way to profit. We experienced cruelty from both smugglers and authorities, which made it difficult to trust anyone.
I often feel like my life is on hold.
When we finally arrived in the UK, we thought we would be safe, but we struggled to let go of the fear that we felt along the way. It was a mixed emotion of being safe, but with a lot of uncertainty, and it was overwhelming at times. Because of the trauma we have been through, we didn’t know how to tell good people from bad people. The sight of police still made us anxious, because we were afraid they might hurt us. The long wait is really hard, as it causes a lot of stress and worry. I often feel like my life is on hold.
"The fear, mistreatment, and pain have damaged our confidence."
One of the hardest things for most of us has been the separation from our families. I miss them every day, and it’s difficult to imagine a happy life without them. If they were here, we would embrace them and release the emotions we’ve held in for so long. We worry about them because they are still in danger. The loneliness and longing for our families stay with us, even in moments when we feel safe.
Some refugees are forced to leave their homes for religious reasons, because we have been persecuted for our beliefs, or if our religion is banned in our home country. When we arrived here, college could also be difficult, especially interacting with people from different religious backgrounds, because past experiences left us worried. Even speaking about our religion often felt stressful or frightening.
There are different ways we have started to recover from our experiences. It depends on the person – it’s not the same from everyone. Finding a sense of community is very helpful and so is speaking to others. For some people, if there is a sport they enjoy, this helps them – for others it could be education, employment, or volunteering.
"There are different ways we have started to recover."
I have found comfort in attending local places of worship for prayer and counselling. This has helped me feel hope and stability. Through prayer, I have found some peace, and the support some of us have received from these communities has reminded us that healing is possible. These experiences have shown us that faith and spirituality can be part of mental health care, especially for those of us from different cultural and religious backgrounds.
We would like better mental health support for young refugees. For some of us, religious practices bring comfort and strength in times of stress. Accepting this can help us feel understood and supported in our healing.
We all deserve care that respects who we are and gives us the chance to heal, feel safe, and rebuild our lives with hope. I hope to continue my education and eventually work in a field where I can give back, perhaps by helping other young people who are going through what I’ve experienced. I would like to find a way to make a positive contribution to the community.
If you would like to support young people like Miki, Refugee Council is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Appeal. Commencing on 3rd December at midday, any donation provided by the 10th December will be match funded by our pledgers.
