Young refugees speak out

Three young people talk about finding ways to connect in a new country, and their hopes for the future.

Motaz, 18

"When I was nine we were forced to flee our home, when war broke out in Yemen. It was scary and very dangerous. Luckily we were amongst the few who had the chance to leave – as many didn’t. But that didn’t mean the end of our struggles, it was just the start.

In each country we went to we were labelled. All we wanted was to be treated fairly, to be treated as humans and to have our basic rights.

Once you feel more settled, you start making friends and you can make long-term decisions, because you know you won’t be forced to move.

Now I have my status. I was so happy and grateful when we got it. We are finally able to rebuild our lives. If you’re being moved around, it’s like building a castle of cards, it can all be destroyed in less than a second. Once you feel more settled, you start making friends and you can make long-term decisions, because you know you won’t be forced to move.

I’m studying computer science with focus on technology for social good. I’d love to see a future where the voice of refugees and the voice of youth is heard. I’d like a society where we can contribute and feel proud of belonging."

Haroon, 21

"I’m here on my own. I was ten months in a hotel, in two cities. At first, the hotel was far from the town, and there were no English classes, and no opportunities to volunteer or do anything. Then I started volunteering with Refugee Council. I found some places to play football, learn English, do some volunteering.

People are waiting for over a year. You can’t work – people want to work, but it’s not allowed. When you see the news it’s hard. We need the system to be more humane. We are all humans."

Latif, 18

"I’m from Afghanistan. You’re far from your family, you don’t know the language, so it’s hard to communicate. People are waiting too long for their decision. You have to find a way to keep busy. People are suffering. Moving around between cities makes it harder.

My dream is to help people, I don’t want other people to go through what I’ve been through.

It’s very hard for asylum seekers, after losing our lives in our country, to imagine reaching our dreams. But dreaming is the same as food and breathing – we won’t stop. My dream is to help people, I don’t want other people to go through what I’ve been through. I want to show that even when we lose everything, we can start again and try our best." ◆

Motaz, Haroon and Latif are part of the Refugee Council’s Youth Advocacy and Campaigns Group, speaking out for other young refugees and people in the asylum system.

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