News
Read the latest writing from our field visits across Europe and hear from those who are at the heart of the refugee crisis.
News, Stories, Publications
Here you can discover firsthand refugee stories, get first hand updates from the ground across Europe, connect with the people behind the numbers through their stories and catch up on our latest insights on the crisis – all in one place.
UK Rwanda Bill
Finding Hope: A Survivor’s Journey to Safety and Protection
Based on true stories, these anonymised first-person accounts, and related images, shine a spotlight on real people’s journeys as refugees and the critical role our partner NGOs have played in their...
Kamila’s Journey: From GED Success to Aspiring Accountant
Based on true stories, these anonymised first-person accounts, and related images, shine a spotlight on real people’s journeys as refugees and the critical role our partner NGOs have played in their...
Finding Comfort and Support: A Refugee’s Journey in France
Based on true stories, these anonymised first-person accounts, and related images, shine a spotlight on real people’s journeys as refugees and the critical role our partner NGOs have played in their...
Asylum Seekers and the Right to Work in the UK
The Ban on the Right to Work | 8th May 2024 “Only last week, new statistics showed that children in London who don’t have English as a first language were outperforming the national average at GCSE....
Finding Hope in Despair: Reflections on Our Visit to Greece
“Progressive change must come from the way we live out our lives, and the communities we are a part of in whichever capacity. And I’m full of hope in knowing that there are so many other people...
How to bring joy to a refugee camp during Ramadan
“With food poverty running rampant in Vial refugee camp on Chios island and in Athens, we want to help people without the means to prepare a delicious meal for their families...
Behind the Scenes with Attika Human Support, Athens
Not just us, but everyone on the ground in Greece supporting Refugees has noticed a big drop in funds and aid the past couple of years. We can no longer take for granted that money will come in to support vulnerable people. But the needs here remain just as great.
The UK asylum system is in a state of crisis – urgent reform is needed
The UK’s asylum system is in a state of crisis and, despite the recent change in government, urgent reforms are needed to address the chaos and dysfunction that have plagued it for years. Although...
The refugee crisis in the Balkans is marked by violence, suffering, and neglect.
The Balkan Route is one of the most perilous migration routes for refugees. In Bosnia, Serbia, and Bulgaria, thousands of displaced people endure brutal conditions – not least dangerous border...
Oppression shapes refugee life in Northern France
The port towns of Northern France from Dunkirk and Calais to Caen and Ouistreham, mark the UK border. Those present as refugees have one goal and that’s to reach the UK. Their reasons are...
The Harsh Reality for Refugees in Greece
Life for refugees in Greece is incredibly challenging. The journey to safety is dangerous and often life-threatening. Many are forced to rely on smugglers to navigate irregular, perilous border...
B’s Journey from Afghanistan – Long Read
Moving Stories – “I was born in Kandahar, a Southern province of Afghanistan. My mother is from Kabul and my father from the Kandahar region. They met when my father was in Kabul for work. It was a marriage of love, not an arranged marriage…
Haben’s Journey from Eritrea – Long Read
I grew up in Asmara, the capital city of Eritrea, with my family of five. I have an older brother and a younger sister. My mother worked at a market stall her whole life. Growing up we were a pretty normal family like everyone else in Eritrea – we’d go to school, come home and eat something and then we would go out and play football or swim in the river. I had a lot of friends and we would have sleep overs or hang out together.
Our Chair of Trustees’ first visit to refugee camps
“It’s freezing”, these were the words I used to greet Amber, CEO of forRefugees and San (former Trustee and Amber’s best friend), at 8am on a Friday morning in late February 2023 in Dover. “Well I...
Marie’s Journey from Cameroon – Long Read
I come from the southern part of Cameroon which is the Anglophone part of the country. I come from a big family of siblings and step-siblings. My early childhood was a happy one, but when I was 11 my mother passed away and after that life was not so easy. My father remarried with a very dominating woman, and I had a hard time living under her rules.
Nima’s Journey from Iran – Long Read
I was born in Tehran to a perfect family: my mother, father, sister and I have always been incredibly close. My parents did not have a good education but they were so open minded about everything. Though my father is a Sunni Muslim, and my mother is Shia, it was never an issue and they would always encourage me to think for myself.
Omid’s Journey from Afghanistan – Long Read
I was born in Iran to an Afghan family, my parents fled from Afghanistan when the Taliban rose to power in the 90s. I was born as a refugee, and have essentially been a refugee my whole life. I have two sisters who are married and one little brother, I also had an older brother. It was never possible to gain full citizenship in Iran, every year we had to pay a lot of money just to renew our temporary refugee papers.
Ayman’s Journey from Syria – Long Read
I grew up in Damascus in a middle class family, we had a normal life: I have a younger brother and a little sister, my mother was a housewife and my father worked as a clothing designer. The political situation in Syria was never perfect but we managed to live relatively carefree, and within my family we were happy.
A Letter to Iran
One of our trustees Nima – who is a refugee from Iran – has written a letter to his home country about the attacks on freedom that are currently happening:
Iran, my dear homeland, I had no choice but to write to you during this time of revolt and perhaps time of change.
Safe and Legal Routes
It’s funny/not funny but the U.K. has done for Ukrainians in 6 months what they’ve refused to do for 6 years for all other asylum seekers and refugees. They’ve provided safe and legal routes.
Moria Fire: the Accused
Everyone hated Moria.
So far the accused young men – at least two of whom were minors in Sep 2020 – have been locked up without a fair trial, a fair review of the evidence, without being identified by any witnesses.
We Love our Local Partners
We love our local partners and we love working together. So this is a photo that fills me with joy as Ruhi, Jess N & Jess W swapped notes during my recent visit to Greece.
Our 6th Birthday
Dear friends, today is our 6th Birthday and it’s been too busy to even make a post! But, we are taking this moment to at least say thank YOU for being with us for 6 years. For believing in us and trusting us and giving us a lot of love and support along the way.
Cycling with the ghosts of Moria
Our group of eight cyclists rounded a corner and found ourselves in the old Moria Camp. My cycling buddies became quiet stopped side by side looking out across their old home.
Then slowly, arms started pointing and, even though they were speaking in Farsi, I could tell they were remembering moments in camp and working out where different places had been.
COVID Quarantine at mavrovouni camp
Although they had only just reached camp, I knew their boat had landed on Lesvos around six days’ ago. It was very likely during that time they’d have had no food or water, hiding scared in the ‘jungle’.
Kids Football Training Joy!
Football practice is a pure joy to watch. Independence, growth, learning, pride, commitment, fun, friendships, laughter… for a couple of hours they get to just be kids playing football. And they really really love it!
Overcoming Fear of Water
Yesterday I watched three people experience joy, pride and achievement as they overcame their initial fear of water to become competent paddle boarders. In just a few short hours.
Through a Child’s Eyes
I looked down to see a young girl with a warm happy smile chattering away in really good English. She was asking questions about what we were doing and telling me where she was from and more.
I asked her age and she asked me to guess! I got my first guess of 12 wrong, but had her with my second guess of 10!
Simply the Best – We know our Local Partners
The Calais warehouse was buzzing with volunteers and vans when we arrived to this now familiar hub. I was last here in November but the difference this time was the early spring sunshine; rare in Calais! There were meetings happening outside all around the warehouse yard.
France – Dunkirk Grand-Synthe
Amber spent the day with Charlie and Jed at Mobile Refugee Support in Dunkirk. It was only days since another heavy-handed ‘clearance’ by the French police. Whilst most of the 200-300 people left in the area after the clearance were men, she also witnessed families with little children and women on their own.
France – Calais
Prompted by a major funder withdrawing all support for Northern France, Amber booked and headed over for the weekend. Whilst of course being as useful as possible to the teams, the main purpose this time was to say we’re still here and we still support you. How can we help.
Greece – Athens
In September 2021 – still mid COVID pandemic and semi-lockdowns – Amber spent 10 days in Athens to meet and volunteer with as many of our partners as possible to best understand the situation there. Cruel changes to Greek law together with illegal push-backs were making the situation across Greece very desperate for thousands of people.
Spain – Tenerife
Amber has close family ties to Tenerife but, like everyone else, hadn’t been there for a long time because of COVID. Now, double-vacced, testing negative, and travel opening again, she was back and able to catch up with Spanish volunteer, Angela, who’s leading the Canarian work of Action for Education.
Greece – Chios
Some 14 months after her last Greek trip, Amber and trustee San finally made it back to Greece against the COVID odds. After testing, quarantining and testing again they were finally able to spend three weeks volunteering with Refugee Biriyani & Bananas on the island of Chios.
France – Calais & Dunkirk
Amber and trustee San, aware there was a shortage of volunteers in Calais and Dunkirk (due to COVID restrictions), head over for a week to see what they could do to help. There they met dedicated, smiling volunteers working long hours to support the local refugee communities through the hardest of times.
Greece – Samos and More
Currently in a full-time job in addition to the charity, Amber took leave when she could to spend two weeks in Samos, Greece, over New Year. This time she was accompanied by her sister, Vycki, who was on her first volunteering trip.
