I was born in Somalia, but grew up in a refugee camp in Kenya. It was terrible. I lived with mother and family in the camp. I left with my children in 2013, 11 years ago, through the British Government Get Away program. My children were 1 and 2 years old. I came only with them. There were five other families that came at the same time as me. We came to Hull as refugees. We were flown from Kenya to Brussels and then to the UK. I left all my family behind. At the beginning it was very very hard. I saved myself and my children.
For one year The Refugee Council helped us with everything, then I had to do everything. All I had done is be a girl, then a mum, then a housewife, then on my own. I had two small children and I didn’t know anyone. I was 20. After a while I got a job in a factory, in Greencore on the cake line. By then I had a Somalian friend who would watch the children while I worked. I also started to volunteer. I would help at the community centre and translate documents for other refugees. I speak Arabic, Somali, Swahili and English. Back then the forms were in English but now they are in different languages to help people.
Then the kids started school and I met other parents, but I am a quiet person. The Refugee Council offers practical help. I had no psychological help about anything I had been through. It was hard. I used to think go to another environment and be patient. I had to be self-motivated and I listened to a lot of people on social media offering ways to help people heal. I thought let me try this. I don’t think about courage. But I do often think how did I manage?
From 2015 to 2018 that four years was really difficult. I was thinking why did I come into this world. But I had to get up every day for the kids, I had to be powerful not sad or depressed. They rely on me. If I was a looser they would have no one. They needed to see me as powerful. I had to be a role model. If your kids see you as nothing or as powerful, whichever they follow your step. What you are they will be. It is an important position being a parent. I never give up and believe in myself. I rely on myself.
Being a Muslim, or having a faith helps. You go back to God. Thinking about God will help a lot. At the hardest times I was reading my Quran. It was saying good and bad happens. But I can cope. My faith is stronger now.
My advice to other people given all I know and have learnt. Be helpful, you might change someone’s life. A little thing today might change things for the good. Also don’t judge people. People judged me, so I never judge. You don’t know what people are going through.
I’m happy now, I have lots of friends and I’m a social person now. My children are happy. I’m happy in the community in my local area.
