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Waiting to leave or to live. (Title)
Some people calls Human Rights it "it's common sense" (narrator)
or other says "it's good manners" (narrator)
Human Rights has five principles according to the 1950 European Convention
Fairness (girl)
But is this fair for asylum seeker to not have access to higher education?(narrator)
Respect (man)
Is there respect toward asylum seekers they transport them like prisoners (narrator)
equality (girl 2)
Are we treating asylum seekers equally by not allowing them the right to work (narrator)
Dignity (man)
Are we harming as asylum seekers dignity by sending them back to their home country where they have been persecuted for years. (narrator)
autonomy (girl 3)
Are we preventing asylum seekers from their autonomy by not allowing them to move where they want (narrator)
Human rights affects everyone and anyone. (narrator)
Mother, father, child, doctor, teacher, this is the story of 2 young asylum seekers from the North East (narrator)
My name is Gasele. I'm originally from Iran.
I've been forced to leave my country, to the UK with my family in 2005.
and my father claimed asylum.
of course, the most tragic time of my life,
when my father passed away.
in the 6 month of our arrival.
And our case was refused.
Right after my father's funeral we received a letter saying that we have to leave the country.
All these things happen to me during my exam time.
I was really distressed and couldn’t concentrate on my studies.
I also faced discrimination and racism at school.
So I lost all my high aspirations.
My brother then took me to a Christian church, then I got involved in the refugee services,
I felt that I'm leaving the baptistery of faith behind.
And now I am integrating more into the community.
Then I got into Jews to the "sage gated" to do drama and music.
After 5 years, we were still living in a limbo.
And hoping to be allowed to stay, while having no rights as the full citizens.
Not even able to go to university.
On the base of the NAM schedule, NAM means New Asylum Method, they promised to give the decision within the 6 months to asylum seekers who claimed asylum. (Ali Degan)
But in reality some cases maybe take some years, 2 years, 3 years, less and more. (Ali Degan)
My name is Zaina. I am originally from Lebanon.
I was born and raised up in sierra Leone.
Together my mum, 3 sisters and my brother,
We left Sierra Leone and came to the UK to claim asylum in 2004.
Our case was based on humanitarian grounds.
At the airport, my mum was taken into an interview room.
Well me, my sisters and my brother, were put in a waiting room where we have spent hours and hours just sitting in there, doing nothing.
We couldn't leave the room.
It was so boring. I fell like if I was in prison.
While all of this was going on, deeply I was still worried about the asylum case,
Cause we still didn't get an answer.
So three years after we settled down in Newcastle.
We were told to leave the country,
We were told we couldn't do more appeals.
Then, there was an immediate panic at home,
They didn’t know what to do.
We couldn't think of what we would have to face to go back in our country, either Sierra Leone or Lebanon.
But luckily we came up with new evidences, so we could do another appeal and stay longer in the country.
After we had come over this issue,
My older sister had to suffer more.
She tried to apply to university,
But she had to pay 3 times the fees of a home student.
So we could not afford it, so she couldn't go to Uni.
However, 3 weeks ago, we got granted and an indefinite leave to remain in the UK.
We were all very happy, and we could not believe that face.
But luckily now we are allowed to stay in the country.
It means a lot to us, we can plan our lives, and my older sister can go to Uni now.
That means a better education for her and for all of us.