Teenage asylum seeker wants to give back to North Wales for welcome and support
A teenager from Afghanistan, who is currently seeking asylum and who marked his 18th birthday without family, has told of his ambition to help give back to the community that has welcomed him with open arms.
Ben (not his real name) is involved in the Young Person’s Project, a partnership between North Wales Housing and Cyngor Gwynedd.
He is currently volunteering as a translator and says his ambition is to become a translator and interpreter in the future.
He has been in North Wales for over a year having made the hazardous and life changing journey alone from his home country of Afghanistan. He is currently seeking asylum in Wales and awaiting the outcome of a ‘leave to remain’ application.
The teenager has been studying English at Bangor’s Coleg Menai.
He said:
“I am filled with hope and excitement about my future in North Wales. I aspire to find a career and volunteer in the hope to give back to the community that has given me so much.
He describes his journey from Afghanistan as:
“A testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the kindness of strangers.”
“I want to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible support that has been provided. The dedication to my well-being, education and health has made a significant difference in my life. And the consistent encouragement and assistance have been invaluable. I truly appreciate the kindness and patience shown every day.
“Growing up in Afghanistan, I witnessed and experienced many hardships, but these difficulties have shaped me into a resilient and hopeful individual. Moving to a new country is never easy, but Wales has offered me countless opportunities for personal growth and a chance for a brighter future.”
The teenager added:
“When I first arrived here, one of the immediate challenges I faced was adjusting to a new culture and way of life. The language barrier was significant, but I was determined to learn and adapt. The people have been incredibly welcoming and supportive. Their kindness has shown me that despite our different backgrounds, there are always common values that unite us, such as compassion.
“Bangor has become a second home to me. The city’s natural beauty, from its stunning landscapes to the serene Menai Strait, has been a source of inspiration and peace. The beautiful landscape of North Wales sometimes reminds me of my own home.”
The Young Person’s Project works with young people, aged 16 to 18 years old, who are primarily leaving the care of the local authority. Young people live in supported housing, where they are provided with skills to enable them to live independently once they turn 18.
Neil Jones is the Project Officer at North Wales Housing and has been working on the project for almost four years. He told how the recent arrival of a few children, seeking asylum, into the project had been an organic one.
He said:
“With respect to these young people, we have had successes so far as young people integrate into the local community, attend college and learn the English language, whilst going through the asylum process.
“I’ve supported young people to enrol with Coleg Menai to help improve their English and we can already see how beneficial that, listening to what Ben* is saying.”
Neil also tells how he himself has had to adapt.
“It’s definitely been a learning journey for me too as I get to know more about different religions and cultures. So, that has meant ensuring access to Halal food and knowing where the local Mosque is located. During Ramadan I adapted my working patterns to hold meetings in the afternoon, instead of mornings”.
Ffion Mai Humphreys, Coleg Menai’s ESOL Programme Leader and Lifelong Learning Lecturer, said of Ben*:
“He has shown a dedication to his English language studies. He is a well-liked member of the class, and we are delighted to see that he has settled into class and college well.
“Beyond language proficiency, he has shown a keen interest in integrating into the local community and adapting to its cultural norms. He actively participates in extracurricular activities organised by volunteers, interacts positively with peers from diverse backgrounds and displays openness to learning about local customs and traditions.”
