Story
Raahim's Story
Life in my country was nice, actually. But, as I was growing up, life got a bit difficult. We came across some problems and because of those problems I had to leave my country, Afghanistan. The problems were with the new government, The Taliban. Some political stuff was going on with our family. So, because of those things, I didn't feel safe. I wasn't safe, actually, so I had to leave my country.
I was roughly 15 when I left. When I reached the UK I was about 17. It took me one and a half years to make the journey. First, I went to Iran and then Turkey where I spent most of my time and then Italy, France, and then here.
To be honest, the journey is like a suicide mission either you succeed or you die. Most of the people died, to be honest. It's a fight. It wasn't like a journey for you. You had to fight for your life just to get across of some countries in order to seek safety and a good life. It was difficult and a very terrible experience.
When I came to the UK, I claimed asylum and after that they gave us shelter. I spent a month in a hotel. Being in the hotel we still faced a lot of unfair stereotypes. Also, because you're new to the country, you were just thinking about lots of things like it’s a new country, new place, new language and new traditions. Everything was different. I didn't find it very good in the hotel because we were just getting to know lots of things. It was a bit uncomfortable because you come in fresh to a country, you have lots of things in your mind mentally, you're not stable, so it takes you time to recover and there are lots of things to do think about. So, at least, it's taking you like a month or two to just get mentally stable.
After a month, they took me here to Baca and then I started a new life.
When I first arrived at Baca, I was happy because my only goal was just to go somewhere, start education and do my studies. This was the thing I was very happy about because there was no education in the hotel. When I was in the hotel, I just didn't want to spend time there because you can't do anything, you can't get out. You're not independent in the hotel so they just keep you inside. They just don't want you to go out and I couldn’t do anything. When I came here, I started my studies, got to know new people, and I started talking to people. So, it was good. I enjoyed it.
What happened on the first day I came to Baca I still remember. I was very tired and I just went straight to bed. I slept for a few hours and then one of my support workers came and then I started talking to him. He was quite impressed I was speaking English because I learned it a little bit back home. We were just chatting and then planning future stuff like what to do and what do I need, what should be done?
I came to Baca college for a few months because at the time I came here I couldn't get into a local college because the admission window was over. So, I came to Baca College every day. I did separate revision because I had previous experience learning English so I was revising by myself with special support from the teachers.
Outside of college, when I came to Baca, I couldn’t do anything, I could just fry eggs. With my support worker we learnt lots of independent skills like cooking. I was doing it with my friend, my countryman so we were just cooking together. My support worker helped me a lot with independent living skills so I learned lots of things.
Baca helped us a lot. Our support workers helped us with many things because when I came here, I could speak like a little bit of English, but not that much. Baca provided us with solicitors which was very necessary for us because solicitors were deciding our future to stay here. Baca helped provide us with support and they helped us to join the club to play cricket, they even did an admission for me to go to college and for the other boys. It's very good to have people around you who can guide you on what's good what's not good and help you with it.
I was a cricketer but sometimes I was going there to play football with Baca and I was quite enjoying it because I've never played it before, but it was a new game for me, so I enjoyed it. But, I was a cricket fan so we were playing cricket. Baca even prepared us some cricket sessions so we could go to indoor cricket with one of the staff members. Then Baca found us a club, a cricket club, so we joined and then we were playing there in the club. It's good to be involved with a community because it's a kind of help for you because if you're learning things, talking to new people, then it can help you in the future.
I didn't even spend two years here with Baca. When I first moved out, it was a bit difficult at first, but now I'm getting independent and I'm doing it myself. I recognise there were lots of things I didn’t even have to worry about at Baca to be honest. Now I have to do it myself so I know the importance of Baca’s support!
Baca is a place where I can always ask for help. So even now if I have some problems, I can come and ask for help, and they will happily help me. Baca is a nice place, it’s really good, they are all good people who help people. I would say to a new arrival who has just arrived at Baca just focus on your future, talk to people, ask whatever you need. Whatever problem you have, just tell them and they'll sort it out for you. Just enjoy being with Baca.
Right now, I'm doing GCSEs. I'm looking at what my future will be like. Right now, I just want to study - that's the goal and that's the aim of my life. I’m quite optimistic about my life. I'm very positive about my future because I'm doing the best I can and I'm working hard. So, I know that I'm going to achieve what I want.
Of course, someone in the community should help Baca because it's a good place to be for people like us. Baca are helping people who have nothing and who are new to the country. They helped us a lot. They provided us lots of trips and different activities which were very expensive. If we had to pay ourselves, we wouldn't be able to go because it cost lots of money. Still, they were providing these things to us. It is helpful if you're doing these activities because it mentally keeps you busy. For me, my first six months were very difficult because I was all alone in a new country with new people, so I got involved with all the activities. I was coming to Baca, playing table tennis, going to football, even if it wasn’t my favourite. I used to do it because I was just keeping myself busy. So, I didn't have to think about any other stuff, which is not good for me mentally. So, it was a very good thing, good amusement. These are great activities to do.
Baca had a good impact on my life because they helped us a lot and we didn't have to worry about most things when I was here because I was just telling them this is the problem and they were sorting it out which is a nice thing when everything is new. At Baca, that was the time that I didn't know anything and I needed help at that time so they provided me with lots of help, and now I'm independent, I can do most of the stuff by myself because of their support.
Right now, I'm doing GCSEs. I'm looking at what my future will be like. Right now, I just want to study - that's the goal and that's the aim of my life. I’m quite optimistic about my life. I'm very positive about my future because I'm doing the best I can and I'm working hard. So, I know that I'm going to achieve what I want.
