OPINION: “Maun Refuge has given me hope and I am so grateful. Thank you Mansfield”
Our charity Maun Refuge continues to bring Chad readers background stories of more of the refugees who are gradually settling here in Mansfield.
Dylan (not his real name) found his way here from Eritrea, a war-torn country in the horn of Africa. The recent history of Eritrea is one of colonial oppression, uprisings, violence and dire poverty. Those who could, have made high-risk escapes from the land that has demanded indefinite military service from men over eighteen.
This is Dylan’s story: “I was born in Eritrea at the turn of the century. When I was still a child, my father defected from the military because he could not, in all conscience, support the dictatorial regime. He would have been forced to stay in the army for life, or join the army of a neighbouring enemy country - that he would not do. My mother predicted the reaction of the government: any betrayal of the government would lead to death of the man and his family. Our answer was to leave the country. The border is very heavily patrolled. Many people do not survive the attempt to leave – they are arrested then killed. But somehow we managed it.
“So I had no choice but to live illegally in various African countries. It was almost impossible to find work because everywhere bribery, corruption and slavery were rife.
"In addition I was tortured because of my Christian religion. I endured many hardships in various countries, for example I had friends who were killed by smugglers in Libya. I crossed the Mediterranean Sea by boat to Europe in a terrifying journey that took 39 hours.
“On arrival in the UK, I began to feel safer, but I still faced the challenges of communicating and understanding the culture. Sadly, some people don't want us to stay here: they say ‘go back to your country’. But most have been kind to me. I have learned to deal with these and other challenges. I am beginning to understand the language, the laws and traditions.
“Dare I feel I might settle? Recently I have received the ‘right to remain’ so now I am allowed to work. This means I am beginning to support myself, so in a small way I am helping this country.
“Maun Refuge has given me hope and I am so grateful. Thank you Mansfield!”
To know more about the work of Maun Refuge