By Mahnaz Begum
Recently the government and local council in Birmingham have been working with refugees to give them more opportunities in learning, work and social living in Birmingham. It was refugee week 14-20 June 2012; it was about the refugees contributing to Birmingham, they are not free loaders they have escaped from countries, which are very autocratic to cities like Birmingham where they have freedom. According to the Birmingham city council any refugee receives the same entitlements as a UK resident. There is a charity in Birmingham called ‘Refugee Action’ which supports refugees. Through donations they are offered a home, food and water. A charity near the Custard Factory called ‘Sound it Out’ in Birmingham have offered a trainee role for a refugee, also there is an organisation called ‘Platforma’, which is helping support refugee artists. In the past refugees have been discriminated and a lot of the public have had fixed views on them. However times are changing, even though they are not UK residents there is not much evidence to show they are not like UK residents. Charities have ended destitution also helping children and parents. They are currently campaigning about legal aid, which is being cut, even though this is
happening, there are many dedicated volunteers who are helping make a difference to the lives of refugees in Birmingham. Even though the refugees may be from Zimbabwe and not South Asians, there are many volunteers from South Asian race that are helping refugees. I interviewed a South Asian volunteer with Refugee Action and they said ‘ we are the 3rd generation of south Asians, the refugees remind me of when my grandparents came from Pakistan who were discriminated and found things difficult now its our time to help others feeling the same sort of isolation’. The refugee action charities are aiming to find out more about refugees, they are checking the age of children through dental x rays for instance. Recently in Birmingham, tents were set up in Chamberlain Square with refugees telling their stories of struggle within their own countries and given an understanding of refugees and their life. There was also food from Islamic relief where visitors could try, lights and noise was used to create a real setting, what it would be really like for a refugee. The reason refugees choose Birmingham as a place of safety, is because the resources in Birmingham offer and because it is a multicultural city, which would mean they would not be so judgemental on the refugees. Overall refugees themselves are changing perceptions of what the public think of them, they are making a difference themselves.
