mrcf annual review 2010-11

8/4/2019 MRCF Annual Review 2010-11

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The ForumMigrant and Refugee Communities Forum

Annual Review 2010-11


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The Forum: Home Away From HomeThe nature of our work at theForum urgent daily interven-tions to make the lives of mi-

grants and refugees better - cansometimes make it difficult todetermine how our efforts helpdeliver long term change for thebetter. The year behind us is anexception to this rule.

In April last year, at a time ofglobal economic uncertainty and

with UK elections only a monthahead, we realised that assessingour effectiveness and impact on

the frontlines of social changewas more important than ever.This Annual Review is part ofour reflection on our work notonly with our members but also

with our supporters, funders,partners and the general public.

Over the past year, MRCF hasraised its public profile. As ateam we had realised the need to

do this as a result of the poweranalysis we did with the Carn-egie UK Trust and the JosephRowntree Foundation which waspublished in Power and MakingChange Happen.

This piece of work helped us toregain our power and recoverour self-respect, both of whichcan seem very fragile in thehostile environment in which we

work. We found our voice andspoke out at every opportunityagainst the immigration injusticeand prejudice faced by our users.

We have re-designed and re-launched our website so that we

can use it to create the kind ofdebate we want to see on im-migration. We have trained 55community leaders from acrossLondon to use digital resourcesto have their say and tell their

stories of migrant life in Lon-don. We launched a YouTubechanneland incurring absolutelyno cost produced videos in 18languages explaining the im-portance of participation in the2011 census for the integrationof migrant and refugee com-munities. And finally, through

collaboration with English PENwe discovered hidden talents inour communities and our poetsare now published authors in ajoint collection of poems, The

Wrestler.

MRCF Board, Staff, and Volunteers
http://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/getattachment/b8104d70-3547-4c99-8774-22b8c20e233d/Power-and-Making-Change-Happen.aspxhttp://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/getattachment/b8104d70-3547-4c99-8774-22b8c20e233d/Power-and-Making-Change-Happen.aspxhttp://countusinuk.blogspot.com/http://countusinuk.blogspot.com/http://www.englishpen.org/readersandwriters/newcommunitieshttp://www.yudu.com/item/details/341342/The-Wrestlershttp://www.yudu.com/item/details/341342/The-Wrestlershttp://www.yudu.com/item/details/341342/The-Wrestlershttp://www.yudu.com/item/details/341342/The-Wrestlershttp://www.englishpen.org/readersandwriters/newcommunitieshttp://countusinuk.blogspot.com/http://countusinuk.blogspot.com/http://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/getattachment/b8104d70-3547-4c99-8774-22b8c20e233d/Power-and-Making-Change-Happen.aspxhttp://www.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/getattachment/b8104d70-3547-4c99-8774-22b8c20e233d/Power-and-Making-Change-Happen.aspx


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Through articulating in reports,poems, media articles and blogs

what it is like to be integratedin London we have been rec-ognised by the government,funders, politicians, colleagues,the international community andmost importantly our membersas a positive, pragmatic force for

integration and the Good Soci-ety regardless of its size.

We won a prestigious interna-tional award, Voices of Couragefor our work with refugees in

urban areas and caused a bit ofa stir with our honest and prag-matic response in the GuardiansComment Is Freeto the PrimeMinisters speech on immigra-tion.

In between these highlights, we

have supported thousands ofpeople from nearly a hundredcountries. We have lis tened to

their sometimes harrowing sto-ries of torture and loss and triedto reassure them that they arenow safe, despite the prolongedsuffering and indignity which isinflicted upon them by our in-competent bureaucracy. We have

worked to make that bureauc-racy better and engaged withgovernment departments when-

ever there was a tiny chance thatwe might influence change.

We have worked hard and pre-sented credible arguments thathelped persuade the Govern-ment to abandon an ill con-ceived policy on compulsory

volunteering for citizenship.

Joining forces with Citizens UKwe also helped negotiate the endof the detention of children forimmigration purposes.

We spent the year listening toconversations and complaintsabout the Big Society, con-stantly hearing how we all haveto do more for less. But hon-estly, what is new? This is how

we have always managed. Ourcommunities could teach BigSociety to the rest of the coun-

try because survival is what wemigrants and refugees excel at.

And we do it through adapt-ability which is the essence ofthe migration project .What allof our members can tell you is

its not easy, but its not impos-sible either.

There is a lot of work ahead ofus, but we are profoundly opti-mistic feeling stronger and more

inspired than ever. We are askingyou to celebrate with us oursuccesses and bear witness toour challenges in the hope that abetter, more inclusive and equalfuture for all of us is possible.

And, there are

things YOU

can DO too.I would like to thank you all foryour support so far and inviteyou to continue to stand withus. We need to stay independent

with enough resources to sup-port the vulnerable and enablelong term change. Everyone can

help in their own way. This canbe as simple as following us onFacebook. You can also tell yourfriends about us or start volun-teering with one of our projects.

You can mentor some of ourusers or make a donation safelythrough our new website. What-ever you choose to do we aregrateful that by acting you are

choosing not to be bystanders.

Zrinka Bralo

Executive Director

Zrinka and Liv Ullmann at the Womens Refugee Commissions

Voices of Courage Award Ceremony in New York, May 2011
http://www.womenscommission.org/post-2011-luncheonhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/15/immigration-david-cameronhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/apr/15/immigration-david-cameronhttp://www.womenscommission.org/post-2011-luncheon


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GoodPracticeGuidestoInterpretingin5languagesarepublishedbytheBMEHealth Forum as a result of the MRCF coordinated project on increasing ac-cess to health services.

Britainsthreemainpoliticalpartiescommitintheirelectionmanifestostoendthe detention of children for immigration purposes.

MRCFs1stDigitalActivismcoursenisheswith10graduates.Studentshavelearned about online services such as NHS Direct as well as how to set up andrun blogs and Facebook pages for organisations and how to make short videos.

MRCFsnewwebsiteislaunchedcreatinganonlinespaceformigrantsandrefugees to contribute their voices to the immigration debate.

MRCFpublishes-ShouldCitizenshipBeEarnedThroughCompulsoryVolunteering? Written in partnership with the Migrants Rights Network thereport details how the governments proposed policy on compulsory volun-teering for citizenship will both not achieve its integration objectives and will

undermine genuine volunteering by migrants and refugees. It instead proposesthat resources are put into supporting these groups to access existing volun-teering opportunities.

MRCFcelebratestheendofitsrstyearofEnglishclasses.15studentshavebenettedfromgroupandindividualclassesgivenbyourqualiedvolunteer.

Newstaff member,NickMicinski,CommunicationandTrainingOfcerjoinsthe MRCF team to manage and market the website and run our digital activismtraining.

MRCFwelcomesstaff memberFrancescasnewbaby,Ernesto.

MRCFholdsitsAnnualGeneralMeeting.

NegotiationsstartwiththeUKBorderAgencyabouthowtoendthedetentionof children for immigration purposes.

MRCFendsthevoucherexchangeprogrammeduetoachangeingovernmentpolicy. The programme supported asylum seekers to exchange supermarket

vouchers for cash.

ComicReliefawardsMRCFa3yeargrantof120ktosupportitsmentoringproject. As a repeat grant it recognises the achievements of the project to date

and marks the beginning of an increased focus on teaching self advocacy skills.

MRCFs2ndDigitalActivismcoursenisheswith26graduates.Studentshavecreated blogs and run campaigns on a range of issues including the LondonLivingWage,indenitedetentionofmigrantsandhealthierliving.

MRCFtakesa60memberdelegationtotheWestLondonCitizensAssembly.

Thegovernmentannouncesitisabandoningitsearnedcitizenshippolicyoncompulsory volunteering for citizenship.

MRCFisvisitedbytheDeputyMayorofLondon,RichardBarneswhowishesto learn more about how integration, mentoring and volunteering work in prac-tice.

Thegovernmentspolicyofdetainingchildrenforimmigrationpurposesisformally ended.

April 2010

August 2010

June 2010

October 2010

September 2010

December 2010

July 2010

November 2010

One Year At The Forum


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OverseasqualieddentistsregisteredwithMRCFandusingouronlineself-helpforumtoprepareforvericationexamsinordertoworkintheUK.

Clients received advice on all aspects of social welfare law by our part-timegeneralist adviser and referred to specialist providers where necessary.

Mentors and mentees matched by MRCFs New Beginnings project. Men-

tors and mentees meet weekly for six months as well as attending groupworkshops at MRCF.

Leaders of migrant organisations trained on social networking, blogging,and digitial activism.

Refugee and migrant community organisations received community devel-opment support. Support ranges from help to develop projects and applyfor funding to partnership brokerage and the facilitation of meetings withCouncillorsandgovernmentofcials.

Inresponsetothegovernmentconsultationonreforminglegalaid,MRCFhosts a policy event - Will Legal Aid cuts prevent migrants and refugees from

accessing justice?. It includes speakers from the Immigration Law Practition-ers Association and the Justice for All Campaign and as a result MRCF andseveral of its members submit policy responses.

MRCFsExecutiveDirector,ZrinkaBraloisawardedaVoicesof Courageaward from the Womens Refugee Commission in New York. The awardrecognises her leadership and work supporting refugees in London and her

tirelessworktoinuencelaws,policiesandmediacoverage.Tomarkthecentenaryof InternationalWomensDayMRCFhosts-Women

in Transition an event during which its female community leaders share theirstories of exile, integration and empowering women and agree to launch aprize in 2012 to recognise grassroots community activism by extraordinaryrefugee and migrant women.

Toencouragetheparticipationof refugeesandmigrantsinthe2011census,MCRF launches a mini website Count Us In! Including Migrants in the UKCensus 2011 with videos in 18 languages and attracting over 2,000 hits in itsrsttwomonths.

MRCFpublishes-MigrantCommunitiesandtheBigSociety;StrugglingtoBelong in the Age of Austerity presenting the case for and exploring thecritical role of migrant and refugee community organisations in improvingthe lives of Londons diverse communities. It calls on local and national Gov-ernment to include refugees and migrants in conversations about building a

biggerandbettersocietyandremindsthemthattherearenoquickxestoinclusion and integration.

MRCFs3rdDigitalActivismcoursenisheswith19graduates.Studentshaveproduced videos on and run campaigns on personal budgets, childrens rights

and social housing.

MRCFsExecutiveDirectorpublishesanarticleImmigrationisneithergoodnor bad featured in the Guardians Comment is Free in response to the PrimeMinisters speech on immigration.

February 2011

March 2011

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Organisational Support

If it was not for the support from MRCF,we would have gone by now.

Senait EyobCoordinator - Ethiopian Womens Empowerment Group

Education and Training

I arrived in the UK in 2008 and I felt as ifthere was nowhere to turn to. MRCF has

been instrumental in helping me to re-qual-ify as a dentist in the UK.

BenjaminMember of MRCFs Overseas Qualied Dentist Club

Mentoring

As a migrant, I understand how valuablea mentor can be. A short visit can mean so

much to someone like my mentee.

AliParticipant in MRCFs New Beginnings Mentoring Project

What People Are Saying About...


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Policy

MRCF makes a critical contribution to theimmigration debate in the UK by ensuringthat the voices of migrants and refugees are

heard.

Ruth Grove-WhitePolicy Ofcer - Migrants Rights Network

Advice

You leave this place feeling happy andknowing that your problems will be re-solved.

PatriciaClient with MRCFs General Advice project

Digital Activism

Many people ask me What is digital activ-ism? I always have one answer:

It is what gives my voice power.

Shatha BesaraniIraqi Womens League UK


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Why are you interested in migration?

I am interested in migration because I have lived a lotoverseas - about four years in each of the countries

mentioned above. I have a real interest in migrationbecause it is an issue that will grow in importance inour evermore inter-connected world.

What do you do at MRCF?

I teach English one day a week, working either withindividuals on a one to one basis or with small classes.Some students are complete beginners, others aremore advanced and want to get even better.

What do you think is unique about MRCF?

MRCF has a wonderfully open feeling that all are wel-come and will be helped to gain an independence anda sense of achievement.

What issues do you think are most important to

migrants in London?

Feeling secure, living somewhere reasonable, copingwith the bureaucracy, having access to medical andpsychological services, and building up a network offriends.

What are you looking forward to in the next year?

I look forward to another year of volunteering andhelpingthestudentstoincreasetheirself-condenceby getting better at English.

Jeff SamuelsonVolunteer - English Teacher

IhavelivedandworkedinIndonesia,Zam-bia,Zimbabwe,Poland,andtheUKworkingfor the British Council. My last job before

starting to volunteer at MRCF was in Lon-don for about ten years with the internationaldevelopment charity Book Aid International.

I live in London now.

MRCF has a

wonderfully open

feeling that all arewelcome and will

be helped to gain

an independence

and a sense ofachievement.

Meet the Volunteers and Staff at

The Forum


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Indr GiminaitGeneral Adviser

Where do you live now? Where have you lived

before?

I have been living in London for the last 7 years. I wasborn and brought up in Lithuania.


Iamamigrantmyselfanditisdifculttoexplainwhy

I became one. It was a number of circumstances thatmade me come to the UK, rather than a consciousdecision to migrate. I am now willing to help thosewhondthemselvesinasimilarsituationandotherswho were forced to leave their country for one reasonor another. I want to spread the word of what help isavailable, what rights and entitlements migrants mayhave, and assist them with integration and life in the

UK generally.


I work with refugees and migrants providing generalistadvice, information and guidance on various areas ofsocial welfare law. I do a range of things for the cli-ents,includingformlling,draftinglettersandmakingtelephonecallsontheirbehalf,assistingwithndinga specialist solicitor, and accompanying vulnerableclients to their appointments with other specialists.

How did you come to work at MRCF?

I found a job advert on www.charityjobs.com, appliedand was lucky enough to be interviewed to prove thatI could do the job!


MRCF is unique in terms of its people and theirdedication to work and to the rights and welfare ofrefugees and migrants. Its an amazing place to be andto feel a part of. You get a sense of belonging here andexperience an amazing atmosphere where everyone

treats you as a friend and feels like one.


migrants in London?

To be aware of their rights and the services availableto them. Life in a new country can be (and is!) so dif-ferent to the one we have been used to.


I am hoping MRCF will secure funding to continueproviding advice services to even more individuals and

willhopefullyregisterwithOISC(OfceofImmigra-tions Services Commissioner) to be able to provide the

immigration advice and casework that is so importantto our clients!

My name is Indre and I am from Lithuania. Iarrived in the UK in 2004, having graduated

from the Law University of Lithuania. FormyrstthreeyearsinLondonIworkedina

completely different area corporate cater-ing during which time I also completed

my masters degree in Human Rights Law. Ithen volunteered with three different humanrights-related charities to get some relevant

workexperienceandlandedmyrstjobinanimmigrationdepartmentof asolicitorsrm.I now work as an advice worker at MRCFand also as a senior legal assistant in a private

solicitorsrm.

You get a senseof belonging here.


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before?

I live in London now and lived in Belgrade in the

past.


Migration is the movement of HUMANS and thatis often lost when it comes to talking about immi-

grants.


I run Drama workshops. I came to volunteer with

MRCF through contacts and colleagues I know in

other organisations.


I think that MRCF is a place where people can get

not only legal help and advice but they can also

get training and skills. It is also a place where they

can meet and talk, exchange experiences, creatively

expressthemselvesandgaincondencethroughart

forms. This kind of place is rare in the world.


migrants in London?

Legality (permission to stay, work, freedom to moveand be recognised as an existing, visible part of

society), integration (language, training, education),

loneliness and isolation.

What are you looking forward to in the next

year? Unknown happenings.

Maja Milatovic-OvadiaVolunteer - Drama Teacher

I am a theatre director in London. In addition

to directing professional actors, I enjoy tak-ing theatre into the community through drama

workshops with Most Mira, a Bosnian youtharts festival, and at MRCF.

MRCF is a place

where people meet

and talk, creatively

express themselves

and gain confdencethrough art forms.

This kind of place is

rare in the world.


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Beth CroslandCommunity Development Worker


before?

I live in north London. Previously I have lived in smallvillages in the south of England, Germany, HavanaandbrieyinBuenosAires.


I think its a combination of my experience of livingin Cuba for a year when I was 18 and studying apart-heid South Africa at university. Cuba was a radically

different society to the one which I had grown up inandonegoingthroughhugedifcultiesandchangeasa result of the collapse of the Soviet Union. It mademe start thinking about what a just society might looklike. I had a great time but also experienced how iso-

lating it can be to be in a new place, not to speak thelanguage, and to know very few people. Studying theextreme limits to which South Africa institutionalisedracism made me interested in how we relate to people

who we think are different to us. When I left univer-

sity the asylum seeker was one of the big others inBritishsocietyandsoIstartedvolunteeringtondout more. I met people from all over the world andbecame increasingly fascinated by migration and bymy then new home, multicultural London.


I support our member organisations who are self helpcommunity groups run by refugees and migrants. Its

very varied involving anything from assisting them to

develop a service to help people in their communityinto work, to supporting a community leader to meet

with their MP.


Previously I had worked for an organisation whichresearched refugees issues with the aim of increasingpublic understanding of them. I enjoyed this but waskeen for a change and a chance to do rather thanread and write papers. I had been a fan of MRCF for

several years and so when the job came up I jumped at

it.


Its a home from home for the people who use itsservices and also for its staff and volunteers. I thinkits a great example of community self help.


migrants in London?

Wemainlyworkwithmigrantswhoarendinglife

inLondonverydifcultmaybetheyhavenofam-ilywiththem,haveedcivilwarorspeaknoEnglish.Most of them are also very poor. Like many othergroups in London they experience extreme socialexclusion.Soitsabouthowmigrantscanndawayto feel like they belong in and can build a happy life inLondon. Im also very worried about proposed cuts tolegal aid.


I organised an event for the centenary of InternationalWomens Day. We rarely look at our work through agender lens, yet many of our community leaders areextraordinary women. So Im looking forward to see-ing how this might develop.

Im a Londoner with roots in the English coun-

tryside, where I grew up and where my family is

from. I like being involved in community initia-

tives which is why I feel at home at MRCF. I havestudied history and human rights. Im also a free-

lance photographer with an interest in portraiture

and documentary work.


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ABosnianbybirth,Iedthewarinmycountryin1992andhavebeenonthemoveever since. My migration to Canada was

positive, enlightening and empowering. Ivestudied politics to understand why the warhappened and some years later, I also stud-ied international development to learn how

societies change (or not) for the better. Thegratefulness that I feel for having these expe-riences encourages me and drives my work

with others to make the best out of a givenset of circumstances.

Kristina HemonPolicyandVoiceOfcer

Where do you live now and where have you lived?I live in one of the greatest cities in the world Lon-don. I have also lived in Sarajevo, Toronto, Oxford and

Washington D.C.


I have three migrations under my belt. From the war inBosniaIwenttoCanada,thentheUSAandnallytothe UK. All of these experiences were enriching, inter-esting and welcoming. On these journeys I met amaz-

ing people, studied at great universities and visitedbeautiful places. It changed me for the better for whichI am grateful. I want to give back in return and share

what Ive learnt in the process.


I work on policy and research. I am working to under-stand migration experiences: what migrants and theircommunities do, including the reasons for and the waytheydocertainthings;decisionsmadeontheirbehalf

and the extent to which they have a say in those deci-sion,etc.Inshort,Iwanttondaway,togetherwithothers, to make migrant life and experience better andmoreenrichingforall.Ourmethodistorstndoutabout an issue of concern, write about it and share it

with those who care or ought to care about it. Then,together with our partners, we go out and talk to rel-evant people to try to change decisions, and improveprocesses and ways of doing this.


I have known several people who have worked atMRCF over the years and liked their work. I wantedto become a part of the team and contribute. I havebeen lucky to be invited in.


Our team and the way we get things done is whatmakes our work distinct and successful. This can be

described, in short as, helping people help them-selves and democratic active participation.


migrants in London?

For the majority of migrants, issues range from thelack of opportunities for education and employmentto the lack of inclusion and representation. Currently,the three most pressing issues are: accessto learning the English language, obtaining advice on

social welfare and education issues, and diminishingaccess to rights and justice.


Makingalliesandpartners,ndingawaytodomoreand better work and seeing improved lives for mi-grants in London as a result.

I want to give back...andshare what Ive learnt.


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I love meeting people, listening to their sto-

ries and learning from their experiences. I likekeeping in touch with the friends Ive madethroughout my life even if it is never often

enough! I value spending time with friendsand family and with my husband James andour baby Ernesto. We always seem to havesomeone staying over at our place! As par-

ents, we would like our child to learn howbeautiful it is to welcome people into ourhome and that our door is always open.

Francesca ValerioMentoring Coordinator

Where do you live now and where have you lived?

I was born in Italy in a small town called Este where Ilived until 2001, when I came to London. After mov-ing many times around London (and away from Lon-don for a couple of years) during the past 10 years,I now live (hopefully more permanently!) in SouthLondon.


I am a migrant myself. While the changes I made tomy life because of migration are relatively minor, Indstrengthinotherpeoplesstories.Theirreasonsfor change, the ways they cope with change and theirideas of what home can mean are very inspiring. Eve-ryone who decides to change where home is shouldbe given a chance for a better life. The decision tochange home and leave behind the things you know

is never a simple one, so the reasons must be power-ful.


I coordinate the mentoring project and manage the

volunteers involved. I also like to take my shoes offandwalkaroundtheofcebarefoot!


I was living in Italy at the time and had decided it wasthe right moment to move back to London. I waslooking for a job that could challenge me and makethis big step worthwhile. Three years on and I am stillndingchallenges,butalsoalotof rewards.


The passion of all the people who work and volunteerfor the organisation. They come together to help give a

voiceandndequalityforthepeoplewhocometous.


migrants in London?

Migrants are often denied access to the services thatthe rest of the community takes for granted. If mi-grantshadsimpleanddigniedaccesstoeducation,

health services, employment and even a sense ofbelonging to the larger community then many of theproblems they face would be minimised.


Im looking forward to meeting and working with newvolunteers and learning from the experiences of thepeople who come to MRCF. I am also looking forwardto forging stronger relationships with other charities,statutory service providers and professionals and using

that to improve the experiences of the people who useour services. Finally, Im looking forward to havingsome fun!

Migrants are often denied

access to the services that

the rest of the communitytakes for granted.


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Where do you live and where have you lived be-

fore?

Right now I live in the United Kingdom- London tobe precise- but before I lived with my husband andchildren in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.


In my case, my interest in migrating to the UK was to

allow my children access to better education.


I am a volunteer at MRCF. I handle most of the gener-aladministrativeworklikephonecallsandotherofce

work. I generally assist in any way I can as I am giventhe chance to practise my skills.


I am a student of Westminster City college studyingfor an NVQ in Business Administration. I was placed

on voluntary service at MRCF by my college.


The total dedication to its members, protecting theirinterest in every way we can through our services. Forexample, the mentoring programs, digital courses incomputers, English classes which are free of chargeand many other facilities.


migrants in London?

The ability to exercise human rights like every othercitizen of the land. Also being able to access help somigrants dont feel isolated and unable to functionnormally.


To see MRCF achieve its goals as an organisation

through a joint effort of both the staff and its mem-bers.

Vera T.E. OkusanyaVolunteer - AdministratorMy name is Vera T.E. Okusanya. I am a wifeas well as a mother to four beautiful children.I am of Cameroonian heritage, born in Ed-

inburgh and married to a citizen of Nigeria. Ienjoy cooking for my family as well as makinghats in my spare time.

The most important

issue for migrants in

London is their abil-

ity to exercise their

human rights like

every other citizen of

the land.


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Claudia CovelliVolunteer - General Adviser


before?

I currently live in London. Originally I am from Trani,a little town situated in Puglia, in the south of Italy.


In the last decades, the south of Italy has been a land-ing place for many migrants and refugees from Africaand the Middle East. In this context, I became pas-sionate about issues related to migrants and I wantedto be a lawyer to make a difference by advocating fortheir rights and to promote their needs.


I am a volunteer general adviser.


I became aware of MRCF through my work experi-ence as an intern at the Independent Asylum Commis-sion. I have always viewed MRCF as a respected andprofessional organisation with which I share values.


Its an energetic, positive and stimulating multiculturalenvironment where staff, volunteers and members

from several other organisations work with passionand dedication. People really care about the plight ofmigrants and refugees.


migrants in London?1. Cuts in legal aid for migrants and low levels of

funding for the organisations that support them2. There are issues related to irregular migrantsand how they are dealt with in respect of basichuman rights and human dignity3. Lack of access to the labour market for asylumseekers


Toworkasaqualiedimmigrationcaseworker.

My name is Claudia and I am an Italian law-yer specialising in migration and refugee

issues. In Italy I worked for several years as alegal advisor for refugees at an Italian NGO.

Later I decided to move to the UK in or-der to improve my professional skills in the

eldof migration.In2008,IgainedanMAin Refugee Studies from the University ofEast London and since then have been work-

ing with several organisations as an internresearcher and caseworker. I am passionateabout cinema, music and visual arts, includ-ing photography. As a member of Accademia

Apulia, a social network promoting arts andculture in the UK, I am taking an active partin the organisation of a photographic award

in 2012 on the topic of migration.

I wanted to be a lawyer to

make a difference by advo-

cating for their rights and

to promote their needs.


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Nick MicinskiCommunicationsandTrainingOfcer

Where do you live now and where have you lived

before?I live in London and have been in the UK for almostthree years. I was born in a small midwest town inthe US and have lived in Cairo, Washington D.C. andOxford.


I am interested in migration because I am a migrantmyself. I feel in my life how being a migrant gives medifferent rights from British citizens. I am concerned

about a backlash in both British and American socie-ties against multiculturalism. The strength and vitalityof our communities and our countries depends onhow we treat and include both migrants and citizensalike. I also think that new technologies and onlinespaces provide an opportunity for migrants who areinnovativeandcreativetobeinuentialinshapingourglobalising world.


I run the 7-Week Digital Activism course for leaders

of migrant and refugee organisations. I manage theForums communication strategy and our accounts onFacebook, Twitter, and YouTube. If youre talking toMRCF online, youre probably talking to me :)


I knew about the Forum from previous work with

Most Mira Youth Festival where I did photographyand media workshops with young people in north-ern Bosnia. When this position came up at MRCF, I

jumped at the opportunity to work at such an innova-tive and grassroots organisation.


The Forum is uniquely positioned between frontline,grassroots migrant organisations that do the hard

work of day-to-day integration and the national policyframework which attempts to regulate and controlmigrants lives. These two worlds- that of the averagemigrant and of the policy maker- rarely meet. It is ourjob at the Forum to connect, empower, and advocate

formigrantsrightsandweareuniquelyqualiedbe-cause many of us are migrants ourselves.

What issues do you think are most important tomigrants in London?

Legal aid cuts. Hands down these cuts will preventmigrants from accessing justice. Without the threat ofgoing to court, many service providers will not re-spond to simple complaints or letters of request. Jus-tice will only be available for those who can afford it.


The Forum will be more creative and innovativeonline,sowatchthisspace.Wearendingouronline

voiceasanorganisationandarereadytoexourdigital muscles!

Im an American born in a small farming

town outside of Detroit. Ive studied andlived in the Middle East, worked as a re-

searcher on youth projects, and helped founda new network called Young Professionals inHuman Rights. Growing up, my parents tookme to every community event there was andI saw the value of small organisations in the

life of my family and community. One of myindulgent obsessions is taking photos of foodand blogging about it.


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Where do you live and where have you lived be-

fore?

I grew up in a seaside town called Bournemouth inthe south of England, and lived there until I movedto University in Southampton. I lived there for threeyears, until last summer, when I moved to east Lon-

don.


Coming from a small town with residents who werepredominantly White British, I often felt frustrated atthe lack of diversity around me. However, I began tosee small changes, with concentrated areas of Polishmigrants and Asian communities. I knew very littleabout migration and wanted to learn more about theemotional effects of the movement of people. Work-

ing at MRCF has allowed me to understand in much

greater depth the issues faced by migrants, refugees andasylum seekers.


I work on the New Beginnings Mentoring project,which supports isolated migrants and refugees bymatching them with volunteers who can help with

things such as learning English, providing emotionalsupport and guidance, and going for a coffee. My jobinvolves training new volunteers, matching mentees andmentors, and organising activities and workshops.


I gained a job on a Graduate Management Schemewith the National Skills Academy. This involves a oneyear placement gaining experience in leadership and

management. I asked to be placed within a migrant

organisation and took up the great opportunity to workat MRCF.


MRCF is like no organisation I have worked for before.With a background in banking and retail, the small andfriendly environment at MRCF is far from the corpo-rate world I had experienced. What stands out aboutMRCF- besides our warm welcoming atmosphere- isthe diversity of the services we offer, from a libraryfor doctors and dentists who are retraining, to advice,

mentoring and digital activism courses.


migrants in London?

Cuts to services which support migrants are worry-ing. One example of this is the dramatic cuts in ESOLclasses. Cutting English classes will affect how con-dentmanymigrantsfeelinaccessingservicesthatare meant to support them. ESOL classes also reduceisolation through meeting new friends and creatingsupport networks.


Watching friendships develop between people whohave been through similar experiences is the best partof my job. So Im looking forward to seeing this hap-pen as a result of the activities we provide.

Charlene LeggGraduate Placement - Mentoring ProjectMy name is Charlene, and I am 24. I recentlygraduated with a degree in Sociology, whichengaged my interest in human rights and ledme to move to London to work for MRCF.

I am very interested in womens rights, andhave just started an online magazine forwomen called RealWomenMag.

Cutting ESOL will affect

how condent migrants feelin accessing services that are

meant to support them.


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18

Soa AmanOfceManagerandFinanceOfcer


before?

I live in St Johns Wood in north west London and Iused to live near Queens Park in west London.

Why you are interested in migration?

Because I came to the UK as a refugee.


IworkastheAdministratorandFinanceOfcer.Ialsowork on the Overseas Health Professionals project.


I volunteered for MRCF for a few months and aftera vacancy opened up I applied and became a paid

worker.


MRCF is unique in terms of supporting and providing

our services to the community. We all reach out to oth-

ers and make them feel at home and wanted. Its sucha diverse organisation and has a very good understand-ing of basic human needs. We are especially preparedto go the extra mile to help outsiders.


migrants in London?

Therstandmostimportantthingformigrantsistobe welcomed. Once you have that it makes it easier tointegrate.


To see positive global change for migrant and refugeerights and that everyone is treated equally regardless oftheir background.

I was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I cameto the UK sixteen years ago as a refugee.

I like to meet people from different back-

grounds and listen to their stories. Im luckybecause my job gives me the opportunity todo this. I like Sundays very much because

itisthedayof rest;Igotochurchandvisitfriends and family. I enjoy cooking and lovethe Ethiopian coffee ceremony- not only for

the coffee but because it helps me to imag-ine my hometown where I grew up and myfriends and neighbours.

We all reach out

to others and make

them feel at home and

wanted... We go the

extra mile.


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19

Margaret SiegelVolunteer - English Teacher

Where do you live now?

I live in Bayswater.


I really admire the strength and courage it takes tomove from a harsh situation to a new life in anothercountry, and I would like to help smooth this transitionfor migrants and offer support and encouragement.

What do you do at MRCF?I started out by joining the mentoring program and am

now observing Jeff s English classes and offering one-to-one tutoring. I am also co-leading the Blog Team

with Nick and participating in Charlenes WomensEmpowerment Group.


I knew that I wanted to work with refugee communi-ties, and when I came to London I contacted Refugee

Action, who put me in touch with MRCF.


The friendly staff at MRCF effectively create a wel-coming environment and a real community. Frequentand varied activities make MRCF an engaging place.


migrants in London?

I think it is very important for migrants to feel likethey have support and are not alone. I would sayhealth, housing and legal status are the most pressingissues facing migrants.


I am looking forward to dedicating myself to the ac-tivities in which I am already involved at MRCF, as wellas participating in new activities and getting to knowmore members of this community.

Last November I moved with my husband toLondon from New York, where I spent the

last 5 years working for Travelers Aid at

JFK Airport, assisting stranded passengers.

It is very impor-

tant for migrants to

feel like they have

support and are not

alone.


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20

James IngramVolunteer - Social Enterprise Project


before?

Im currently living in the same house I was born in,just a short walk from MRCF in London. A life-longresident of RBKC...apart from when I was working inSiem Reap (Cambodia), Nairobi (Kenya) and studyingin the (slightly less) exotic city of Bristol.


Afewgenerationsagomanyrelativesofmineedasrefugees from Russia and Eastern Europe, and Ivealways been interested in migrant and minority identi-ties. While working with Sudanese exiles campaigningat the International Criminal Court, I became veryinterestedinEuropeanasylumsystemsandthedif-culties they create in everyday situations.


Ive been designing and setting-up a fellowship for mi-grant and refugee social entrepreneurs which launchedin March.


That its a user-led community forum enabling realparticipation for migrants and refugees consolidatingold skills, learning new ones and helping individualsand communities to develop and support themselves

and others. The MRCF community hub building isunique and valuable.

What issues do you think are most important tomigrants in London?

The same issues that are important to everyone -housing, employment, family, community, happinessetc.


Working collaboratively to come up with innovativesolutionstobuildcapacityandnancialsustainabilityforcommunityorganisations...andnallynishingmy

Masters degree.

I volunteer at MRCF part time and am cur-rentlynishingaMastersdegreeinMigration

and Diaspora Studies at the School of Orien-tal and African Studies in London.

We are... consolidat-

ing old skills, learning

new ones and helpingindividuals and com-

munities to develop

and support themselves

and others.


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21

Amina El guenuniVolunteer - Mentoring Project

Where do you live and where have you lived?

I have lived in London pretty much all of my life. Ihaveneverlivedanywhereelse;Londonishometome.


I feel fortunate to live in the country of my birth,along with most of my family. Although I am not animmigrant, I still feel migration is very much close tomy heart because both my grandparents and parents

were immigrants. They migrated to Wiltshire at a timewhen ethnic minorities were not treated as fairly as

theyaretoday.Theysufferedagreatdealofnancialand emotional hardship and racism which have detri-mental effects on them today. Many migrants and asy-

lum seekers still suffer the same prejudices and lack ofopportunitiesthatmyfamilyfacedbackinthe1960s

which will hinder the emotional well-being of futureBritish generations.


I support mentors and mentees by giving information,advice and providing emotional support. I help facili-tate fortnightly group sessions for women to promotehealth and well-being.


I was told about MRCF by a member of my fam-ily who also volunteers with the organisation. Aftermeeting with Francesca and other members of staff, Ilearnt more about the project and immediately knew it

was the right place for me.

What do you think is unique about MRCF?Every person that walks through the door at MRCF is

treated with so much respect, empathy and dignity. Ihave been told by others who have attended activitiesat the centre for years that MRCF is one of the only

organisations that didnt shut the door in their face-

that it was a place where they felt safe and like theywerepartofafamily.Manypeoplewhorstcometo MRCF as vulnerable and fragile grow into strongmembers of society and are now helping support newmembers who are in a similar situation. The sense of

community and belonging at MRCF is overwhelming,especially to members who have never had the oppor-tunity to be part of something before.


migrants in London?

Culture shock is a big issue for immigrant families,especiallywhenmigrationisforced(likeeeingfrom

war). The ground, quite literally, has moved beneaththeir feet. People who were successful or well off in

their homeland are placed in a completely differentcountrystartingfromscratchandattemptingtotinto a different society and deal with prejudice andmisconceptions.


Expanding the services, activities and support groupsavailable and more generally continuing to offer sup-port and help to a larger number of people.

My family is originally from Morocco but

I was born and bred in the UK. I recentlygraduated with a Psychology degree and hopeto do a masters in Clinical Psychology in the

future. I have worked for other organisa-tions where I helped run mental health work-shops, youth groups, fundraising and culturalevenings. I love writing poetry, making and

listening to music, all forms of art and any-thing psychology/philosophy related. Oh andbookshops! I love reading.


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22

Suzanne LongVolunteer - English Teacher

Where do you live? Where have you lived

before?

I live in north west London but have lived in

Reading, Suffolk, New York, and on top of a

Chilean hill.


I like the diversity and excitement of having mi-grants living in the city.


I teach ESOL to migrants.


IknewandadmiredZrinka,theDirector,from

when I was part of the Asylum Rights Campaign.


The relaxed atmosphere.

What issues do you think are most important

to migrants in London?

Housing and language- and changing the attitude

of some Londoners towards migrants.

What are you looking forward to in the next

year?

We need more balanced reporting and opinion

in some of our tabloid newspapers and a more

realistic government policy about migrants.

I retired from an NGO (United Nations

Association) and was previously a second-ary school teacher. Before that, I was a local

musician- teaching and playing.

We need more

balanced reporting

in our tabloid

newspapers.


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23

Mahdi OmarCaretakerMy name is Mahdi and I am a family man. I

have three children- two boys and one girl.Myhobbiesaretoxandrepairthings.Iamalways interested in new technologies, espe-cially those that help other human beings to

live better and feel comfortable in their lives.

Where do you live? Where have you lived before?

I live in Ealing Broadway and I used to live in Wem-bley.


Migration is important because it brings together dif-ferent people, different backgrounds, different experi-

ences and different cultures. It helps you see differentsidesof globalissues.WhenIrstcametothiscoun-try I never thought I would immigrate here. I thoughtI would go back the next day. But when I started hav-ing children and settling down, it became a part of mylife. Now that I have settled here, thats it. I want mykids to grow up here.


I am the caretaker at the Resource Centre.


Through a friend of my family who told me about thejob. She knew I had the skills and needed a job. I ap-plied, interviewed and have been at MRCF for 7 years.


It has people from all different backgrounds, differentcommunities, and different types of migrants. We haveour own place at MRCF where we know whats going

on and can create whatever we want.

I get to meet so many people. It is amazing when youhear their stories and what made them come to theUK. I am always impressed by their achievementsbefore they came to the UK. I know they will add a lotof value to this country.


migrants in London?

The most important issues are about settlement-

where migrants feel safe, and how accepted they areand what communities are here to accept them. Themore help they get the quicker they will integrate andstart to give back.


My daughter is starting full time school this year andI hope to see her happy there. I also hope this yearis much better on global issues. 2011 was not a very

good year. Lets hope 2012 is much better!

We have our own

place at MRCFwhere we know

whats going on

and can create

whatever wewant.


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24

Zrinka BraloExecutive Director

Where do you live? Where have you lived before?

I now live in north London. I was born in Bosnia andHerzegovina, which was then Yugoslavia. I also spentsome time working and living in Germany when I wasa student.


IhadaverydifculttimewhenIarrivedintheUK.I

had no idea what to do, what the procedure was andthis made my war trauma even worse. I had friendsand spoke English and still it was a struggle. As I wentthrough the system I felt it was very unjust and unfairand that it treated all refugees as if they were criminals.

Also, as a journalist I was beginning to be aware ofthe extremely negative public discourse on immigra-tion and the role the media plays in it. Although I did

some work as a journalist in the UK, and was evenmoreredupbytheinjusticeIsawallaroundme,I

felt I could no longer report it - I had to do somethingabout it.


I have been Executive Director at the Forum for tenyears now and it has been very exciting work whichcombines policy, advocacy and training. There areaspects of my job that are very easy, like staff manage-

ment easy because we have brilliant team of profes-sional and committed staff. In fact the hardest part ofmanaging the team is to stop them from working toomuch. One of the more challenging aspects of myworkisfundraising.Thisishardforallnot-for-protorganisations, but for us at the Forum it is even morechallenging as we are not the most popular cause andnot that many funders want to support us. That is

why we are even more grateful to our funders whorecognise the importance of our work both now and

long-term.


The Forum is its members. Through what we do wesee a lot of misery, injustice, pain, and inequality andit would be easy to be bitter and depressed. But we-the staff, trustees, volunteers and our members- havesomehow managed to establish a way of working and

living that acknowledges the pain and injustice but thenwe jointly focus on solutions. We do not have time

to be bitter and our doer mentality is what I am mostproud of. We are very innovative look at our pioneer-ing work with overseas health professionals, or morerecently with digital activism training.


migrants in London?

Those who are working must be paid the London Liv-ing Wage and exploitation of migrant workers mustendimmediately.Thosewhoarequalied,likeour

dentists should be provided with a pathway to voca-tionalvericationtrainingurgentlyasitisahugewastefor them and for our society and economy that theyare not able to contribute in their professional roles.

The integration of all migrants needs to be a strate-gic, two way process and include social, economic and

cultural elements.


I am very much looking forward to the Olympic

Games. As a young girl in Sarajevo I took part inthe opening ceremony for the Winter Olympics andremember the games as the happiest time of my life. Iam very excited about London proving that its superdiversity is an asset.

I came to London from war torn Sarajevo in1993.Iwasajournalistbeforethewarandduring the war I worked with foreign war cor-

respondents. My journalist friends helped megetoutandndsanctuaryinLondon.


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Board of Trustees

Ali LaziziWest London Moroccan Widadia

Lorrain GilbertNotting Hill Housing

Rahwa ZerinkelSt. Antonio Eritrean Womens Group

Judith BlakemanCllr Lab. RBKC

Judy QuinNWL Vietnamese Association

Mohamed FarahHodan Somali Community

Nazek RamadanMigrant Voice

Roz PendleburyIndependent Facilitator

Waris Mohamoud - ChairMidaye Somali Development Network

Not pictured here:

Edward ChowChinese Migrants Network

Tecle GerbemichaelEritrean Elders Welfare Group


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March 2011

Migrant Communities and the Big Society:

Struggling to Belong in the Age of Austerity

July 2010

Should Citizenship Be Earned Through

Compulsory Volunteering?

This report was written in partnership with the Migrants Rights Networkanddrewonapublicmeetinginvolving40communityleadersand179responses to an online survey. It details how the governments proposedpolicy on compulsory volunteering for citizenship will both not achieveits integration objectives and will undermine genuine volunteering bymigrants and refugees. It instead proposes that resources are put into sup-

porting these groups to access existing volunteering opportunities. Partlyin response to this report, the Government dropped its policy proposalsin December 2010.

This report was written in partnership with the Migrants Rights Net-work and presents the case for and explores the critical role of migrantand refugee community organisations in improving the lives of Londonsdiverse communities. It calls on local and national Government to includerefugees and migrants in conversations about building a bigger and bettersocietyandremindsthemthattherearenoquickxestoinclusionand

integration.Itfeaturescasestudiesof veMRCFmembersTheChineseNational Healthy Living Centre, Midaye Somali Development Network,Shpresa Programme for the Albanian Speaking Community, West andNorthWestLondonVietnameseAssociation,andZimbabweWomensNetwork in the UK.

Publications and Blog Series

August 2011

Supplementary Schools: Isolation or Integration?This blog series explores the impact of supplementary schools on migrantchildren and how these schools play an active role within the communitypromoting social cohesion and integration into British society. The seriesexamines integration from the perspectives of parents, teachers, admin-istrators, and children through interviews, videos, and case studies. It

recommends that there should be more partnerships between supplimen-tary and mainstream schools and greater outreach to new students andfamilies. The series also recommends that supplementary schools shouldbecome more independent of government funding.

To download a copy of any of these reports or to view the blog series,

go to MRCFs website.

www.mrcf.org.uk/whatwedo/research-policy/publications


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For years, the debate on migration in the UK has been

driven by negative attitudes towards migrants and refugees.It often overlooks the British people who actually welcomeand support migrants.

MRCF is hosting a year-long blog series thatinvites community leaders, activists, politicians,entrepreneurs, authors, journalists, artists, andothers to have a different, more positive conver-sation about migration by answering a simple

question:

What would you tell a recent

migrant or refugee to the UK to

welcome them to our country?

If you would like to contribute, please contact

Nick [email protected]. Responsesshould be short (around 300 -500 words) andshare both cultural knowledge and personal expe-riences.

Need a Space for Meetings and Events? Book with MRCF!

MRCF Training Room

The Rooms

MRCF has three rooms available for hire:

Hall&Kitchen(upto50persons) Trainingroom(upto25persons) Studyroom(upto10persons)

Theyareavailable7daysperweekfrom9.30amuntil10 pm. All rooms and facilities have wheelchair access.

Room Hire

The charges for all rooms are the same, however dif-ferent rates apply for different types of organisations:

Migrant&RefugeeOrganisations5.50/hrVoluntaryOrganisations 20.00/hr

StatutoryOrganisations 33.00/hr

Inaddition,thereisa10chargefortheuseofequip-mentsuchasipcharts,projector,etc.

Booking a Room

Bookings are necessary and we advise you to plan inadvance.Formoreinformationpleasecall02089644815 or email [email protected]

We look forward to welcoming you to the Forum!

New Blogs Series by The Forum

MRCF is grateful to its funders:

AB Charitable Trust

Wimborne Refugee Trust


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2 Thorpe Close

London, W10 5XL

tel. 020 8964 4815www.mrcf.org.uk

/LondonMRCF

/londonmrcf

@MRCF_london

mrcf annual review 2010-11

Documents