This week is National Refugee Week, the world’s largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking sanctuary.
The Good Shepherd regularly work with refugees and asylum seekers who have fled turmoil back home and arrived in Wolverhampton, also linking up with the Refugee & Migrant Centre when possible.
Henok has been involved with Good Shepherd since 2019, this Refugee Week we caught up with him to see how life has been.
Upon gaining refugee status in 2024, Henok has begun an exciting new chapter of his life. He successfully completed two employment training courses in welding and railway work. Unable to immediately secure employment in these fields he persevered and found full-time work at a local factory. He has moved into private unsupported accommodation, begun driving lessons and been appointed church warden at his local church, St.Chad + St.Mark. He is thriving and despite fulltime work he always makes time to come and share his story on behalf of the Good Shepherd and the work that we do.
This is Henok’s story:
I left Ethiopia in 2012 because of the war. I had already been imprisoned twice and was considered a troublemaker for speaking out against our government. The government doesn’t like people to have their own political opinions. There is no freedom of speech, it is a dictatorship.
The first time I was imprisoned there were forty of us in a tiny room. It felt like a slow emotional death in that room. The second time the officials came and took me from my home without even a judge’s letter. They sent me to prison far away where it was slave labour.
I know that I was looking at death in prison or possible death if I tried to escape. I chose to escape with a few of my friends. I could hear the gunshots as we ran towards freedom and have never looked back. Life’s journey makes you into a fighter. And it’s a miracle that I’m here.
I arrived in England in 2015 and to Wolverhampton in 2017. I didn’t speak English, so I went to college to learn. The Home Office made me homeless in 2019 after my claim was refused. It was the wrong decision and my worst time in England. My English was basic, and I was lost. Homelessness is scary and you feel like there is no future. You give up on life and you just don’t care about anything.
One day I was in town, tired, homeless and hungry. I had to ask a stranger if he had any money or could buy me food, instead he showed me where the Good Shepherd was. I went there and met Brother Stephen. I had a big bowl of soup and it was so delicious and a hot drink. I went back the next day, and they introduced me to Kate who introduced me to the Hope Project who work with destitute asylum seekers and Wolverhampton City of Sanctury. From that day I knew my life was in safe hands. When I moved into Hope into Action house, I felt safe and had hope again.
The first activity I did with The Good Shepherd was fishing. Paul would take us all out in the minibus, somewhere just outside of Wolverhampton. I really enjoyed it and it was a new experience for me. We were in the countryside, there were no houses or cars. It was nice and I became more engaged with The Good Shepherd activities. I joined the weekly cooking group. We would all cook together then eat together which was really special. We could play table tennis. It was great. I spent more and more time at the activities and it broke my loneliness. I also did the art group. Drawing something helps you focus and you can forget about your problems. It also helps you make new friends. That for me was an important experience.
Kate from the Good Shepherd introduced me to my local church St. Chad and St. Mark. The first time I went it was good to meet other people like me. The church works a lot with asylum seekers and refugees and it was very welcoming. I came to the church through the Good Shepherd, through my family. Coming to the Good Shepherd is like coming to see your family or being at your best friend’s house.
With the help of the Good Shepherd, City of Sanctury and Hope into Action my life changed, and that change began with the Good Shepherd.
Finally, my asylum claim was accepted, and I was granted Leave to Remain. I have decided to stay in Wolverhampton because of all the support I have received. The Good Shepherd is my family now, I will never struggle again.
