No Small Victories: Community Tales of Resistance

Welcome  to Season 2 of No Small Victories! In this first episode , Lucy speaks to Rossana Leal, Founder and CEO of The Refugee Buddy Project and a refugee who arrived in Britain from Chile in the 1970s. Recorded at the end of 2023, fifty years  after the violent right-wing Chilean coup  toppled Salvador Allende's democratic government and brought a 17-year dictatorship to power, Rossana reflects on how the past, and the welcome her and her family received as refugees in Scotland, has informed her work for migrant justice and building community through art and culture.

Please visit The Refugee Buddy Project to find out more and consider donating to the project!

Follow the links below to find out more about Chile, Chilean exile and Britain's connection as well as the organisations and places mentioned in this podcast .

To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on Twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected]
We’d love to hear from you!

Chile

'Half a Century After His Death, Salvador Allende is Still Present Among Us' by Victor Figueroa for Jacobin

'Letters as a Lifeline to Chile' by Gloria Miqueles

'Memory is a Political Act' by Isabel Cortes for Four Corners

'The Chilean Coup at 50: An Interview with Mike Gatehouse' for Tribune Magazine

Resistance, Rights and Refuge: Britain and Chile 50 Years after the Chilean Coup


Solidarity Knows No Borders

https://sknb.org/

Making home: the world in Brick Lane

https://beyondbanglatown.org.uk/globe/making-home-the-world-in-brick-lane/

In this episode, we remember the remarkable but tragic life of Sharif Barko, long term resident of Haringey, friend and supporter of Haringey Welcome, and a Sudanese refugee from Darfur’s Massaleit community, who was tragically killed on a family visit to Darfur in January 2021. Through Sharif’s story we explore the wider context of conflict and genocide in Darfur and Sudan over the past two decades, and Britain’s failure of responsibility towards Sudanese migrants and refugees.

Find out more about Sharif, Darfur, Sudan, and the UK’s broken asylum system by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on Twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Sharif Barko

Sharif Barko 1961-2021

https://vjgrove.wixsite.com/sharifbarko 

Sharif Barko HMDT educational resource

https://www.hmd.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Sharif-Barkos-life-story.pdf

Organisations

Waging Peace

https://wagingpeace.info/

Articles

Sudanese refugees face deportation from UK as government fails to set up safe and legal routes

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/sudan-war-refugees-uk-small-boats-b2326453.html

Sudan is at risk of unravelling from decades of injustice 

https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/sudan-unravelling-from-decades-injustice

Reports and briefings

Genocide: all over again in Darfur? APPG Sudan report April 2023

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cI2LmXRdwBdWR8OtZIN9Jnws8gXI0U5c/view

JCWI ‘Illegal Migration” Bill 2023 Briefing

https://www.jcwi.org.uk/illegal-migration-bill-2023-briefing

Music

Beja Power! Electric Soul & Brass from Sudan’s Red Sea Coast

By noori & His Dorpa Band

https://ostinatorecords.bandcamp.com/album/beja-power-electric-soul-brass-from-sudans-red-sea-coast

Abu Obaida Hassan & His Tambour: The Shaigiya Sound of Sudan

By Abu Obaida Hassan

https://ostinatorecords.bandcamp.com/album/abu-obaida-hassan-his-tambour-the-shaigiya-sound-of-sudan

Lucy speaks to Mavis, a single mum, author, campaigner, and migrant, about coming to the UK from Jamaica as a teenager and living for decades with insecure immigration status, navigating rules and systems such as ‘no recourse to public funds’ and the ‘ten-year route’. Mavis explains how she eventually found her power and her voice and the courage to speak up in order to help and educate others.

 Find out more about UK immigration policy, campaigns, and organisations mentioned in the conversation by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on Twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Links

How Hostile Immigration Policies Affect Mothers and their Access to Support

https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/2023/04/21/how-hostile-immigration-policies-affect-mothers-and-their-access-to-support/

Policies and research

Inclusion of migrants with irregular status

https://web.archive.org/web/20181019094407/http://citiesofmigration.ca/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/Building-Inclusive-Cities_APRIL30_Final.pdf

 Report: experiences on the 10-year route to settlement

https://www.praxis.org.uk/briefings/experiences-on-the-10-year-route-to-settlement

 Locked out of a livelihood: the case for reforming ‘no recourse to public funds.

https://www.ippr.org/research/publications/locked-out-of-a-livelihood

 The ‘devastating’ impact of the 10-year process

https://www.ippr.org/news-and-media/press-releases/revealed-the-devastating-impact-of-10-year-process-endured-by-thousands-on-course-to-settle-in-uk

Campaigns

 Abolish Reporting Campaign

https://www.migrantsorganise.org/our-campaigns/abolish-reporting/

Regularise

https://regularise.org/

Services and support

Domestic Abuse/Violence Support
https://www.haringey.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/health/public-health/domestic-violence-and-abuse-and-violence-against-women-and-girls/advice-and-support/organisations-offering-support

Cardinal Hume Centre
https://www.cardinalhumecentre.org.uk/

Association of Christians in Counselling

https://www.acc-uk.org/

Haringey Migrant Support Centre

https://haringeymsc.org/

Project 17

https://www.project17.org.uk/

 Praxis
https://www.praxis.org.uk/

Lucy speaks to Mulugeta, Resettlement Support Worker at Haringey Council,
about his experience of growing up in war-torn Eritrea, of travelling for two years in search of sanctuary, and finally of enduring the challenges of the UK’s hostile asylum system. Mulugeta shares his love of education and commitment to community development, which have allowed him to find growth and purpose since settling in the UK.

Find out more about human rights in Eritrea, and the UK’s asylum system by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on Twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Amnesty Eritrea country report 2022
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/africa/east-africa-the-horn-and-great-
lakes/eritrea/report-eritrea/

The Hostile Environment explained
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained

What would a safe, accessible, effective asylum system look like?
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/what-would-a-safe-accessible-effective-asylum-system-look-like%20 

Lucy speaks to Abdulrahman Bdiwi, Lived Experience Involvement Officer at Breaking Barriers, about his experience of starting a new life in Britain after coming here via the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme. In a remarkably honest and revealing conversation, Abdulrahman describes the many challenges he and his family have lived through and how he has set about successfully building a new life.

You can find out more about the organisations Abdulrahman mentions by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on Twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you!

Organisations mentioned by Abdulrahman
Breaking Barriers
https://breaking-barriers.co.uk/
Safe Passage
https://www.safepassage.org.uk/
British Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org.uk/
Citizens UK
https://www.citizensuk.org/
Voices Network
https://www.redcross.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/how-we-support-refugees/voices-network

Further information
Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) for Syrian refugees (now closed)
https://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/latest/2021/3/6059f1fd4/the-uks-syria-resettlement-progamme-looking-back-and-ahead.ht
The Hostile Environment explained
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained
Right to Remain toolkit
https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/
Refugee resettlement facts
https://www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/information/refugee-asylum-facts/refugee-resettlement-facts/
‘What Would a safe, accessible, effective asylum system look like?’
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/what-would-a-safe-accessible-effective-asylum-system-look-like
Amnesty International Syria report 2022
https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/syria/report-syria/

Lucy speaks to Revd Matt Lunn, Minister at Muswell Hill Methodist Church, about how, together with Rabbi David Mason of Muswell Hill Synagogue, he set up Muswell Hill Welcomes, a support initiative for asylum seekers and refugees in the area.

Follow the links below to find out more about Muswell Hill Methodist Church and Muswell Hill Welcomes. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work please visit our website: https://haringeywelcome.org/
Or follow us on Twitter @HaringeyWelcome.
You can also drop us an email at [email protected].
We’d love to  hear from you!

Muswell Hill Methodist Church
https://mhmc.org.uk/
Muswell Hill Welcomes Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/muswellhillwelcomes

Lucy speaks to Dr Latefa Guemar about her personal and professional experience of the UK’s asylum and immigration system. They discuss Latefa’s forthcoming book, Algerian Women and Diasporic Experience (September 2023).

 You can find out about the UK’s complex asylum and immigration system and other topics mentioned by Latefa by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome, please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected] We’d love to hear from you!

 Dr Latefa Guemar
https://www.uel.ac.uk/about-uel/staff/dr-latefa-guemar 

 Soleiman Adel Guemar
https://palewellpress.co.uk/Author-Adel%20Guemar.html

 The Hostile Environment explained
https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained 

 1951 Refugee Convention
https://www.unhcr.org/uk/1951-refugee-convention.html

 Arrest of Algerian journalist 24 December 2022

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/16/daughter-of-algerian-journalist-ihsane-el-kadi-arrested-on-christmas-eve-calls-for-his-release

Policies mentioned
Rwanda plan
https://freemovement.org.uk/the-rwanda-refugee-deal-is-a-distraction-from-the-real-issues-in-the-asylum-system/

No Recourse to Public Funds
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/our-work/our-campaigns/policy-campaigns/no-recourse-to-public-funds/

NHS Healthy Start
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/

 
Useful links for migrants and refugees
Haringey Migrant Support Centre
https://haringeymsc.org/
Migrants Organise
https://www.migrantsorganise.org/
Right to Remain toolkit
https://righttoremain.org.uk/toolkit/
London Renters Union
https://londonrentersunion.org/demands/
Women for Refugee Women
https://www.refugeewomen.co.uk/
Asylum Justice
https://www.asylumjustice.org.uk/
Swansea Asylum Seekers Support
https://sass.wales/
Lewisham Refugee & Migrant Network
https://www.lrmn.org.uk/ 

Articles on resettlement and asylum
‘What Would a safe, accessible, effective asylum system look like?’
‘Scheme bringing lone child refugees to safety in UK ends’
‘UK government urged to honour pledge to Afghan refugees’ families’

Lucy speaks to Alison Davy about Community Cook Up in Northumberland Park and its ethos: solidarity not charity. They talk about the importance of providing a safe, friendly environment for people to meet and about the magic food offers to bring people together. 

You can find out more about the Community Cook Up by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work, please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected] We’d love to hear from you!

Community Cook Up

https://www.facebook.com/CommunityCookUp/

https://www.instagram.com/communitycookup_tottenham/?hl=en

Support Community Cook Up’s “Essential Costs” campaign

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/abi-kingston-1?utm_term=K3zbPkjjq

Hannah Norton Community Cook Up Photojournalism

https://www.hannahnorton.com/community-cook-up

The Hostile Environment explained

https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained

Lucy speaks to Joel from Haringey Anti-Raids about the development of the Anti-Raids Network and their activities in Haringey. How can immigration raids be resisted and what rights do those being targeted have? They also discuss plans to protest removal of asylum seekers from a Haringey hotel to the notorious Napier Barracks. The protest took place on the same day as Lucy’s interview with Joel.

You can find out more about the Anti-Raids Network and what happened after our interview by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work, please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected] We’d love to hear from you!

Haringey Anti-Raids on Twitter:

@HaringeyAR

How to set up an Anti-Raids group in your area:

http://antiraids.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/anti-raids-zine.pd f

Anti-Raids Network:

https://antiraids.net/about/

What happened next in Haringey:

https://haringeycommunitypress.co.uk/2022/12/21/protest-against-home-offices-removal-of-muswell-hill-asylum-seekers/

The Glasgow Girls (requires Vimeo account): 

https://vimeo.com/47646327

The Hostile Environment explained

https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained

Leyla Laksari, CEO of Living Under One Sun in Tottenham, tells Lucy about her arrival in the UK from Iran in 1976, her work with migrant communities and the importance of collective space, friendship and belonging. They discuss how land, food and creativity can foster wellbeing, how much we can learn from each other and why we are stronger together. At the end of our conversation, Leyla recalls an anecdote that took place with her father in 1978, when she was still adjusting to life in the UK and before the revolution took place in Iran.

You can find out more about Living Under One Sun and current events in Iran by following the links below. To learn more about Haringey Welcome’s work, please visit our website at https://haringeywelcome.org/ or follow us on twitter @HaringeyWelcome. You can also drop us an email at [email protected] We’d love to hear from you!

Living Under One Sun

https://www.livingunderonesun.co.uk/

Article in The Lead about Iran protests

https://thelead.uk/sparks-unextinguished-bravery-amidst-darkness-iran

The Hostile Environment explained

https://www.jcwi.org.uk/the-hostile-environment-explained