Julio is a Rasta from Mauritius, a small island nation east of Madagascar. He was a talented young footballer, but he suffered discrimination and was targeted by police violence due to his ethnicity and religion.

The descendants of slavery from Africa do not have equal rights or opportunities in Mauritius. People who have been classified as part of the “General Population” are outside of the main three communities who hold power, and they lack political representation.

In this interview, Julio tells us about his experiences of growing up on the island and about the persecution that forced him to leave. We also talk about what it was like to come to the UK and the challenges of making a new life in a new land.

Julio has recently appeared in a documentary by Allez Productions entitled “Voice of the Voiceless – The story of a Rastafarian footballer.”

The post Julio: “Let me go outside” appeared first on Refugee Radio.

Kirabo Robert fled the civil war in Sudan when he was just five years old. He lost his whole family in the refugee camps of Uganda, but he never gave up.

Now he is fighting for survival with a dream for a better future for his own children. If they can build a small home on a piece of land, then they can get an education in safety and dignity.

Help us break the cycle of poverty and displacement. Give this family a future. Support the crowdfunder >>

Empower Our Hope: A Refugee Family’s Cry For Shelter, Food, And Dignity | GoGetFunding

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Jakir is an asylum seeker, and today he is speaking to us about his time away from Bangladesh, and he is now in Brighton where he is currently Studying for a degree.

We also will also hear about the struggles he has faced in this new country, and suggestions about possible reforms which could be made in the handling of refugees by the UK.

The post Jakir:”If you become an asylum seeker, The Home Office will be your decision maker” appeared first on Refugee Radio.

Usman Khalid is a social entrepreneur and refugee. He founded HAVEN Coffee in 2019 as a coffee brand with a social mission. In this interview he tells us all about the story behind the project and the flagship café in London.

We also have news of Usman’s forthcoming Laff-ucino comedy fundraiser with Shappi Khorsandi, coming up in Refugee Week 2025 on 19th June at the Big Penny Social! Tickets are available now for £15.

The post Usman: Comedians in Charities Getting Coffee appeared first on Refugee Radio.

Why should you become a foster carer? Elaine and Clare talk about their experiences of fostering UASC and the supported lodging scheme. There are many rewards to fostering, and the city urgently needs new homes for children and young people.

Find out more from the Brighton and Hove council website >>

View upcoming events for people interested in fostering >>

The post Brighton: fostering Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children appeared first on Refugee Radio.

Albania is the subject of a moral panic over crime and trafficking. But what is really happening in the country and what does it mean for the people affected?

In this programme we investigate the relationship of Albanian ethnicity and history to modern issues of immigration, asylum, human trafficking, gangs and the struggle for identity.

Featuring Stephanie Schwander-Sievers, Professor of Applied Anthropology at Bournemouth University, author of a number of works on Albania.

https://staffprofiles.bournemouth.ac.uk/display/sssievers

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Patrick interviews Qahraman, an veterinarian from Kurdistan (Iraq), about his experiences of going through the asylum system. Qahraman was housed in Derby, Manchester and finally in Brighton where he started to attend Refugee Radio. Qahraman talk about some of the funny stories that happened to him as a vet and shares some of the painful experiences he has suffered in his long quest for safety.

The post Qahraman: “Lovely place and lovely people.” appeared first on Refugee Radio.

We talk to Phil Minns from Best Foot Music about the upcoming Razom event with the Ukrainian community and we hear new music from Bashir Al Gamar and a Ukrainian/Syrian fusion from local refugee musicians. We also have Ukrainian hurdy gurdy from Iryna Muha and Kurdish folk from Mohammed Syfkhan.

The post Best Foot Music: Razom Together appeared first on Refugee Radio.

We talk to Jordan about his experience of fleeing persecution in the DRC and claiming asylum in Eastbourne, Sussex.

The post Jordan: No one wakes up thinking- “Today I want to become a refugee” appeared first on Refugee Radio.

Basma Kamel is an activist against FGM and child marriage. She is a refugee from Egypt currently living and studying in the UK. In this interview she talks about her experience as a survivor of FGM and about what we can all do to help stop this harmful practice.

The World Health Organisation states that more than 200 million girls and women have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) in 30 countries. FGM is mostly carried out on young girls between infancy and 15. It is a non-medical operation with no health benefits. It is a violation of the human rights of girls and women, and 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk of FGM right now.

Basma is involved with a number of projects including Forward UK, African Union, End FGM European Network and more. Please listen to the interview and check out these links to find out more.

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