Welcome to Bradford, 'City of Sanctuary'

"Karibu" - welcome! It was one of the few words I could remember in kiswahili to greet the beautiful mother sitting beside me at the "Stories of Sanctuary" annual event tonight. She says is from Somalia, but a member of a minority that lives near the Kenyan border and doesn't speak Mahatiri like the majority of her compatriots. She was at the soiree with her husband and three-month old daughter, whom I had the pleasure of rocking as the evening progressed. Both mother and daughter had beautiful smiles and gentle spirits - the wee one made only gurgles of contentment during the three hours we were there. And in that uplifting atmosphere I saw her as a child of hope - that asylum seekers and refugees can build lives and faith in a future of peace here beyond the memory of violence.

Indeed this was the theme of the evening, a celebration of transcendence amidst the challenges of adaption to a new culture, climate and government (that in many cases has not welcomed these people with open arms). We were fortunate to hear the stories from courageous friends from Malawi, the D.R. Congo and Burma/Bangladesh (Rohingya)... as well as a bitter-sweet story of an Afghan woman whose photography will be on exhibit in a few weeks but who will be unable to see it as she was recently deported to another European country (though she had a claim she transited through another country so the UK didn't have to grant her asylum).

I am just beginning to learn of the challenges that asylum seekers and refugees face here in the UK... but have heard a bit about dawn raids, detention centres and deportation if one's refugee claim isn't 110% air tight. Depending on one's country of origin one may also be denied asylum but not sent back if it is deemed too dangerous to do this (which should then warrant an asylum claim, no?)... and the result of this is often abject poverty as the 'non-refugee' is not entitled to work or able to access social support. Of course these are the extremes... others face linguistic barriers, somewhat cramped housing, are frequently moved from city to city and lack legal support depending on the supposed strength of their case.

Given these types of challenges, the work of service-providing organizations like Bradford Action for Refugees, BEACON, STAR, and McKenzie Friends play essential roles in filling gaps and addressing issues. And making Bradford a city of sanctuary - a community that makes an effort to welcome and support asylum seekers and refugees with businesses that sign on and a council behind the movement - also helps. Bradford is now one of 15 throughout the UK to make this commitment. Though still gaining in depth, I think it's an important place to start. And though my friend Jacques from the DRC may complain that he shares a bathroom and kitchen with three others, at least he knows he's safe, and has a friend to speak broken french or play cards with him every Monday night. There's l of room for the government to change their policies but Toto, we're not in Kairos anymore!

Settling amidst the clouds

Each person has a superbly unique experience of a new environment… for some change may be frightening; for others, exciting or (heaven forbid) blasé. It has been interesting to hear other newcomers share their reactions to the city of Bradford, course instructors and classes, food, weather etc. It reminds me again how much ‘what you see depends on where you stand’… and perhaps where one has stood as well.

For someone who has recently emerged from a loud, chaotic and polluted desert city Bradford appears a calm, clean, full of green contrast.


(the Yorkshire dales just beyond Bradford)

I have found people in this community to be incredibly helpful (particularly when toting a large suitcase up stairs or as I need directions), and many people have even ventured a friendly ‘hello’ on the streets. I am enamoured with the willow trees on campus, delighted by the recycling bins everywhere, and ecstatic about the basket of local organic veg and fruit I can cart home from the Treehouse café each week. It has been a gentle transition with all the support of Rotarians and new friends, and I feel that U. of Bradford and the African PACs program is a beautiful fit for me at this point in my life. In fact, so far I am feeling this to be a period of incredible convergence for me… academically, culturally (with the neighbourhood’s blend of ‘east’ and ‘west’), professionally and personally – knowing where my heart is and where I want to channel my passions in the short and long term.

Being Canadian one of the things I have been most struck by is the weather. (What else do we talk about so incessantly?!) It’s been years since I’ve seen such beautiful clouds… high slow-moving dreamwhip sculptures, low enveloping-ly thick ones that the church steeple seems about to pierce, enchanting mists that make dewy tapestries of spiderwebs, and clusters of light and soft-rounded clouds that glow gold and fuchsia at sunset. The rains have yet to set in, and indeed I am still awaiting a proper downpour, but I’m confident it will come soon enough.



It’s nice to be in a place where I can hear myself think again, where I can blend into the background in many ways (not the least of which being on the streets – what a blessed change from dear Cairo), and where I am surrounded by so many conscientious and critical thinkers. I just attended the Africa conflict monitoring group meeting where MA and PhD students as well as faculty members share the latest news from the continent. Each person has their own academic geographic or thematic area, and today we were learning about Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, Angola, Zimbabwe and South Africa. Those sharing had either studied those areas extensively, or had lived in and/or were from that country. What made the session so useful was that those who spoke linked the ‘news’ with deeper historical/political/socio-economic context and explained as far as they were able the potential implications of these events. I have been deeply impressed with the caliber of students in the program – many I have spoken with have arrived after years of experience in a range of professions from accounting or security details with humanitarian organizations to work with the British military or in the realm of international law to teaching. It leads to very rich discussions and it’s exciting to have months to nurture some of these friendships!

I think who you are standing with also has a tremendous impact of what you see – both in terms of breadth as well as what you focus on. I think the diversity of our class and (dare I say) vision of our tutors and lecturers are a real strength of this program.


(some of the other Rotary Peace fellows from Palestine, Australia/Croatia, New Zealand, Zambia, and Canada)

Speaking of those who stand with you, I’ve been particularly inspired by one of my peers – a former journalist and single mom who has just moved around the world with her beautiful son and is nurturing his development at the same time as she is studying full-time. How different this transition looks and feels when one has to think about the wellbeing of another life and their adjustments as well as your own. I have been struck by her incredible courage and grace as she juggles her many roles and responsibilities. May she receive the support she needs in establishing rhythms with her wee one standing beside her.