overcrowded boats Smuggler’s washed up lifejackets drownings huge metal fences
lifejackets drownings huge metal fences
lifejackets drownings huge metal fences borders a desperate search for safety I
borders a desperate search for safety I
borders a desperate search for safety I doubt there’s a single person in this
doubt there’s a single person in this
doubt there’s a single person in this room that doesn’t know what I’m talking
room that doesn’t know what I’m talking
room that doesn’t know what I’m talking about when I say these words with 65
about when I say these words with 65
about when I say these words with 65 million people displaced globally going
million people displaced globally going
million people displaced globally going to ever greater lengths to leave behind
to ever greater lengths to leave behind
to ever greater lengths to leave behind war and persecution in their home
war and persecution in their home
war and persecution in their home country
country
country it is impossible for any of us to ignore
it is impossible for any of us to ignore
it is impossible for any of us to ignore what is taking place news reports photos
what is taking place news reports photos
what is taking place news reports photos and stories reach us daily documenting
and stories reach us daily documenting
and stories reach us daily documenting the terrifying journeys that people are
the terrifying journeys that people are
the terrifying journeys that people are taking yet no matter how many times we
taking yet no matter how many times we
taking yet no matter how many times we see a photo of a body washed up on the
see a photo of a body washed up on the
see a photo of a body washed up on the shore or hear of a person dying as they
shore or hear of a person dying as they
shore or hear of a person dying as they fall from the underside of a lorry it is
fall from the underside of a lorry it is
fall from the underside of a lorry it is never enough to convey the sheer horror
never enough to convey the sheer horror
never enough to convey the sheer horror of what is taking place
of what is taking place
of what is taking place disbelieving authorities confusion
disbelieving authorities confusion
disbelieving authorities confusion indefinite detention isolation long-term
indefinite detention isolation long-term
indefinite detention isolation long-term unemployment destitution I wonder how
unemployment destitution I wonder how
unemployment destitution I wonder how many people in the room know what I’m
many people in the room know what I’m
many people in the room know what I’m talking about when I say these words
talking about when I say these words
talking about when I say these words however this is the part of the story
however this is the part of the story
however this is the part of the story that is told far less often the reality
that is told far less often the reality
that is told far less often the reality that people face when they arrived to
that people face when they arrived to
that people face when they arrived to the UK to seek asylum although many
the UK to seek asylum although many
the UK to seek asylum although many people do not know it refugees often
people do not know it refugees often
people do not know it refugees often face years more suffering at the hands
face years more suffering at the hands
face years more suffering at the hands of our own Asylum process their journey
of our own Asylum process their journey
of our own Asylum process their journey is not over just because their feet are
is not over just because their feet are
is not over just because their feet are finally on British soil
finally on British soil
finally on British soil Eve left Eritrea six years ago no longer
Eve left Eritrea six years ago no longer
Eve left Eritrea six years ago no longer able to cope with the physical and
able to cope with the physical and
able to cope with the physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her
emotional abuse at the hands of her
emotional abuse at the hands of her husband’s and other perpetrators in her
husband’s and other perpetrators in her
husband’s and other perpetrators in her country she decided to flee without
country she decided to flee without
country she decided to flee without getting access to her own identity
getting access to her own identity
getting access to her own identity papers because her husband had hidden
papers because her husband had hidden
papers because her husband had hidden them Eve had to leave with
them Eve had to leave with
them Eve had to leave with out then she got hold of any money that
out then she got hold of any money that
out then she got hold of any money that she could and contacted a smuggler to
she could and contacted a smuggler to
she could and contacted a smuggler to help her get out smugglers or agents as
help her get out smugglers or agents as
help her get out smugglers or agents as they are known often do not tell people
they are known often do not tell people
they are known often do not tell people that are fleeing their home country
that are fleeing their home country
that are fleeing their home country where they will end up in Eve’s case she
where they will end up in Eve’s case she
where they will end up in Eve’s case she only knew that she was coming to the UK
only knew that she was coming to the UK
only knew that she was coming to the UK when she came close to British shores
when she came close to British shores
when she came close to British shores when she arrived she went straight to
when she arrived she went straight to
when she arrived she went straight to the asylum screening unit in Croydon
the asylum screening unit in Croydon
the asylum screening unit in Croydon which is where the majority of asylum
which is where the majority of asylum
which is where the majority of asylum claims are processed in the UK she
claims are processed in the UK she
claims are processed in the UK she explained to the man behind the glass
explained to the man behind the glass
explained to the man behind the glass screen that she was fleeing Eritrea for
screen that she was fleeing Eritrea for
screen that she was fleeing Eritrea for fear of her life and for fear of her
fear of her life and for fear of her
fear of her life and for fear of her husband’s but she was told that he
husband’s but she was told that he
husband’s but she was told that he didn’t believe her and she was made to
didn’t believe her and she was made to
didn’t believe her and she was made to leave this was the first of many times
leave this was the first of many times
leave this was the first of many times that Eve was made to feel like she was
that Eve was made to feel like she was
that Eve was made to feel like she was lying with no money and no friends in
lying with no money and no friends in
lying with no money and no friends in London she was forced to walk the
London she was forced to walk the
London she was forced to walk the streets and shelter in bus stops all
streets and shelter in bus stops all
streets and shelter in bus stops all nights until she could return to the
nights until she could return to the
nights until she could return to the centre the next morning she was called
centre the next morning she was called
centre the next morning she was called and she was scared and she was confused
and she was scared and she was confused
and she was scared and she was confused the next morning a member of staff
the next morning a member of staff
the next morning a member of staff arrived to find her waiting outside at
arrived to find her waiting outside at
arrived to find her waiting outside at 5:00 a.m. and let her in this time
5:00 a.m. and let her in this time
5:00 a.m. and let her in this time allowing her to process her claim
allowing her to process her claim
allowing her to process her claim shortly after doing so Eve was told that
shortly after doing so Eve was told that
shortly after doing so Eve was told that she was going to be detained detention
she was going to be detained detention
she was going to be detained detention takes place when the UK Border Agency
takes place when the UK Border Agency
takes place when the UK Border Agency decide that there is a straightforward
decide that there is a straightforward
decide that there is a straightforward case for somebody to be refused asylum
case for somebody to be refused asylum
case for somebody to be refused asylum detention centres are like prisons
detention centres are like prisons
detention centres are like prisons without a release date and without a
without a release date and without a
without a release date and without a sentence many people like Eve whose only
sentence many people like Eve whose only
sentence many people like Eve whose only crime is to seek asylum can be detained
crime is to seek asylum can be detained
crime is to seek asylum can be detained indefinitely the UK is the only country
indefinitely the UK is the only country
indefinitely the UK is the only country in Europe that can detain asylum seekers
in Europe that can detain asylum seekers
in Europe that can detain asylum seekers for an indefinite period of time
for an indefinite period of time
for an indefinite period of time Eve was taken to y’alls woods where she
Eve was taken to y’alls woods where she
Eve was taken to y’alls woods where she was put in a cell with a woman and who
was put in a cell with a woman and who
was put in a cell with a woman and who didn’t share her language
didn’t share her language
didn’t share her language and she was told to wait she wasn’t told
and she was told to wait she wasn’t told
and she was told to wait she wasn’t told how long she’d be waiting for or what
how long she’d be waiting for or what
how long she’d be waiting for or what was going to happen to her next she was
was going to happen to her next she was
was going to happen to her next she was served food that wasn’t properly cooked
served food that wasn’t properly cooked
served food that wasn’t properly cooked so she became unwell and she didn’t feel
so she became unwell and she didn’t feel
so she became unwell and she didn’t feel comfortable asking the guards most of
comfortable asking the guards most of
comfortable asking the guards most of whom were male for sanitary ware so she
whom were male for sanitary ware so she
whom were male for sanitary ware so she went with
went with
went with out after a couple of weeks Eve was
out after a couple of weeks Eve was
out after a couple of weeks Eve was finally given her substantive interview
finally given her substantive interview
finally given her substantive interview for asylum her final chance to convince
for asylum her final chance to convince
for asylum her final chance to convince the Home Office that her life would be
the Home Office that her life would be
the Home Office that her life would be in danger if she returned to Eritrea a
in danger if she returned to Eritrea a
in danger if she returned to Eritrea a couple of days later she received her
couple of days later she received her
couple of days later she received her decision Eve like three-quarters of
decision Eve like three-quarters of
decision Eve like three-quarters of women who applied for asylum that year
women who applied for asylum that year
women who applied for asylum that year had been refused
had been refused
had been refused yet again her story had been discredited
yet again her story had been discredited
yet again her story had been discredited at this point many people who were
at this point many people who were
at this point many people who were refused to Salem I returned to their
refused to Salem I returned to their
refused to Salem I returned to their home country this would have been Eve’s
home country this would have been Eve’s
home country this would have been Eve’s fate too if she didn’t have the ability
fate too if she didn’t have the ability
fate too if she didn’t have the ability to use email and fax we’ll have a good
to use email and fax we’ll have a good
to use email and fax we’ll have a good level of English that many asylum
level of English that many asylum
level of English that many asylum seekers don’t have when they first
seekers don’t have when they first
seekers don’t have when they first arrived into the UK she managed to
arrived into the UK she managed to
arrived into the UK she managed to contact a lawyer and a friend in Eritrea
contact a lawyer and a friend in Eritrea
contact a lawyer and a friend in Eritrea who was able to get hold of some of her
who was able to get hold of some of her
who was able to get hold of some of her documents and send them to her and this
documents and send them to her and this
documents and send them to her and this helped her to prove the elements of her
helped her to prove the elements of her
helped her to prove the elements of her case were in fact true after months more
case were in fact true after months more
case were in fact true after months more turmoil fighting her claim from inside
turmoil fighting her claim from inside
turmoil fighting her claim from inside Yas word eve was finally granted refugee
Yas word eve was finally granted refugee
Yas word eve was finally granted refugee status and the Home Office retracted
status and the Home Office retracted
status and the Home Office retracted their original decision as horrendous as
their original decision as horrendous as
their original decision as horrendous as Eve story is Eve was in fact one of the
Eve story is Eve was in fact one of the
Eve story is Eve was in fact one of the lucky ones most people that are refused
lucky ones most people that are refused
lucky ones most people that are refused asylum are either deported straight away
asylum are either deported straight away
asylum are either deported straight away or spend years fighting with the courts
or spend years fighting with the courts
or spend years fighting with the courts to get their decision overturned this is
to get their decision overturned this is
to get their decision overturned this is the case for many of the women that
the case for many of the women that
the case for many of the women that Bread and Roses work with during this
Bread and Roses work with during this
Bread and Roses work with during this time that they are waiting for their
time that they are waiting for their
time that they are waiting for their refugee status they do not have the
refugee status they do not have the
refugee status they do not have the right to work and live off less than
right to work and live off less than
right to work and live off less than five pounds a day as a result of this
five pounds a day as a result of this
five pounds a day as a result of this many women and men are at risk of
many women and men are at risk of
many women and men are at risk of exploitation and destitution most of the
exploitation and destitution most of the
exploitation and destitution most of the women that we have met have been waiting
women that we have met have been waiting
women that we have met have been waiting for over ten years before they get a
for over ten years before they get a
for over ten years before they get a final decision on their refugee status
final decision on their refugee status
final decision on their refugee status throughout this process they are
throughout this process they are
throughout this process they are subjected to much of the hostility the
subjected to much of the hostility the
subjected to much of the hostility the suspicion and the disbelief that Eve
suspicion and the disbelief that Eve
suspicion and the disbelief that Eve story gives just a glimpse of if you
story gives just a glimpse of if you
story gives just a glimpse of if you feel a bit overwhelmed listening to
feel a bit overwhelmed listening to
feel a bit overwhelmed listening to these stories then we know
these stories then we know
these stories then we know how you feel it’s sad and it’s
how you feel it’s sad and it’s
how you feel it’s sad and it’s frustrating and it’s hard to get your
frustrating and it’s hard to get your
frustrating and it’s hard to get your head around it so much of the shitty
head around it so much of the shitty
head around it so much of the shitty stuff that happens to these women when
stuff that happens to these women when
stuff that happens to these women when they come to the UK feels out of our
they come to the UK feels out of our
they come to the UK feels out of our control
control
control we’re not border agency staff or senior
we’re not border agency staff or senior
we’re not border agency staff or senior civil servants in the Home Office
civil servants in the Home Office
civil servants in the Home Office listening to Eve story makes us feel an
listening to Eve story makes us feel an
listening to Eve story makes us feel an exaggerated sense of what most of us
exaggerated sense of what most of us
exaggerated sense of what most of us already feel on a daily basis which is
already feel on a daily basis which is
already feel on a daily basis which is in the grand scheme of things we’re
in the grand scheme of things we’re
in the grand scheme of things we’re pretty powerless my feeling powerless
pretty powerless my feeling powerless
pretty powerless my feeling powerless doesn’t feel like a good enough excuse
doesn’t feel like a good enough excuse
doesn’t feel like a good enough excuse to not do anything we don’t know how to
to not do anything we don’t know how to
to not do anything we don’t know how to fix any of the big complex systemic
fix any of the big complex systemic
fix any of the big complex systemic stuff but we do know how these women’s
stuff but we do know how these women’s
stuff but we do know how these women’s experiences have made them feel the
experiences have made them feel the
experiences have made them feel the abuse that they have suffered at the
abuse that they have suffered at the
abuse that they have suffered at the hands of the perpetrators in their home
hands of the perpetrators in their home
hands of the perpetrators in their home country has made them feel illegitimate
country has made them feel illegitimate
country has made them feel illegitimate the treatment by the UK authorities when
the treatment by the UK authorities when
the treatment by the UK authorities when they come to our country has made them
they come to our country has made them
they come to our country has made them feel illegitimate and living in
feel illegitimate and living in
feel illegitimate and living in destitution without the power to change
destitution without the power to change
destitution without the power to change their fate has made them feel
their fate has made them feel
their fate has made them feel illegitimate whilst will never be able
illegitimate whilst will never be able
illegitimate whilst will never be able to understand the experiences that the
to understand the experiences that the
to understand the experiences that the use of women have been through I think
use of women have been through I think
use of women have been through I think to some extent we can identify with that
to some extent we can identify with that
to some extent we can identify with that feeling of a legitimacy to a much lesser
feeling of a legitimacy to a much lesser
feeling of a legitimacy to a much lesser degree when you receive a promotion at
degree when you receive a promotion at
degree when you receive a promotion at work or you start a new job or you’re
work or you start a new job or you’re
work or you start a new job or you’re asked to stand on stage and deliver a
asked to stand on stage and deliver a
asked to stand on stage and deliver a talk we’ve all at some point or another
talk we’ve all at some point or another
talk we’ve all at some point or another felt like we’re not good enough to be
felt like we’re not good enough to be
felt like we’re not good enough to be where we are and when we suffer these
where we are and when we suffer these
where we are and when we suffer these crises of confidence and our self-esteem
crises of confidence and our self-esteem
crises of confidence and our self-esteem is running really low the thing that
is running really low the thing that
is running really low the thing that often makes the difference is knowing
often makes the difference is knowing
often makes the difference is knowing that someone believes in us Bread and
that someone believes in us Bread and
that someone believes in us Bread and Roses were set up with this at the
Roses were set up with this at the
Roses were set up with this at the forefront of our mind knowing as we did
forefront of our mind knowing as we did
forefront of our mind knowing as we did the women have come to feel worthless we
the women have come to feel worthless we
the women have come to feel worthless we wanted to do something even if it was
wanted to do something even if it was
wanted to do something even if it was something small to try and restore that
something small to try and restore that
something small to try and restore that sense of self-worth
sense of self-worth
sense of self-worth we knew the phrase the worker must have
we knew the phrase the worker must have
we knew the phrase the worker must have bread but she must have roses too
bread but she must have roses too
bread but she must have roses too and this really resonated with us the
and this really resonated with us the
and this really resonated with us the idea that women with very little deserve
idea that women with very little deserve
idea that women with very little deserve not only the basics but also the
not only the basics but also the
not only the basics but also the opportunity to have bled pleasure and
opportunity to have bled pleasure and
opportunity to have bled pleasure and beauty felt very relevant to the women
beauty felt very relevant to the women
beauty felt very relevant to the women that we’ve met
that we’ve met
that we’ve met we’ve seen the basic services available
we’ve seen the basic services available
we’ve seen the basic services available they were functional but there was no
they were functional but there was no
they were functional but there was no beauty so we drew inspiration from our
beauty so we drew inspiration from our
beauty so we drew inspiration from our name and decided to invite some of these
name and decided to invite some of these
name and decided to invite some of these women to a floristry workshop when they
women to a floristry workshop when they
women to a floristry workshop when they arrived there was almost a sense of
arrived there was almost a sense of
arrived there was almost a sense of suspicion amongst some of the women It
suspicion amongst some of the women It
suspicion amongst some of the women It was as though they couldn’t believe that
was as though they couldn’t believe that
was as though they couldn’t believe that the reason the room was filled with
the reason the room was filled with
the reason the room was filled with beautiful flowers was simply for them as
beautiful flowers was simply for them as
beautiful flowers was simply for them as we started sniffing stems and chatting
we started sniffing stems and chatting
we started sniffing stems and chatting over cups of tea everyone started to
over cups of tea everyone started to
over cups of tea everyone started to relax and to enjoy what we were doing
relax and to enjoy what we were doing
relax and to enjoy what we were doing and since then we’ve run many many
and since then we’ve run many many
and since then we’ve run many many florists workshops with many women
florists workshops with many women
florists workshops with many women around London and what we’ve seen is
around London and what we’ve seen is
around London and what we’ve seen is this if you invite a woman into a group
this if you invite a woman into a group
this if you invite a woman into a group and give her the opportunity to create
and give her the opportunity to create
and give her the opportunity to create something of her own something beautiful
something of her own something beautiful
something of her own something beautiful then you can in some small way help her
then you can in some small way help her
then you can in some small way help her to start restoring a bit of that
to start restoring a bit of that
to start restoring a bit of that self-worth you could be forgiven for
self-worth you could be forgiven for
self-worth you could be forgiven for everything that we’ve said that the
everything that we’ve said that the
everything that we’ve said that the women we work with are defeated but that
women we work with are defeated but that
women we work with are defeated but that couldn’t be further from the truth
couldn’t be further from the truth
couldn’t be further from the truth despite being discredited and degraded
despite being discredited and degraded
despite being discredited and degraded for so long the women that we’ve come to
for so long the women that we’ve come to
for so long the women that we’ve come to know are strong and they’re resilient
know are strong and they’re resilient
know are strong and they’re resilient like Jane he’s been coming to our
like Jane he’s been coming to our
like Jane he’s been coming to our workshops for a number of weeks and is
workshops for a number of weeks and is
workshops for a number of weeks and is full of love and laughter and it’s easy
full of love and laughter and it’s easy
full of love and laughter and it’s easy to forget that she’s been waiting in the
to forget that she’s been waiting in the
to forget that she’s been waiting in the UK for eight years and still hasn’t got
UK for eight years and still hasn’t got
UK for eight years and still hasn’t got her refugee status when we first met her
her refugee status when we first met her
her refugee status when we first met her we didn’t realize that would appear to
we didn’t realize that would appear to
we didn’t realize that would appear to be an insatiable appetite for biscuits
be an insatiable appetite for biscuits
be an insatiable appetite for biscuits was in fact a result of being dependent
was in fact a result of being dependent
was in fact a result of being dependent on food banks the very act of carrying
on food banks the very act of carrying
on food banks the very act of carrying on when the system is so stacked against
on when the system is so stacked against
on when the system is so stacked against them is itself an act of defiance we now
them is itself an act of defiance we now
them is itself an act of defiance we now run programs in partnership with refugee
run programs in partnership with refugee
run programs in partnership with refugee organizations around London beyond the
organizations around London beyond the
organizations around London beyond the simple act of offering something
simple act of offering something
simple act of offering something beautiful
beautiful
beautiful our floristry workshops serve for women
our floristry workshops serve for women
our floristry workshops serve for women to build the foundations of self
to build the foundations of self
to build the foundations of self confidence and self-belief which are
confidence and self-belief which are
confidence and self-belief which are necessary if they’re to start thinking
necessary if they’re to start thinking
necessary if they’re to start thinking about integrating
about integrating
about integrating into their communities or applying for
into their communities or applying for
into their communities or applying for work for those women who do have the
work for those women who do have the
work for those women who do have the right to work we supplement our
right to work we supplement our
right to work we supplement our floristry workshops with an employee an
floristry workshops with an employee an
floristry workshops with an employee an employability program and we have been
employability program and we have been
employability program and we have been so inspired by the women who’ve passed
so inspired by the women who’ve passed
so inspired by the women who’ve passed through our program and are now in paid
through our program and are now in paid
through our program and are now in paid or voluntary employment what we do isn’t
or voluntary employment what we do isn’t
or voluntary employment what we do isn’t groundbreaking and it isn’t
groundbreaking and it isn’t
groundbreaking and it isn’t revolutionary but it has taught us that
revolutionary but it has taught us that
revolutionary but it has taught us that we don’t need to feel powerless in the
we don’t need to feel powerless in the
we don’t need to feel powerless in the face of systemic injustice challenging
face of systemic injustice challenging
face of systemic injustice challenging what we don’t believe in and standing up
what we don’t believe in and standing up
what we don’t believe in and standing up for what we do doesn’t need a
for what we do doesn’t need a
for what we do doesn’t need a fully-formed plan it can begin with
fully-formed plan it can begin with
fully-formed plan it can begin with simple gestures of humanity simple
simple gestures of humanity simple
simple gestures of humanity simple gestures of solidarity and that is
gestures of solidarity and that is
gestures of solidarity and that is something that we are all capable of
something that we are all capable of
something that we are all capable of thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Music]
”
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