Why do refugees leave their country?
There is no question!
Oh no, there is.
Hello guys. My name is Mohammed Rahima.
I'm a refugee from Syria.
My name is Maya Ghazal.
I'm 20 years old and I'm an aviation engineering student.
I'm also a refugee from Syria.
So there are all sorts of questions floating all around the internet...
Let's clear the air.
Let's start with the first question. So here we go.
Refugees leave their countries because of danger of prosecution,
because of danger of conflict, danger of their lives,
because of climate danger as well.
But the main point is that when a person leaves their country
feeling that it's not safe for them to go back to their country,
that's what makes refugees, refugees.
It's a very difficult place to live -
tent shelters, cold weather, wet weather.
But good as well. We made friends. We met people -
they trust you, they know who you are.
Between - we have a difficult time, and happy time, at the same time.
I had to learn it myself, which was quite successful.
I can speak now English and understand well and write.
When I first time arrived to the camp, I never speak any English.
I was in a detention centre for a month and a half, so I have to get
dictionary from the library there, and because I get a letter from the
Home Office, I have to understand what this means.
Because you have to help yourself in a detention centre.
How are refugees treated?
Well that actually depends on you.
I’m treated very well. I meet very lovely people all my life here
in the UK, but it depends.
I only had difficulties being a refugee when I first came and wanted
to enrol to a school. It was very difficult actually for me
because I was rejected from three schools and a college.
I still can’t understand why would they turn an eager student
to study, down?
Hopefully it's an easy question.
Yes of course they can work in the UK,
but they have to wait to get their refugee status.
So when my Dad came to the UK, it took him about 15 months
for his application to be processed, and to move from asylum seeker
process to a refugee.
And during that time, he was not permitted to work,
which made him really, really upset.
No, I was very disappointed.
I expected our neighbours to knock on our door and give us
a basket of chocolate, like welcome goodies.
I expected what I saw in movies. I mean marry Prince Charming,
or Prince Harry.
But he’s married now, and he’s got a baby.
That’s what I expected!
I miss my teddy bears. I miss my room.
The house that I grew up in. The neighbourhood.
So we used to walk in the mountains, and it was the fresh air
and lovely.
It’s just the smell - I still have it to this moment.
But I miss my family. They’re still there.
I miss myself in my home country, because I changed massively
since moving to the UK. I had to.
Hopefully one day, I’m back.
I wish they asked me if I was OK.
What is my dream?
But I’m not going to say it in the camera right here and now.
So I wish people focused more on who I am, rather than my background.
And on my ambitions and dreams, rather than my past.
See you later guys.