“Sanctuary In politics and its Importance in Refugee and asylum seekers life”

Date: 15/11/19

Name of the Student: Md Mominul Hamid

Nick Name: MD

Website and Blog: www.abirking.com

Email: abirking1988@gmail.com

Group: Sanctuary in Politics Course Durham University 2019

Project Tutor: City of Sanctuary

Acknowledgments:

      I would like to submit my humble thanks to my project Chief Sian Summer Rees. Rosie Tapsfield for her help and feedback throughout the preparation and Sam Slatcher, Vanessa Schofield and City of Sanctuary, Expert by experience panel and our module tutor for his instructions and help. I Would also like to gratitude the questionnaire respondents for helping me to do the survey which helped me tremendously to complete this research report.

Abstract:

 Since the beginning of Human history we have learned about the word called “ Sanctuary”. Humankind is always in a search for a new kind of place to take refuge and be welcomed where they live or stay. “Sanctuary” is a word derived from the Latin sanctuarium.

“ I believe that, if you continue to work together like this, you could become the world’s first Nation of Sanctuary” a dream from the founder of city of sanctuary. With that dream on heart city of sanctuary movement is working all around the UK since 2005.

To work on that dream and to become a Nation of Sanctuary, city of sanctuary movement started working on the develop the basic human rights of refugees and asylum seekers. One of the most empowering element of that is “politics” . City of sanctuary has that intention to enrich the empowerment of an asylum seeker or refugees though a training called “Sanctuary In Politics”.

With a greater intention to expand the idea and empowerment of Sanctuary movement this assignment will emphasise on the basic and fundamental importance of Sanctuary in Politics training for the Asylum Seekers and the refugees in the UK in future. This will also enable this group of people to cope in the community create more leaders for the Sanctuary Movement in future.

The terms of Sanctuary in Politics will be coated as “SIP” in short and Asylum seekers  as “AS” and Refugees as “RF”  and City of Sanctuary as “CoS” in the whole assignment.

INDEX Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………1 Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………..1 Index of table Figure…………………..……………………………………………………2 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………….3 Methodology……………………………………………………………………………………3 Results…………………………………………………………………………………………….4 Summary of the results……………………………………………………………………7 Discussion……………………………………………………………………………………….8 Conclusion and Further Recommendations ……..……………………………13 Limitation ………………………………………….………………………………………….13 List Of references……….………………………………………………………………….13 Appendix 1: Proposal……………………………………………………….……………14 A short Bio of the Researcher…………………………………………………………16

Introduction:

     Sanctuary In politics is creating lots of opportunities in social and individual life of refugees and asylum seekers. The research was carried out on City of Sanctuary experts by experience, programme leaders, students who have attended the course recently and previously. This report would have allowed them to express their personal views which may justify the validity of the results. There is sense from the viewers that Sanctuary in Politics (SIP) where they can transform the information on a wide range of varieties such as political, environmental and community issues to create awareness and raise their voice. Majority of the students from (SIP) has been agreed in one term of which is “Personal and community Empowerment. This project has aimed to compare and demonstrate those the empowerment of City of Sanctuary through SIP course and its importance in refugees and asylum seekers life.

Methodology:

Sanctuary is a word means to me inclusiveness
Sanctuary is a word means to me participation
Sanctuary is a word means to me inspiration
Sanctuary is a word means to me Integrity”

 “Sanctuary is a word means to us respect and people’s values, leadership, getting to know each other.

I am an asylum seeker and
This is my passion” “Together yes we can
And yes we will Lift the Ban.

And the rights of #Refugeechildren
No matter what we are
Together We need to share and care.

We will share and define
Our goal
And we made sanctuary
In politics wonderful” By “MD”

The course has of course based on the basic values of CoS. Which is Inclusiveness, openness, participation, inspiring and integrity.

The project was aimed to evaluate the impacts of SIP course on the students and how it is making changes in their life and creating opportunities using CoS empowerment tools throughout the Community. Data was collected through the questionaries’ from 20 SIP students who did the course recently in DURHAM , BRISTOL And Wales. Students were asked simple questions about the SIP course thorough online survey mechanism called survey monkey. Every one of them has answered number of questions followed by some feedback through my interviews during the course to the students and other events in CoS. There were closed questions and one open question throughout the session. However, the students were given chance to give detailed responses through open questions at the end. Students were asked about their opinions in terms of future improvement of the course with some suggestions. In the result section there will be the questions sample and data will be reflected which was collected. And in the summary of the results will follow up the most significant results and similarities from the previous predictions of this course.

Results:

In this Section some questions are being picked up and displayed and detailed discussion will be presented in the next section. Result data has been collected from 20 SIP students online.

Summary of the Results:

The survey of the results was consisting of total 7 questions. Most important questions were reflected on the result section to emphasise the research through online survey.

Question -2 pie chart shows the number of student’s opinion about the of the time of the course held they have attended. Out of 20 students 65% of them have said it was very useful time. Some of them mentioned about the events somewhat convenient and it was 15%.  Surprisingly 20% of them said it was extremely useful time period. 

An important reason has been found through the question 3 was about the environment of the course where it held. Most of the students think it was useful environment to have that course. Whether nearly same number of student thinks it was somewhat comfortable and extremely comfortable as well. Through the questionaries’ it has been found that course environment was overall comfortable for the SIP students.

However more significant result has been demonstrated in question 4 regarding the improvement of Students individual skills.  There were significant amount of students said it has improved their political awareness. Around 15 students out of 20 has passed that opinion. This opinion justify the main aim of the course in-terms of the title of the course “SIP”. Opinion about political awareness and leadership skill was been chosen by 4 students. Which helped them to improve their leadership skills. Very surprisingly, in real life scenario one of the student has become a “ Refugee WEEK Leader, UK 2020” and couple of others are leading signatory projects around north east including engagement of local educational engagement and fashion designing and fight for the rights of Refugee children in the UK Parliament. Some others have on the process of Sanctuary Scholarship and currently studying and helping local city of Sanctuaries with their expertise.

Other significant result has come throughout the question about how useful this course was for the students. Almost all of them agreed it was very useful for them. A series of open questions were been asked to the students. Six students have answered it has empowered them and had impacted them positively on their self-esteem. Other specific facts were- it gives them knowledge, empowered them to know about their rights and entitlement and helped them to learn involve them with others. This is important as this is a new country for most of them and it SIP helps them to learn those skills to overcome the obstacles of hostility. 

Discussion:

Discussion will be consist of couple of sections. A general overview of the course, Some SIP course pictures, People , power and Parliament, Entertainments and food review, An overall feedback, Campaigning for the change, Some feedbacks during the SIP Course, Some recommendations for the future courses by the SIP students.

• A general Overview:

Over three days (26-28 September,2019) in Durham, 18 people seeking sanctuary attended a three-day residential course Sanctuary in Politics organized by the national City of Sanctuary team.  The aim of the Sanctuary In Politics course is to educate, engage and empower groups of sanctuary Seekers (refugees and asylum seekers) about the UK political system and history and provide skills training in working with the media, awareness raising, campaigning and advocacy.  This course is intended to equip a new generation of leaders to become ‘sanctuary ambassadors’ within the City of Sanctuary network and raise the voice of people seeking sanctuary.  Attendees came from across the Northeast and Yorkshire to participate in the event and from a range of backgrounds.  The Durham SIP course covered a range of topics in a series of sessions, including: Establishing shared understanding of course values ​​Introduction to the Political History of the UK (emphasis on post-1832 reforms) Equality and diversity in the UK Introduction to the UK media  scene and how to engage effectively • People, Power & Parliament – An Introduction to the UK Parliament • Role of Local Councillor & what you can do • Campaigning on human and social rights • Introduction to campaigning on refugee / asylum seeker issues tors and presenters came  from partner organizations like IMIX, Just Fair, The UK Parliament Outreach team, Newcastle City Council as well as the City of Sanctuary staff team.  This Durham SIP course follows on from earlier courses in Preston, Bristol and the Republic of Ireland and later on in Wales.  CoS received generous hospitality from St. Aiden’s College and St. Chad’s Colleges within Durham University to host the event. 

Some memories of the SIP course:

• People, Power & Parliament :

An Introduction to the UK Parliament- was one of the best part of the course recommended by the students through their interview. Sanctuary in Parliament is not new idea for Cos though. It was started in 2014when Tiffy Allen was invited to Westminster. In her book “ Hundred Thousand welcome she said “ September 2^nd dawned, a cloudless summer day, History was dripping from the walls as a hundred refugees and supporters walked through the 400- years old Westminster Hall and along with the dark carpeted corridors, statues and portraits of scores of prime minister gazing down at this unusual group of visitor” ( Tiffy Allen: A Hundred Thousand Welcomes, P – 141,142). This story inspire the whole SIP group to be assured about their rights through CoS movement in parliament.

• Entertainments:

Between the learning sessions, attendees and CoS team found time for walks in Durham, an open mic night, dancing and lots of laughter and new friendships. 

Food was fantastic. While interviewing the students about their food experiences – “ It was very nice to be with everyone and share foods and feel like a family”

Another student said “ Food was lovely jably with love and passion which shares the love of Sanctuary”

One of our organiser had expressed “ Most of the time we had to had food either in work or with family or kids, having food with everyone in the SIP course I felt like a picnic od sanctuary”

We have written a sanctuary song which was created by one of our student. “ I am coming home” It becomes the most favourite to everyone.

• Overall feedback:

Overall, the feedback from attendees has been overwhelming positive with comments like: “every part of the training was exactly what I came for” and Everything was up to marks “- and most frequent -” Thank you! “The attendees will be working on post-course assignments to put into action all they have learned. They are being supported mentors local to them over and will come back together for a presentation and graduation ceremony in 2020. The CoS staffs in their interview “We just cannot wait to come back and have the reunion in February”.

In one interview I have asked 15 of them how was your stay in the hotel- in one word everyone has said “Fantastic”.

• Campaigning for the change:

One of the important focus of the course was “Campaigning for the change” and how SIP course can help the students to build up further skills to involve themselves in local or national campaigns. A book by “ Jonathon Ellis was very helpful tool for that aspect about campaigning. In his book he said “ In my training I have suggested a number of possible selection criteria to help people decide their priority focus for an advocacy campaign. This include: Experience and evidence, clear solution, Winnability – is the solution actually achievable? views of people with real experience of your issue and interest from your target. (Jonathan Ellis, 2017, CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE, P-24)

• Some feedbacks during the SIP Course:

 I found the practicability of the training useful. The best thing was that the staff was approachable and friendly.  The most useful thing was the coverage of the topic of parliament.  Getting to know the UK Law and politics, how to make your voice heard & how to find and contact your MP Education on the UK Parliament and the human rights we have Learning about politics so we can know our rights and how our voice will be heard  Every part of the training was exactly what I came for Meeting new people, learning about ideas, Parliament, and things about campaign.  For me the most useful was the information that I got, especially introduction to the UK parliament.  But in general everything was useful for me, and I was happy to be here.  Constituency and the link between government and parliament and the English political parties The friendship and organization of the training ..real information and really loved examples.  Very informative regarding .socialising befriending and empower us to do campaigning It was amazingly organized.  Topics were covered thoroughly and perfectly delivered.  The best thing is that the training not only for giving knowledge but also giving participants opportunity to participate into a learning project.  I like the flexibility of the CoS team and their understanding.  We met new friends from different backgrounds and that was great.  During this training, I found out that even being an asylum seeker / refugee, I have more right than I could imagine.  And I can make my voice heard.  I was Inspired. 

• Some recommendations:

1.Hand-outs should be more legible In February we will be meeting again.

2. Also it would be great if CoS keep supporting us like that.  Maybe give the participants a summary copy of the topics covered in the day. Assign people for further tasks, voluntary work and to contribute to the society.

3. We need more extended time and practicing.

4. The training was really well-organized.  More days, less hours Maybe next time invite the MP of the hosting town / region to talk and interact with us and listen to asylum and refugee problems and hear from them the best feasible ideas to be involved with MPs.  Everything was great, but I think we need enough time to discuss.

5.A tour around the city will be great in the second day.

6 . Last but not on the list –

“I missed by belated mother during that course and felt proud. But it was so great I managed to forget her during the course. That is the power of sanctuary. (My Heart drawn-Md) “

Conclusion:

In conclusion this course is intended to equip a new era of leaders to become ‘sanctuary ambassadors’ within the City of Sanctuary network and raise the voice of people seeking sanctuary. This course empowered so many people until now which leads the community in positive way. It is inspiring and very empowering and shows how a simple idea of a course called Sanctuary in Politics can become Transformational. Students through this course found themselves very positive and they have expressed their view saying their voice are been herd, they know about their rights and ready to explore to be there for the country. I would like to finish with my beloved mother last wordings “Be there for people, and your community, no matter what. Something good will happen in return”. Sanctuary in Politics is one of that platform which teach you to be there for your community and your people.

Future Recommendation in SIP Course and Research:

It is highly recommended that all the future course will only benefit the AS and RF community to integrate to the UK society and give them that nourishment of  Sanctuary empowerment to be there for their community and their people. I would be happy to be involved in any further research and renovation of this course if necessary. All the research was done with utmost level of care and privacy of the students and CoS policy.

Limitation and Recommendation:

 Although the research report has been based on real life feedback from the students who did this course but the result data was pursued with limited resources of 20 SIP students only. There may be a lack of stability in facts in terms of larger quantitative and qualitative data. A wider understanding of effects on local people’s attitude can be pursued in future to help the society in terms of major health issues.

• 

List of References:

1. Voice record of interview by Md
2. Allen, T. (2019), A Hundred Thousand Welcomes. UK, City of Sanctuary.
3. Ellis, J. (2017), Campaigning For Change. Hawarden, Gladstone’s Library, UK.

Appendix 1: Proposal

Research Report Proposal

Name:   Md Mominul Hamid

Title:	“Sanctuary In politics and its Importance in Refugee and asylum seekers life”
Background    and rationale:	This research project will demonstrate how the Sanctuary in politics course benefits the life of asylum seekers and refugees. This report will present the impact of  SIP in significance of this course in everyday life for Asylum seekers and Refugees.
Aim(s):	To compare the SIP on asylum seekers and refugee’s everyday life. Which is very important to make sure the wellbeing of that group in the UK and know about their rights.
Method:	Primary data will be gathered from the research reports. It will also include a sample of interview and feedbacks from the individuals who has done SIP course or involved from locally, nationally, internationally. All of these people will be answering the impact (positive and negative) in their own life after doing the SIP course. A series of questions will be asked to those individuals to assess what the most significant factors are contributing to their experiences. Are certain factors inflicting on their capacity and understanding their rights? Are viewers only being fed certain agendas as there does not seem to be a choice or reliability aspects of their rights and after the course, they did found it was wrong? How they find this SIP course influential and helped others. At what level it gives them the opportunity to break the barriers they had and how they made it happen using the tools from SIP?
Timetable	Week: 3: Start Research Week: 4: Write Proposal, Submit Proposal, Start writing and Evaluating Questionnaires (Submit Questionnaires) Week: 5: Work on individual ReportWeek:6: Focus on- results and discussion Week:7: Hand in draft reportWeek: 8: Research Report- structure and the abstract Proofreading Week: 9: Proofreading and PresentationWeek:10: Redraft February 21st: Final research report hand in

A Short Bio of the Researcher:

Md Mominul Hamid is a REFUGEE WEEK LEADER 2020, UK , a human rights ambassador and community advocate who is campaigning for the rights of asylum seekers to access higher education. Himself a  victim of modern-day slavery and trafficking into the UK, and an asylum seeker, he is now a Sanctuary Scholar at Northumbria University, where he is studying law. His Judicial Review against the Home Office, based on Article 8 human rights, led to the ban on new asylum seekers accessing education being lifted (Immigration Bail Act 2.0). Through his campaign in the North East, Northumbria University has already given five scholarships and Newcastle University has announced three scholarships for asylum seekers.