The journey may be difficult, but it’s just part of the adversity many refugees face.
“When you arrive somewhere you have no support, you know no one. I came here alone.”
Joseph* from Cameroon found out about the Dignity Centre while still in the camp. “I heard from people, ‘you need to go to this place first once you get out.’”
Finding a sense of community is a challenge whenever you move to a place without roots. Asylum seekers are often lumped together as one group, but of course they are individuals from different countries and cultures.
“Before I came to Dignity, I had a different mindset about other people,” Joseph continues. “When I came to the centre it changed. The centre made me feel like I could belong here – the volunteers treat us like we have a right to be here.
“It’s a space where there is no discrimination. It helped me to understand other cultures and other values. It gave me a good network and understanding of the difficulties and differences we all face as a community.”
Many threads lead to the Dignity Centre and one of the big rewards is seeing them weave together, creating networks that provide peer-based advice and support—but also new friendships, perspectives and possibilities.
To help change lives, apply to volunteer with us or donate now.
*Identity has been changed to protect privacy.
