Daniela’s Story

““I decided to volunteer for Refugee Resource as a mentor, as this sounded like an exciting opportunity to do something nice for people. I have been very lucky to have had people in my life who helped and supported me in my own journey. I just love helping others and I wanted to give something back.

I think people who are desperate enough to travel from different parts of the world to find safety should be helped and supported. If I was in their circumstances, I would do the same.

Wouldn't it be great if we all tried just for a split second, to see the world through their eyes and imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes, to see asylum seekers as human beings?

I contacted Refugee Resource last year and had an online interview. I then completed the training and met my mentee in May 2023. I support my client with anything she needs, from helping her with her English to being her voice when she hasn't got the confidence or the language to stand up for herself. When we met for the first time, we discussed about different ways I could support her and what she would like to get out of our meetings. It’s about tailoring each meeting to the client’s needs.

As part of our meetings, we talk about the future. It is important to help the client look beyond the current situation and move forward. I talk to my client about the things she enjoys doing, as well as practical things that will help her long term. One of my client’s priorities is to improve her English and therefore she attends weekly English classes in order to perfect her speaking, listening, reading and writing skills. We spoke about other plans for the future that would fall into a ‘hopes and dreams’ category. She would love to find a job, which would enable her to be more independent and would boost her confidence too. It’s just great to see how ambitious she is and the how she is planning to move forward, feeling confident with her English and integrating in the community.

This mentoring experience is a learning process for me as well. It's not just about helping people, but you also gain so much. Those cultural exchanges are so powerful and, paraphrasing Tennyson, you become a part of all that you have met. I've always wanted to do something like this.

I think Refugee Resource, as an organisation, makes a huge difference to its clients.They feel heard, listened to and not judged in any way. It makes them realise that they are not alone in a foreign country, where the language and the cultural boundaries can be challenging.

Refugee Resource supports the most desperate people. I think it's important that we should all show empathy, compassion and care for people from different parts of the world who have had to flee their country to find safety. I think we should all stand in solidarity with an organisation that helps people whose voices are often unheard”