A word from one of our oldest clients
Boaz Trust Director, Dave Smith, met an asylum seeker for the first time in 1999 whilst working for the Mustard Tree, a homelessness resource centre in Manchester. He had no idea what an asylum seeker was, or why they came here, but he was forced to get to grips with the issues fast! By 2003 60% of the Mustard Tree’s clients were asylum seekers and refugees. Dave recognised the need for a charity focusing on the massive problem of destitution amongst asylum seekers in Greater Manchester, and left to set up the Boaz Trust in 2004.
One of the Boaz Trust’s first clients was a lovely lady from Ethiopia. She tells her story here:
“I came to the UK in 2001 because I was involved in politics and had to flee. The Home Office refused me asylum in 2002. Before I came to Boaz I was spending my time everywhere, sometimes I would sleep at the bus station. I was hungry and suffering for a long time before I came to Boaz. They gave me somewhere to live in 2004. Now I have a house to live in, I have food, I have clothes. I can open my house and have friends round and relax. Now I am safe. I am very happy. I have been in a Boaz house for 6 years. I hope to get leave to remain in the UK soon. I want to work to support myself. I would like a job looking after old people or children. Boaz has shown such kindness, they have saved my life, they have saved us from suffering.”
Please keep this lady in your thoughts and prayers. She is one of the thousands of unresolved legacy cases the Home Office have promised to deal with by 2011. Pray that she receives leave to remain in the UK soon.
You can read more about how Boaz began here.
