| This month:
One World
Week: all together now - Asylum hope
One World Week: all together now
We are all waking up to the
understanding that our way of life is under threat from:
| * climate change: |
caused by the way of
life that has developed in industrialised countries over the last two
centuries, is set to overwhelm the lives of some of the most vulnerable
people already threatened by floods and drought; |
| * economic injustice: |
continues to divide
people and destroy livelihoods; |
| * conflict and fear: |
undermine social
relations, our liberty and, in many places, threaten lives. |
We all have to address these
challenges together. We need to do it now.
‘All’ because it will
take all of us, everyone, everywhere, to work to secure a sustainable and
peaceful future for all,
‘Together’ because only
together can we share understanding and responsibility for the future,
‘Now’ because now is the
critical time to act to stem climate change. Now is the time to seek
shared understanding between diverse communities.
One World Week 2007 is 21st -
28th October
Top of page
Asylum hope
Imagine that you have been living
in this country for a number of years as an asylum seeker. You are so
glad to have been given a fresh start, away from the horrors of the past
when you feared for your life and could hardly dream of having a safe stable
future.
You have a job; pay taxes; may
even have married, and have a family,
Then, one day, there is a knock on
your door and you are told that your right to stay in the UK has not been
confirmed. Your original application has been found to be faulty.
In the turmoil of escaping from your home country you were unable to gather
together the original documents that you need to support your case.
You are to be deported to your
home country with all its dangers and fears. Leaving behind family and
friends, you are taken by prison van to an Immigration Detention Centre from
where you need to make your appeal against your removal.
But how? You are, in effect,
imprisoned, with limited access to phones and your solicitor.
How can you ensure you get a fair chance to make your appeal?
The Yarl's Wood Asylum Casework
Support Group (YACSG) provides such help by making contact and following up
solicitors on behalf of detainees, making sure that their case is being
followed up with all the appropriate documentation needed for an appeal
hearing.
With a Casework Support
Volunteer's help, detainees are given new hope. They can put together
their case and their circumstances can be properly put to an Immigration
Court.
YACSG comprises an ecumenical
group of volunteers, supported by the board for church and society, working
from their own homes on a case by case basis, who ensure that, as far as
possible, asylum seekers and others are treated fairly and with respect
within the law.
YACSG urgently needs more
volunteers to join in this work. Full training is given and there is
regular support and ongoing training provided. Travel is not always
necessary and out of pocket expenses are covered.
Could you help in this work?
Or could you donate £70 to cover the costs to support one detainee?
To find out more, contact Kemi
Akinruli Church and Society Officer at The Diocese of St Albans 01727
851748 or the Rev Graham Clarke, Chairman of YACSG, on 01727 857786.
By Graham Clarke and first
published in SeeRound.
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