“IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE ADVANTAGED SOMEHOW AND SO IT IS GOOD TO SHARE THAT ADVANTAGE WITH OTHERS”
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Maya Ghazal, I am 20 years old and I am a refugee from Syria. I left Syria when I was 15 and got to the UK in 2015. I got to the UK in a plane via family reunion visa with my mum and two younger brothers as my dad was already in the UK. I faced many struggles coming to the UK and got rejected by schools in my community, however, after few dark months I was able to get over those struggles and challenges and finally got accepted to a college and was able to get back on track with my education.
Now, I am an advocate for refugees rights, speak in different events and volunteer to raise awareness and spread a message of kindness.
Can you tell us a little bit about the challenges that refugees face whilst living in the UK?
Well, from my own personal experience, I can say that integrating to the new community would be a challenge, learning English, entering the educational system and sometimes finding a job. These normal life activities can sometimes be challenging especially from people from outside the country with no one to help them or to tell them what to do or to guide them along the way.
If you could share one thing with our supporters, what would it be?
Your smallest act of kindness can change someone’s life, don’t keep it in! Something as small as a smile or a nice supportive word to refugees could make a huge difference. I wouldn’t have been who I am and got to where I am without support, help and encouragements from people around me.
Finally, what does Global Feminism mean to you?
We can support each other, lift each other and bring each other together. It is important that we always keep in mind that we are advantaged somehow and so it is good to share that advantage with others, it feels good to help and support each other, it truly makes a difference. There are many myths and labels to women and we can change that, together and as one, we can make a change and it is important that we prove to the outside word that we can do it all regardless to whatever labels and society would be giving.
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