Hopetowns: Friendship and hope against the hostile environment!

The London-based Hopetowns project emerged from the solidarity and support structures of the Calais ‘Jungle’ camp in northern France. Spearheaded by one of the former Calais camp community leaders, Hopetowns aims to support the successful integration and well-being of refugees into British society, by starting at the early stage of an individual’s asylum process.

Since February 2018, Hopetowns has been working to achieve its aims through concrete solutions to everyday problems intertwined with a welcoming atmosphere and emotional support. Our current programme has seen great success and widespread interest among refugees in London, with many of our classes having been attended by up to twenty-five students at a time.

Our Highlights:

- We are extremely proud to present the outcome of our recent Creative Writing project ‘Past, Present and Future: From Sudan and Syria to London With Love’. It is a beautiful collection of poetry, short stories and memories written by members of our Hopetowns refugee community and overseen by Salma Kasmani, Robin Sivapalan and Samer Mustafa in Winter and Spring 2019/2020.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/188451720@N08/49881612253/in/album-72157714256744171/

- We offered weekly English and IT classes, which were attended by individuals from several different accommodation centres and countries.

- We offered basic maths classes.

- We helped prevent destitution by helping with housing cases.

- We helped with family reunification cases.

- We help people to fill out forms, and accompany people to meetings with the local council and other authorities, and provide general support.

- We help with translations and interpretation, and answered any general queries about society.

- We organised day trips to the seaside and other social activities

Testimonies:

Afaf, Maths teacher: “Hopetowns is important because it’s a place where multiple cultures can come together. We don’t help just one group, but rather people from all around the world. It’s not about religion, people from any countries are welcome and it also gives an opportunity for us as volunteers to learn from students and each other.”

Mautasim, support worker: “Sometimes the people we support don’t even know about their rights, eg their right to register with a GP, or how to integrate into the societies and into the community. Many have come from a conflict area and some might have been in places like Calais for long and difficult periods. We support them and tell them about their rights. We support asylum seekers awaiting the outcome of their claim, and also those with refugee status."

We now need your help to keep Hopetowns up and running!

We are completely volunteer-run but your donation can help to make sure that rent and materials for the next months is secured and Hopetowns can continue offering a safe and welcoming place to refugees and asylum seekers in London.

Every Pound helps!

Thank you!