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Name: | Abdulkareem Musa Adams |
Age: | 16 |
Year of the Fix: | 2013 |
Location: | Swindon |
Campaign: | To change people's perspectives on asylum seekers |
When I was seven years old, I was forced to move from my village home in Darfur, Sudan, due to an invasion by a militia which was involved in a civil war in the country.
My entire family was killed in the attack, all except my younger brother. We escaped to nearby Chad where we sought refuge, but this is where I lost my brother also - who I am still searching for today.
After being a refugee in Chad for three years, I moved to Libya to seek refuge there. But it was in Libya during the uprising against the government in 2011 that I began to fear for my safety and caught a boat to France.
I lived on the streets in France for six months before riding on a lorry crossing the channel to England.
When I arrived in England, I was arrested and placed in social care. I was quickly fostered by my mum, Ira, and have lived in Swindon since.
Finally I am somewhere safe, and I realise how lucky I am. I am currently studying English at college and hope to set up a life here in the UK.
With Fixers, I am creating a short film which covers my journey from Sudan to the UK - a trip which took nine years from where I was to where I am today.
Many asylum seekers just want to find somewhere safe and to escape danger. I hope my film will show people in the UK that many asylum seekers needs help, and I hope young people in the UK will keep offering this help.
A group in Swindon who assist asylum seekers to find safety in the Swindon area and have assisted me in gaining a place on a college English course, and have helped me settle into the UK.
I would also like to thank my foster mum, Ira Muira, who has stood behind me throughout this entire process.
August 2013
My Fixers film 'A Journey to a Safer Place' is complete. You can watch the film below.
I plan to share my film with several refugee support organisations in Bristol, who are interested in seeing the film and potentially using it as a resource.
My foster mum, Ira, is doing some teacher training and becoming an asylum awareness/tolerance of diversity trainer and using my film as a resource for her work as well.
As for myself, I hope to work for a refugee support organisation after completing college and continue to raise awareness of the struggles many asylum seekers face.
Feedback from my film has been positive, scroll down to read some of the lovely comments people have said in regards to my campaign:
Holly Moffatt
'An amazing film, very inspiring, a real insight into Abdul's courageous journey.'
Steffanie Vitale
'I think it is good that Abdul made this film for young people. It makes me see how lucky I am and how hard it must have been to be separated from his family so quickly in such a short space of time when he was so young.'
Jamie-Lee Baker
''I think it was a good presentation because it really shows that you never know why people move to other countries. It shows that you should never judge anyone for their colour or their faith.'
May 2013
My story was featured in the Swindon Advertiser ahead of my television piece on ITV News West Country. Click here to read the article.
Abdul meeting Princess Anne following a royal visit to the Harbour Project in Swindon.
Ethan Mcinally
Ben Simms
Timothy Cranfield
Olivia G
Me and my friends want young people to know that calories aren't the enemy!
Lauren Taylor
Jo Quinn
Mason Latey
Meghann
Alexandra Garrick
Mary-Anne White and Lucy Wills
Jack H
Becky
Kiki
Liam Thomas
Hannah Carter
Becky Thorn
Jade Kingdom
Shak & Natasha
Fixers