My name is ...

I am a refugee from the Sudan and don’t want my name or photograph printed owing to possible reprisals. I came to the UK in October 2006 on my own – I was 21 years old. I stayed in Barnsley, then London and came to Cardiff in July 07 because I’d been told about the Sudanese community here. The Refugee Council found me a place in a shared house, but when I found a job I moved on to a privately rented house that I shared with someone I was working with. The landlord wanted to sell his house so we were given a month’s notice – this happened at the same time as my work contract finished, so I was facing unemployment and homelessness at the same time. The Sudanese Community advisor suggested I apply to the YMCA so I did, and was given a place here in March this year. I started out living in the main hostel but was put forward for the Re-Settlement project soon after. This is a more self contained place where you can cook for yourself and you have a workbook that takes you through living skills such as how to understand the system, dealing with people on the phone, cooking etc. My support worker goes through this with me and also helps with the things that come out of it, like getting a CV done and applying for housing. Since living here I have done a Business in the Community work placement for Royal l Mail and am hoping to hear from them about a job. I am also doing my SIA licence training next week to extend my options.

When I was in the Sudan I was at university doing a Computer Science degree. I would like to finish this here, but I have to get my English up to standard first so I am doing a special course for this. I have also applied to Barry college to continue computer science training and have an interview set up.

The YMCA has helped me with housing, training and work. It gives you information and choices. If you recognise what you want to do then you can do it. People on the streets think the hostel is bad, but it’s not all the people here. For the future I would like to complete my degree, get rich and have a family!