“Domestic Dusters” - psychosocial feminist embroidery workshops

Project description here

“I would like to say that I get a lot of joy from spending time with you people, helping others, and sharing our thoughts with each other. I like what we do there. I had also given some dusters to my sister and we work and talk together.” - Mushk

All names have been changed to protect identities.

'So what about our wounds? Light enters from their place' - English & Farsi (Iran)

Nilufar’s testimony (Iran)

“Ten years ago, during Ramadan, my husband and I went out shopping. I was nine weeks pregnant with my second child and I had to drink water. A government agent came to us and told me that I should not eat or drink during Ramadan.

I told them I was pregnant, but they took me and my husband to their base, interrogated and threatened us. I suffered a nervous attack, and I lost my child.

I became depressed. I tried to get pregnant again but even with medical treatment, I could not give birth to a child. I felt empty and that I had completely lost my womanhood.

I lost my faith in Islam and became a Christian. Leaving Islam in my country is equal to death, and when the government found out, I had to leave.

Living as a refugee is very difficult because you have to live in a room in a hotel with no facilities. You face many bad things and it is very difficult with my bad mental condition. But I am very happy to go to church and that my family is no longer in danger. Life is full of challenges, but it improving and I hope it will be better in the future.

I thank all the good people of UK because they helped me and my family a lot. Of course, some people don't consider us human, but we also want basic human rights like freedom. We didn't want to live in a dictatorship. Please understand us.”

'Believe in yourself standing alone' (Pakistan)

Adunola’s testimony (Nigeria)

“I went through a lot in my country. I escaped war and famine which destroys life and communities. I came to London to seek a better life.

But when I got here, life wasn’t good at all, it was rough. I was homeless for roughly twenty years, moving all over the city.

Finally one day I met a lady who told me about a charity that could support me. I went there and they gave me support to find legal aid, so I started putting my application to the Home Office.

I am partially okay now, but the trauma is still too much for me. I am still going to talking therapy. I go to several groups run by charities that provide support and friendship.

My message to the people of the UK is that they should not give up, because there are still good people in this world.”

Blessing’s testimony (Nigeria)

“When I first got to the UK life was not good. I didn’t know anybody. I couldn’t speak very much English and communicate the things I needed, and nobody cared.

It was another asylum-seeker who helped me most. I was living in temporary accommodation and I had asked the receptionist for period supplies. She wouldn’t help me and I started to cry. Another woman living in the accommodation found me and showed me the charities that would help me, not only with sanitary supplies but with legal support, supermarket vouchers, and creative projects. My priest also helped me. He raised donations so that my children didn’t have to sleep on the floor, and we could buy a mattress. He prayed for us.

Life now is better because I have found organisations that have given me a platform. I am an advocate for causes I care about. I go to parliament to speak. I do arts projects so I can express myself.

Some people in the UK don’t understand what asylum seekers are passing through. Believe us. We didn’t come here for the benefits, we want to contribute.

My message to asylum seekers and refugees is believe in yourself, be yourself, do your thing. There is light at the end of the tunnel and things will get better.”

'Hurra' means 'Freedom' in Arabic (Syria)