City of Sanctuary has had some good media coverage lately, including an article in The Guardian, and a series of articles and an interview podcast on the well-known world politics website Open Democracy.

Sanctuary
Sancruary, to turn inside
Sanctuary, to seek pride*

Sanctuary, and a big heart
Sanctuary, to feel just right*
Sactuary is the background
On which you could paint a clown*
Sanctuaries are natural desires
Aspired by cultures, empires*
Sanctuary is an internal need
Requires letting go of greed*
Sanctuary can manifest in material
When the mind gets cool after all*
Sanctuary is to love hospitality

TO ASYLUM SEEKERS.

Whatever the Home Office's decision regarding your asylum claim would be in the future, try to make your present confortable: learn your host country's language, recpect the laws and rules of your host country, be an active member in your host community. In short, always keep this in mind:
" Your efforts of Social Integration in your host community make of your stay, as much as briefer as it is, a rich and positive step in your life"

TO REFUGEES.

It all boils down to one question - who am i? really who am i?

the moment i reflect on this one thought, i embark on a deep and profound

journey, it's not a journey outside of me, it's a journey inside,

it's about letting go of all the bondages that have made me heavy,

all the labels and stereotypes that have made me fragile - an asylum seeker, a

refugee, a british citizen...

it's about identifying with my core value that is eternal, stable and ever lasting.

Tumbuka is like tangerine
Because it soothe my taste
And sweeten my day
Bringing delight through dancing

Tumbuka is like shallow stream
It flows with free favours
Pruning potentials to prosperity
Without counting costs

Tumbuka is like Zimbabwean Ambassador
It travel over the world
Preaching salsa and boogie dancing
Demonstrating gifts of Zimbabweans

Tumbuka is like a wave of water
With swimmers resurfacing
Giving gazers great gratitude
Entertaining with enjoyment

Tumbuka is tonguetied
Its bloodstream is seriously blocked
Standing on the verge of vanity
Hunting for health revivers

Tumbuka is thanking you today
Appreciating your support
It will financially function
Opening the zeal of Zimbabweans
No longer tonguetied but transformed.

Up in the azure sky shoots the sun's rays
With its mellow rays
Rises to meet another day, another trouble
To me it's not yet any hopes rays
As more weigh down my tender shoulder
Imagine a girl of only thirteen

Setting alight fire in the young of morning
Before the cocks signal the alarm
Blanketed by berserk morning air
A beast of burden for firewood, so I am bound
My path darkened by distressing danger
All those bumpy long distances I have to foot
Not to forget the baby clinging on my yonder back 

In the thorn infested forests
Drawing water in deep wells
My head carrying heavy bucket
That threatens to break my back
It makes me tired to think about
My rainbow is my tears 

All Zimbabwean girls
Stand up and be counted
Cry for thy renaissance
The rape, torture, assault and victimisation
Our life an eerie furnace of denied paradise
A swamp of devastating diseases
A journey in great jeopardy
A sad song of denied education
I am weary. So weary. Oh weary
A pain invading my pride
A breath for fresh air cometh not
Don't fall Zimbabwean girl, up and fight
Yearn for another life
Another era.

Owen McDowell, from Sheffield City Council's Asylum Team, died last week. It was a shock to all of us who worked closely with him and he will be very much missed.

The funeral will take place on Friday 14th March at Grenoside Crematorium at 2.45 pm and afterwards at the Hillsborough Hotel, Langsett Road.

The family have requested no flowers but donations to ASSIST via the funeral directors John Fairest, 10-56, Penistone Rd North Wadsley Bridge Sheffield, S6 1LQ Tel: 0114 234 3129.

It is indeed saddened to read that the UK Government have plans to barred Asylum Seekers from receiving free health care treatment in UK, I wish to remind us all and especially the law makers that Asylum seekers are all foreigners and from every part of the World they come from they all have a very poor health care facility, most of whom came into UK with different illnesses, most have been in detention in their different countries, they are mostly malnourished as a result of the fact that they are coming from underdeveloped countries or could have undergone so many ill-treatments, some of whom came to UK by ship, and some where transported by lorries across the borders in a very unpleasant situation, some of whom are physically and psychologicaly imbalanced. These vulnerable people if denied access to health care will tantamount to a massive outbreak of diseases in UK in the near future, Asylum Seekers in UK should be allowed to access free medical treatment while in UK, and not only on emergency because while in UK and there is an earthquake (which most of us witnessed yesterday) it affect all in our society irrespective of colour, background, age group, location, language, ethnic group, religion or status etc.

I must say that in as much as people are refused Asylum and in one way or the other they are still in UK they should be allowed a free medical treatment to save lives first for humanity as well as enable a check in spread of numerous diseases across UK. Asylum Seekers are human beings like everyone of us, is only that they are being subjected to the name Asylum Seekers because they came to UK to seek asylum, most of whom are experts and specialists in their field of profession. Due to the conditions they found themselves "Asylum seekers" they subjected to living a pauperish lively hood because they can’t afford many things in UK. Their impoverished situation, malnutrition, and fear of the unknown i.e. fear of been grabbed by the Home office (dawn raid) detained / deported back to the country where they fled persecution have inadvertently subjected them to fear which leads to low selfesteem, psyicological effects and could aggravate aggression in many cases.

Support those involve in this campign : To be continued.

Thanks Comments needed

Kenzo

email: ken9098057@aol.co.uk

Last week I went with my family to the Karen people's New Year celebrations - 2747 according to their calendar, at Abbeydale Grange school. The little girl pictured above in traditional Karen costume was one of the dancers who performed in front of a packed audience, which must have been over 300 people - and all of us were fed with a hot meal of spring rolls, chicken and rice dishes.

The Karen people are refugees from Burma, whose villages are regularly attacked by the military junta, and who are forbidden to speak their language or practice their culture in their own country. Sheffield's Karen community lived for many years in jungle refugee camps on the Thai border, with no prospect of a safe return to Burma, until Sheffield agreed to welcome them through the UN Gateway Protection Programme.

What impressed me most about the celebrations was the enormous efforts that the Karen community are making to build relationships with local people - to tell their stories and share their culture, and to invite people to get to know them. They also spoke about the welcome they had received in Sheffield, and how much it means to them to be able to live in freedom, for the first time in their lives.

They also had the most beautiful hand-made skirts, jackets and bags for sale, to support their people in Thailand. If there are any entrepreneurs out there with a fashion business, Karen clothing could be a big opportunity... (I bought clothes for both my children and a bag for my wife, and I'm not usually known as an impulsive buyer.)