Asylum Speakers Podcast with Jaz O'Hara: Stories of Migration

The final part of the story!!!Welcome back to the Asylum Speakers Podcast! I can't believe it's been so long since the last episode, and so much has happened since then… and that's what this episode is here to fill you in on today!!!If you haven't yet listened to the last episode that we put out, (about my foster brother Mez trying everything to get his younger biological brother Josi safely to the UK), I would highly recommend you go back and listen to that episode, because it sets the context for today's episode.To give you a brief overview…Mez left his country of Eritrea as an unaccompanied child, fleeing compulsory military service, nearly 10 years ago, crossing the Sahara, the Mediterranean sea and hiding underneath the Eurotunnel train to make it to the safety of the UK, where he became my foster brother. (He shares that whole journey in Season One of this podcast if you want to go back and listen). A few years after Mez left, his younger brother Josi also fled Eritrea for the same reasons. He too crossed the Sahara, after which he got stuck in Libya, where he tried several times to cross the mediterranean sea unsuccessfully. Here, he had a very difficult time, facing modern day slavery, forced imprisonment and many other life-threatening risks. During this time, Mez was doing everything he could to bring Josi to us and our family in the UK, safely and legally. It was a long and painful process that at times seemed impossible.In today's episode, you will be hearing the climax of this journey, the most incredible reunion of Mez and his brother Josi, and what life has been like since they found their way back to each other after ten years aart and many, many challenges. You'll hear from Mez, my mum, Mez and Josi's immigration lawyer and most importantly... Josi himself!Let us know what you think of this episode by sending us a message on InstagramTo support the show and help us to keep bringing you these stories: https://www.patreon.com/asylumspeakers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an episode and a story that I've been wanting to share for nearly two years... and I am so happy to finally be able to do so!This episode is about my Eritrean foster brother Mez and his younger brother Josi. A few years after Mez left Eritrea to avoid compulsory military service, so too did his little brother Josi. Josi is two years younger than Mez and they grew up doing everything together. They wore the same clothes, liked all the same things and Mez described him as being his little shadow. So despite Mez's warnings of how dangerous it was, it's no wonder that when he also became of age to be called up to the military, Josi chose to follow in his older brothers footsteps and flee the dictatorship in which he lived, in the hope of joining his older brother here in the UK. Unfortunately, since Mez made the 9-month journey, things have only got harder, and Josi has spent the last four years on this journey. Most of that time he has been trapped in Libya, trying to cross the Mediterranean sea to make it to the safety of Europe. He has attempted the sea crossing four times, been captured by the Libyan coastguard four times, thrown into Libyan smuggler prison and suffered the unimaginable horrors that come with that. Beatings, torture, modern day slavery, starvation and more.This is the story of how Mez has spent the last few years doing everything he possibly can to get his brother to safety. It's a very personal episode and I hope you enjoy it. Part two coming soon!--To support the show: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribeThis episode is brought to you by Skin + Me - a personalized skincare solution that has not only transformed my skin, but also my packing experience wherever I'm going. Use the code ASYLUMSPEAKERS for an over 85% discount on your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode I speak to the wonderful Imad Al Arnab of Imad's Syrian Kitchen. Imad has such an amazing story. He was a successful restaurateur in his home city of Damascus, Syria where he owned multiple restaurants, several juice bars and coffee shops. After they were all bombed and it became apparent he had to leave, he made the dangerous journey to the UK, where at first he worked in a car wash and as a car salesman. It didn't take long for him to go on to open his very successful restaurant in Central London - Imad's Syrian Kitchen.. He's now written a recipe book also called Imad's Syrian Kitchen - a love letter from Damascus to London, and is in the process of opening an even bigger restaurant still in Kingly Court off Carnaby Street.In the run up to interviewing Imad I read loads of articles about his story. In some he spoke about the 65 days he spent living in Calais, holding on to the underside of lorries trying to get to the UK. But most importantly I remember him talking about how cooking was always a part of his journey. How a British Pakistani volunteer had given him a small stove and gas canisters so he could cook for himself and 14 friends. How he didn't want to carry a knife and appear dangerous so he broke the vegetables up with his hands, and how a local Calais resident had been annoyed with them fishing close by, until one day Imad offered him some of the dish he had made with the fish, and from then on, he allowed Imad and his friends to charge their phones at his house. Imad is so instantly warm and likeable. We recorded this episode in the restaurant after having lunch there together. I didn't order, but before I knew it the table was covered in colourful, beautiful dishes. I remembered some of Imad's words from another article saying “In Syria we don't ask ‘what do you want to eat? We just serve lots of food and you can eat whatever you like, whenever you like. It's like family.”I LOVED Imad's positive outlook and came away from the conversation totally topped up and inspired… I'm so sure you will too…--To support the show: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribeThis episode is brought to you by Skin + Me - a personalized skincare solution that has not only transformed my skin, but also my packing experience wherever I'm going. Use the code ASYLUMSPEAKERS for an over 85% discount on your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode we're exploring what it's like to be displaced and part of the LGBTQ+ community. This episode is dedicated to everyone who sits at this intersection, and faces not only the challenges of being an asylum seeker or a refugee, but also the discrimination that comes with their sexuality or gender identity.We will hear from three people. A new friend of mine Hiba - the first openly trans filmmaker in Pakistan and is now living in London and seeking asylum in the UK. My other two guests today I'll be keeping anonymous. One of them, we'll call him A - runs a shelter for LGBTQ+ refugees from all over the world in Istanbul where he lives as a refugee himself from Iraq. My final guest M, you might remember from a previous episode recorded at his home in Beirut. He's Syrian and lives as a refugee in Lebanon with his boyfriend, where he told me the painful but powerful story about what happened to them.These are three very important voices, and ones we all need to listen to.To support the show: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribeThis episode is brought to you by Skin + Me - a personalized skincare solution that has not only transformed my skin, but also my packing experience wherever I'm going. Use the code ASYLUMSPEAKERS for an over 85% discount on your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode we hear the incredible story of Ayman Alhussein. Ayman is an actor, cinematographer and co-writer of amazing new short film, Matar, directed by Hassan Akkad, starring Ahmed Malek and available to watch online, for free on Waterbear.The film Matar tells the story of an undocumented delivery driver in London and highlights the challenges of navigating hostile environment Britain and its broken asylum system. This podcast episode brings you the incredible real life story behind the film. Ayman's story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest is one of my favourite storytellers ever. Filmmaker Nadir Nahdi speaks so beautifully about his upbringing spanning many cultures, the ways that food has woven those pieces together and why the stories he tells and the films he makes are so disruptively important in our society today. I was introduced to Nadir's work through his most recent youtube series Bad Pakistani about his journey through Pakistan to explore and understand his Pakistani heritage. I loved it. His work spans themes of culture, travel, heritage, belonging, food and more - all my favourite topics. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did…To support the show: https://www.patreon.com/theworldwidetribeThis episode is brought to you by Skin + Me - a personalized skincare solution that has not only transformed my skin, but also my packing experience wherever I'm going. Use the code ASYLUMSPEAKERS for an over 85% discount on your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the FINAL episode of The Journey!Today's episode is designed to speak to that rhetoric that refugees or asylum seekers might be a burden... that they take from us, economically, culturally, or whatever that fear might be. I'm honoured to be able to share multiple examples of how much we have to gain from welcoming refugees and asylum seekers with open arms. This episode came to be because along this journey we met many people working in grassroots refugee response, who have lived experience of migration themselves. By this I mean, refugees, people who have been displaced themselves, going on to support others in their same situation. So this episode is about those inspirational people turning their struggle into something incredible, going full circle and using their knowledge, expertise and depth of understanding through personal experience, to give back to their community. This episode is in honour of them.We first hear from Nour and James, founders of The Great Oven. They build giant community ovens and donate them to those in need.Next we hear from my lovely friend Danika who works unaccompanied minors in Paris. Her approach to humanitarian work has always inspired me.Finally, we finish with some inportant words from Mustafa of Velos Youth.To find out more about the organisations featured in this episode:https://www.greatoven.org/https://velosyouth.org/To support this podcast:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewwtjourneyTo buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/–Many of the people we spoke to along this journey are being supported by projects funded by Comic Relief. Thanks to donations from the UK public, Comic Relief's Across Borders programme has invested over £7 million in organisations supporting refugees and people seeking asylum along these routes. Find out more about Comic Relief's work and how to support it at comicrelief.com. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Episode FIVE of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.Today's episode is about what life looks like for people once they make it to their final destination. What is life like in their host country? What's new and difficult? What does integration look like or even mean? What can we, as listeners do to help with this process?We begin this episode in Athens where we hear from the wonderful Murtaza from Afghanistan. We also hear from Anneke - founder of UK-bassed befriending service Host Nation, and two people who have benefitted from her service - Henry and Afeworki. We finish with some final words from Susie in Cairo and Dalal in Lebanon talking about life in your new country.To find out more about the organisations featured in this episode:https://www.hostnation.org.uk/https://velosyouth.org/To support this podcast:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewwtjourneyTo buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/–Many of the people we spoke to along this journey are being supported by projects funded by Comic Relief. Thanks to donations from the UK public, Comic Relief's Across Borders programme has invested over £7 million in organisations supporting refugees and people seeking asylum along these routes. Find out more about Comic Relief's work and how to support it at comicrelief.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In his memoir about leaving Syria to life in the UK, my friend Hassan (also a previous podcast guest), shared the terrifying experience he had when attempting to reach Greece by boat. His rubber dinghy was approached by three masked men on a bigger boat, who stole their petrol tank and violently pushed them away from the shore. What Hassan experienced was a pushback.What are pushbacks you might ask, well…in short, a pushback is when refugees and migrants are forced back over a border, generally immediately after they have crossed it. It is not just illegal to send someone back without consideration or assessment of their individual circumstances, but the violence with which these pushbacks are often carried out is costing lives. Welcome back to Episode FOUR of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.So far this season we've explored the reasons why people are leaving their countries, we've taken a look at what life looks like in the first countries they arrive to and we've delved into the risks they face along their journey's.Today's episode is a very important one. Before we went on this trip we had a rough idea of what the themes of these episodes might be…. But this one was unexpected. Pretty much every person we spoke to, and definitely in every country along the way we heard stories about pushbacks.In this episode we hear from academics, aid workers and also the testimony of someone who has actually lived the experience of being pushed back.This is a shocking topic and episode, but one I truly believe we all need to know about, as the first step to stopping these pushbacks from happening at our borders. To support this podcast:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewwtjourneyTo buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to Episode THREE of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.So far this season we've explored the reasons why people are leaving their countries, and taken a look at what life looks like in the first countries they arrive to. As a result of how difficult things can be in that first country, we also know that many people are forced to continue their journey until they find a country where they can live in safety… But what do these journey's look like? How do people cross borders, often without passports, visas or documentation? Do they use smugglers? Whats it like crossing the desert or the mountains or the sea? We might have seen the newspaper articles about how dangerous these journey's can be, but let's hear it directly from the people with lived experience…In this episode we hear from a young Afghan friend of mine, Shikhali, about how he crossed land and sea to make it to safety in France. We also hear some familiar voices such as Anne O'Rorke in Turkey, and Susie and Rashid in Egypt. To find out more about the organisations featured in this episode:https://tiafi.org/https://www.syrianeyes.org/https://stars-egypt.org/To support this podcast:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewwtjourneyTo buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/–Many of the people we spoke to along this journey are being supported by projects funded by Comic Relief. Thanks to donations from the UK public, Comic Relief's Across Borders programme has invested over £7 million in organisations supporting refugees and people seeking asylum along these routes. Find out more about Comic Relief's work and how to support it at comicrelief.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome back to Episode TWO of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.People often ask me ‘Why don't refugees stay in the first safe country they land in? It's a comment I see a lot on social media and one I feel there is a lot of judgment and misinformation around. This episode is designed to answer exactly that. I'd like everyone who genuinely wonders about this question, to be able to listen to this and fully understand why a person's journey can go on to span many countries.We'll be hearing from six incredible women... both refugees and people working in the humanitarian space in countries like Turkey and Lebanon, that border Syria and other conflict zones….Our first stop in Turkey, the country which hosts the most refugees in the world. Here we visit Anne O'Rorke, an retired entrepreneur who left her home in Ireland to set up a community centre for Syrians in Turkey called Tiafi.Next up we head to Beirut where we hear from Dalal, who works for UNHCR, and my lovely friend Dara from Syrian eyes.The final stop is Egypt where you will hear from another four incredible women from Eritrea, South Sudan, Egypt and America about what life looks like for refugees here.It's a big and important episode. Remember to let me know your thoughts!To find out more about the organisations featured in this episode:https://tiafi.org/ https://www.syrianeyes.org/https://stars-egypt.org/To support this podcast:https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thewwtjourneyTo buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/–Many of the people we spoke to along this journey are being supported by projects funded by Comic Relief. Thanks to donations from the UK public, Comic Relief's Across Borders programme has invested over £7 million in organisations supporting refugees and people seeking asylum along these routes. Find out more about Comic Relief's work and how to support it at comicrelief.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm so happy to be bringing you episode 1 of The Journey - a 6-part podcast series following migration routes from Africa, The Middle East and Ukraine, to northern Europe.In this episode we're starting from the beginning and exploring why people first embark on their journey. Why do people leave their countries and everything they ever knew behind? What are the push factors? We'll be hearing from people from all over the world about the circumstances that forced them to first become a refugee. Our journey begins in North Africa, in Cairo, the capital city of Egypt, where we spent a week meeting many young people who have fled countries all over Africa, such as Eritrea, South Sudan, Nigeria, Sudan and Somalia and more, and are now living in Egypt. You will hear from Ahmad from Nigeria, Albino from South Sudan and Radhid from Somalia.We then head to Lebanon and hear from ‘M' who shares a different reason for leaving his country - his sexuality. Next we head to Greece to hear from Mustafa, who runs Velos Youth - a wonderful organisation supporting young asylum seekers in Athens.Finally we hear a short poem from a young Syrian named Mohamed in Istanbul, Turkey.To find out more about the organisations featured in this episode:https://stars-egypt.org/https://velosyouth.org/To buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/–Many of the people we spoke to along this journey are being supported by projects funded by Comic Relief. Thanks to donations from the UK public, Comic Relief's Across Borders programme has invested over £7millon in organisations supporting refugees and people seeking asylum along these routes. Find out more about Comic Relief's work and how to support it at comicrelief.com. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on the 24th February, I think it's safe to say we've all been thinking about the Ukrainian people. This week I've been in neighboring Poland, (which, at the time of recording this is now estimated to be home to 4 million Ukrainian refugees). I've been honoured to speak to some incredible people both leaving Ukraine and volunteers and NGO's on the ground supporting those leaving Ukraine. In this episode you will hear from Iryna - who fled Ukraine after finding out she was on the Russian kill list, Cat and James, both volunteers from California, and Elmi Abdi, a Somali refugee in Poland, supporting non-Ukrainian's leaving Ukraine.To directly support Elmi Abdi's incredible work:https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nonukrainiansinukraineTo check out Love Welcomes, our wonderful sponsor:https://www.lovewelcomes.org/(remember to use the discount code WWT at check out for 10% off)To buy our merch:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Period Poverty. You might no know what this term means yet, but this episode will tell you everything you need to know. In it we hear from six incredible women from five organisations working to tackle period poverty from the ground up. If you would like to find out more about their wonderful work, check them out here:Ella Lambert - founder of The Pachamamma ProjectMelissa Robel - founder of Pads 4 RefugeesDara Foi'Elle - Syrian Eyes TeamDalal - The Free Shop LebanonMeelie Pemberton - founder of Wing Woman LebanonAbir - employee of Wing Woman LebanonTo support our podcast: https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe To check out our amazing sponsor Love Welcomes: https://www.lovewelcomes.org/To buy some merch: https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/ Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This International Women's Day, It's only right that I bring you the story of one of the most incredible women that I know... Khalida Popal.Khalida grew up playing football with her brothers in Afghanistan, and even though she faced serious discrimination from her community as a result, she went on to form the Afghan women's football league with her friends. Despite death threats at the hands of extremist and anti-women's-rights groups, she went on to be the first woman on the board of the Afghan football federation, the first female employee of the federation, and the captain of the Women's National Team after being the driving force behind it's growth.But as Khalida's profile grew, so too did the threat to her safety, and Khalida was forced to leave Afghanistan and begin her journey as a refugee. After living in various refugee camps she has been granted asylum in Denmark, but has never lost ties with her homeland. Last year, when the Taliban seized power of Afghanistan, Khalida worked tirelessly to campaign for the safe evacuation of the Afghan women's football teams, who had become targets to the Taliban (who do not allow women to participate in or even attend sporting events). Khalida rallied the international community and was eventually successful in safely evacuating over 300 people - the players and their familes, to both Australia and the UK. Khalida continues to advocate for the rights of women and girls through her organisation Girl Power, which uses sport as a tool to empower, connect and unify women and girls from all cultures and social backgrounds. This episode is brought to you by Love Welcomes: https://www.lovewelcomes.org/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today's podcast episode is about a country very close to my heart - Sudan.Like most people in the UK, I grew up without any knowledge of what was happening in Sudan. In my history lessons at school I learnt about the Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing that happened during the second world war, but I learnt nothing about the current genocide in Sudan that continues to this day. It wasn't until I went to uni and I somehow blagged my way onto a scholarship programme to study Mandarin in Beijing, (a story for another time), but I was sharing a room with a now good friend of mine Anna, who was studying the genocide in Darfur (a region in Sudan) for her degree. She was my first introduction to the situation there. She gave me the context, she told me stories about what she was reading, and I remember lying in bed one night in our room in Beijing, watching a film together called ‘Attack on Darfur' - a hollywoodised, but pretty accurate depiction of what is happening there.That film still haunts me honestly. This is a warning for anyone who watches it - it was the most heartbreaking film I've ever seen, but it served a very important purpose for me. Fast forward about 5 years or so and I found myself in the Calais Jungle refugee camp for the first time, chatting to a guy there who told me he was from Darfur. As he talked about how his village had been burnt to the ground and he showed me the scars on his legs from where bullets had hit him, I thought back to that film and those conversations with Anna, and I was grateful that I knew even just a little bit about what he was telling me. I realised though that I still had a lot to learn.Since then, I've met many wonderful Sudanese people along my journey. I'm happy to call some of them my best friends, you guys might remember my conversation with Awad in Episode 2, and I also have a Sudanese foster brother. This episode comes after many conversations with them about the best way to encourage understanding and awareness for the people of Sudan. It aims to be a comprehensive introduction into the history, but through personal stories that make this information accessible to everyone.In it we hear from three wonderful women sharing their knowledge and stories about Sudan. First, Sonja and Maddy, from an amazing organisation called Waging Peace who support the Sudanese community in the UK, then Marwa, who shares her personal experience of living in and leaving Sudan. Her testimony is an honour to be able to include and share with you. To learn more about Waging Peace: https://wagingpeace.info/To check out the products made by our lovely sponsor: https://www.lovewelcomes.org/ (use the code WWT for 10% off at checkout)To support Asylum Speakers by buying a t-shirt or a hoodie: https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/To support Asylum Speakers by donating: https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribeTo get in touch: https://www.instagram.com/Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm so excited to introduce you to our guest for this episode... Syrian filmmaker, activist and most recently, author, Hassan Akkad! Hassan is the very first person I ever heard speak about their experience leaving Syria first hand, and it's safe to say that it had a huge impact on me. Not only has Hassan shared his incredible story through talks and at events, he actually first became known for filming his journey from Syria to the UK - and his iconic footage was shown on the BBC documentary, Exodus back in 2016 for which he won a BAFTA. Since then, Hassan's passion and dedication to telling his and other important stories has taken him all over the world, including to his local hospital where he worked as a cleaner during the pandemic.In September last year, Hassan published his incredible memoir, Hope not Fear. I read it in a couple of days and even though I thought I knew his story, it absolutely blew me away. In today's episode we talk about his journey, his book, how candid he was in it, who he didn't want to read it and why, and at the end he tells the story of the beautiful reunion he recently had with his family after many years of not being together. You can find Hassan's book hereThis episode is sponsored by the incredible Love Welcomes (Remember to use the code WWT at checkout for 10% off.)To support this show and keep us sharing these stories, you can donate hereSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This is an extra special bonus episode in which I ask some of my amazing previous podcast guests - 'What does Freedom mean to you?'As we come to the end of Season 5, it felt good to touch base with a few old friends of the show, as well as to explore a theme I have been discussing with the team at Amnesty UK - human rights. We all know we have rights, no matter where we come from, but not everyone (including myself) is super clear on what their human rights actually are.@AmnestyUK have come up with a campaign called #KnowYourFreedoms, to help raise awareness about the four essential freedoms that belong to all of us. As part of this campaign I have put together a very special bonus episode of the podcast to explore the concept of freedom and what it actually means.The freedom to be whoever you were born to be is a fundamental human right

I've got a bit of a different episode from normal in store for you today as I'm going to take you with me on a really fun experience I had recently.... a Lebanese cookery class.Let me explain... My guest this week is Ahmad Sinnu. We met through one of my all time favourite organisations Migrateful. Migrateful run cookery classes led by refugees, asylum seekers and migrants who are otherwise struggling to integrate or access employment.  These cookery classes are absolutely amazing.  They not only provide the teachers with ideal conditions for learning English and building confidence, but also promoting connection and cultural exchange with their new community - and as a participant, you learn something new and you get to eat it which is a win-win for me. I've been to a couple of these classes in person now, and also done one online, and they're awesome. Anything that revolves around food makes me happy and these classes bring together everything I love - cooking, eating and meeting new and interesting people from all over the world. So a couple of weeks ago i went to Ahmad's Lebanese cooking class to learn how to make vegan moussaka and tabbouleh. Ahmad is an asylum seeker. He left Lebanon 6 years ago after being shot on two separate occasions, leaving him in a wheelchair. He worked for the Lebanese red cross and learnt to cook when his parents passed away when he was young. So the first part of this episode is the cookery itself, and the second half if a beautiful conversation I had with Ahmad the following day. I hope you enjoy it!To find out more or book your own cookery class: https://www.migrateful.org/Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

For anyone who doesn't remember the incredible story of the Stansted 15 - they are a group of human rights activists who organised a non-violent action to stop a deportation flight leaving from Stansted on the night of the 28 March 2017.The plane they stopped from leaving the UK was chartered by the UK Home Office to deport 60 people to Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. Amongst these people were several victims of human trafficking. Most deportations in the UK take place on normal scheduled flights with other passengers not being deported, but up to 2,000 people a year are deported on these secretive mass deportation flights, specifically chartered by the Home Office. They take place at night, and the passengers are often shackled in chains and waist restraint belts or leg restraints. This is what the Stansted 15 wanted to expose. Their aim was to stop these charter flights from happening altogether.What actually happened after that day, was the group were arrested, and instead of being charged with aggravated trespassing, the usual charge for a non-violent action like this at an airport, they were charged with terrorism charges carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison. Almost two years after the action they endured a 10-week-trial and were initially found guilty, but this conviction was eventually overturned in January of this year and their names were cleared.Very importantly, as a result of their action, 11 of those 60 people due to be deported that night, now legally live in the UK. To me, thats a huge success. I closely followed this story as it was unfolding and have always wanted to talk to a member of this group. I've just always thought it was an absolutely incredible thing to do. So I reached out to a few of them for this episode and got the general sense that this whole process had taken a huge emotional toll on them all, and they were busy trying to rebuild a sense of normality.But one member of the group, Mel, was happy to meet me and invited me to her house. I was immediately totally enamoured by her as soon we met and we spent the afternoon together chatting, she made us sandwiches and we went for a walk in the forest. Mel has a real sense of calm and a sweetness and strength about her that hopefully comes through in this conversation. This story is so inspiring to me and I hope you enjoy it .Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode of The Worldwide Tribe podcast is dedicated to the people of Afghanistan. It was recorded in response to the devastating events we have seen unfold there over the last few weeks as the Taliban has taken over the country. My guest this week is Rustam Wahab - a 19 year old British Afghan who has single-handedly become the go to source on Instagram, for up to date information on the situation on the ground. Rustam has been running a popular British politics page on Instagram for a while, called UK Fact Check Politics but this last week, his personal instagram page has grown from just a few thousand followers, to a quarter of a million followers as he tirelessly updates us there on what is happening in Afghanistan. Rustam is incredible and if he's doing this at 19, who knows where he'll be at 29, 39 or 49. I know I'm excited to find out. This conversation blew me away. It's both informative and emotional and I hope it's helpful.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A very special episode for you today!I've been trying to get my dad on the podcast for ages, and finally, here he is! Having heard my mum's perspective of fostering, lots of you have been interested to hear from my dad, for his take on parenting so many kids from all these different countries. My dad has always been a little more private when it comes to sharing his story or being on Instagram, so it came as an amazing surprise this week that he was felt ready and keen to talk to me for this episode. It's another very personal one for me and I share some family updates about Mez's brother at the beginning. Talking to my dad made me feel a LOT. I always knew he would have some beautiful insights to share, and he didn't disappoint. I hope you enjoy the realness he brings today.JazTo buy a t-shirt or hoodie:https://theworldwidetribeshop.com/To follow us on socials:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theworldwidetribe/Facebook: https:///www.facebook.com/theworldwidetribe/To support the show:https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribeSupport the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I LOVED recording this episode!My guest this week is the most requested guest on this podcast ever - Holly Penalvar, founder of Indigo Volunteers. Holly is an absolute ray of sunshine and known in this sector, not just for her amazing work coordinating thousands of volunteers, but for always doing so with a smile on her face so I think you guys probably knew that she would bring some joy and good vibes to the podcast. Indigo volunteers is where I direct anyone wanting to volunteer within the refugee space. They directly connect volunteers with one of the 48 grassroots humanitarian projects and organisations that they partner with. They do so ethically, for free (unlike lots of other money making organisations that profit from placing volunteers), and they also carefully place people based on their skills and preferences. On a personal level, Holly and I have always connected over our similar journeys working in this sector, from plunging head first into the grassroots response to the European refugee crisis back in 2016, and being on a steep learning curve ever since. A recent headline about Holly in the metro read:“I quit my job and ended my marriage to volunteer in greece with refugees. I helped thousands, met a new love and had a baby” - we talk about this journey that she's been on today, from leaving everything behind in England, to 8 weeks ago, giving birth in Holland to baby Matteo with her Dutch partner Stijn who she met whilst volunteering in Thessaloniki. To find out more about Indigo Volunteers:https://www.indigovolunteers.org/Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In 2015, two young men called Carlito and Justin, hid inside the wheel well of a plane flying from Johannesburg in South Africa, to London. As the wheels of the plane were lowered for landing, Carlito fell from the sky, to his death on the roof of an office building in West London. Against all odds, his best friend Justin survived, and was found on the runway at Heathrow airport. Today I speak to Rich Bentley, a filmmaker from London who spent five years looking for Justin and making a film about Justin and Carlito's story called The Man who fell from The Sky. Rich's film aims to show the human story behind making such a desperate and dangerous decision.There have only been 128 people ever recorded to have attempted a journey like this… and only 24 of them have survived. This is not surprising because at every stage you are brought close to death. You can fall from the plane as it takes off, be crushed by the wheels as they retract back into the plane, or die from the temperate during the flight which reaches as low as -81 degrees. You will without a doubt at least lose consciousness in these conditions, which means you are then likely to fall from the plane as the wheels are lowered for landing.In this episode Rich tells us about meeting a few miraculous survivors including Baswee - the first person to ever attempt doing this in 1946 when he was just 12 years old. He was fleeing Indonesia after the death of his parents. We also talk about when he met Osama, a 27-year-old palestinian from Gaza who hid beneath a plane from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.But for the most part we talk about Carlito and Justin, who attempted this feat just a few years ago. It feels close to home because they were heading for London, which is actually the most popular destination for wheel well stowaways, with 16 in the last 25 years. Carlito was raised in an orphanage in Mozambique and Justin was from a township in Johannesburg, This is where the two of them met, became friends and lived in a tent together whilst trying to survive. And that's the common thread in all these stories  right. Behind every headline about migrants trying to make it to the UK, lies an individual story of someone driven by the dream of a better life.I hope you enjoy our conversation today. Not only do we cover this important story, but we also talk storytelling with social purpose, we talk bias, privilege and using Rich's film as a journalistic tribute to all those in search of safety.Watch Rich's film here: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/the-man-who-fell-from-the-skySupport the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I'm bringing you this special episode of The Worldwide Tribe in response to what has been happening in recent weeks in Israel and Palestine. When I asked on social media what you wanted to hear about this topic , you said personal stories and also the history of the region so that's what I'm bringing you.My guest today is the amazing Yara Eid… a 20-year-old from Gaza. Yara left Gaza 5 years ago, after winning a scholarship to a boarding school in Wales. She now studies International relations at the University of Edinburgh and travels across the UK raising awareness about Palestine. I first learnt about Yara after seeing a viral video of her on Instagram last week. It was a raw, heartbreaking moment of her crying after hearing the news that her neighbours house in Gaza had been bombed, and not knowing whether her own family had survived the attack. The video stuck with me through all the posts, noise and outrage about the most recent developments in the region, as it was such a personal account of the human impact of what is happening. In this interview Yara brought me to tears about 8 times. The stories about her little brother, the death of her pet tortoise, what she witnessed at 14 years old, and the way she articulates her experience in her second language, just absolutely blew my mind. I truly feel that Yara's personal account, as a human being, regardless of politics, nationality or your beliefs, needs to be heard and I hope that recording this podcast is the beginning of a friendship between us because I think she's amazing. I hope you enjoy our conversation. To find out more, follow Yara at @eid_yara on Instagram.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today's Episode of the podcast brings you the stories of two incredible young women, Nujeen Mustafa and Marwa Mbayed.I was introduced to Nujeen and Marwa by Humanity and Inclusion, a charity who support people with disabilities, who are also affected by poverty, conflict and disaster. Unfortunately, this is the reality for both my guests today. Nujeen was born with cerebral palsy. After leaving Syria aged 16 to escape ISIS, she made the 3500 mile journey to Germany in her wheelchair. She has since gone on to give a ted talk, co-write two books and become the first disabled person to brief the United Nations Security Council.Marwa was 24 years old when she was in a car accident in Syria as a result of weapons being shot on the highway. She was immediately paralysed from the waist down. She too now lives in Germany.These two stories are a strong reminder that anything can happen at any moment, to change the course of our lives forever, and that much is out of our control… but what is within our control is how we deal with it, and these two women set a shining example to us all.To hear more from them:Marwa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marwa_mbayed/?hl=enNujeen's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nujeenmustafa/?hl=enTo find out more about Humanity and Inclusion and the incredible work they do to support people with disabilities: https://www.instagram.com/humanityinclusionuk/ https://humanity-inclusion.org.uk/en/index?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpdqDBhCSARIsAEUJ0hOoNfmW3Yg7L4mtLZ2e3DPr-33DkINRpBcEb0O2znjAvj_BIcKTIvsaAs4sEALw_wcBTo donate to the podcast:https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribeTo buy a tshirt or hoodie:https://theworldwidetribe.teemill.com/Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week I'm talking to Karina and Katie from an organisation called United Stateless - the only organisation in the United States of America to be advocating for stateless people. This is another topic that I had no idea about before Karina and Katie opened my eyes to what it means to be stateless.Turns out there are around 200,000 people in America alone who fall into the category of stateless, and millions of people worldwide - a number that is difficult to estimate as half of the countries in the world don't count these people...One of these people is Karina herself, who was born in Soviet Ukraine, in the former Soviet Union. She left there when she was 4 to try and seek asylum in Canada or the US - both of which rejected her claims. Meanwhile the Soviet Union had ceased to exist, leaving her without a country. She currently lives stateless in the US. To find out more about United Stateless: www.unitedstateless.org.To buy a T-shirt or Hoodie: https://theworldwidetribe.teemill.com/To donate: https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribeSupport the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's episode of the Worldwide Tribe podcast is about something we all need to know about... The Kafala System.Kafala means sponsorship. It's a system common across many Arab countries, where a citizen of that country can ‘sponsor' someone from a poorer country to come and work for them. There are around 400,000 migrant domestic workers in Lebanon under the Kafala System right now. They come from countries such as Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Sudan, Ghana Kenya, and  others, to work in private households as maids. They are excluded from Lebanese labour law and 94% of these women have their passports confiscated by their employers on arrival. Their immigration status is also legally bound to the sponsor, leaving them at risk of exploitation, physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Shockingly, two of these women die in Lebanon every single week. Whilst in Beirut a few months ago, I got an insight into this system when I met a group of Nigerian women desperately trying to escape it. This episode is for them, and for every woman trapped in hell in this blatant example of modern day slavery. The least we can do is listen to them, learn about their plight and join them in calling for the immediate abolishment of the Kafala System. To find out more:https://thisislebanon.news/To buy a tshirt:https://theworldwidetribe.teemill.com/To donate:https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribeSupport the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You might remember that at the end of last summer, UK artist Banksy hit the news when he funded a new search and rescue boat in the Mediterranean. He painted it bright pink, with a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy painted on the side, and it was named the Louise Michel after a French feminist anarchist. The Louise Michel has so far made one rescue mission, on which it brought 219 people to safety. In this episode you will hear the story of what happened on that rescue mission from two of its crew members, Vanessa and Dickon, or V and D as they call each other. V and D met on a previous Search and Rescue mission, fell in love and have gone on to set up their own organisation - Search and Rescue Relief.We recorded this conversation at their home in South London before the most recent lockdown, where I also met their puppy Marmite…who  makes an appearance in the episode too.V and D will be sure to leave you totally in awe of what they have achieved and been through together. To find out more about V and D's work, follow them @sar_relief and check out their website here: https://sarrelief.org/Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do you think of refugee camps as only existing in countries far away? Today's episode of The Worldwide Tribe podcast is about one right here in the UK: Napier Barracks.Up on a hill in the seaside town of Folkestone in Kent, lies a disused army barracks built in 1794. It's red-brick buildings, surrounded by 10-ft fences topped with barbed wire, were actually due for demolition in 2021, until our Home Secretary, Priti Patel, made the decision to repurpose the barracks as accommodation for asylum seekers. Since September 2020, Napier Barracks has become home to 400 people who have recently arrived to the UK in the hope of finding safety. Instead, they find themselves living in conditions described as inhumane and deeply concerning by the many bodies of experts, groups and individuals who call for the camp's immediate closure. Something disturbing is unfolding in this coastal town right now and I believe this should be at the forefront of our attention. In this episode I talk to two people: one of Napier's first residents, a poet from Yemen who I will refer to as ‘S' in order to protect his identity, and Maddie, founder of Humans for Rights Network, who has been collecting testimonials and evidence from Napier's residents in the hope of getting their voices heard and their basic human needs met. Napier is one of two ex-army barracks being used in this way. Sign the petition to close Napier Barracks and Penally Barracks here: https://action.freedomfromtorture.org/close-the-barracks?utm_campaign=21DC011&utm_source=fftinsta&utm_medium=Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

WELCOME BACK to Season 4 of the Worldwide Tribe Podcast!It's been a while, so this episode covers some of the big events of the last few months...from a trip to Beirut after the explosion, to a brand new brother!Spend some time with me, Jaz, sharing an update on lockdown, the recent Channel crossings, a new film, but most importantly...a new family member! Halfway through this episode I am joined by a very special, secret guest who also has a lot of wisdom to share. It's the most intimate episode yet, and made me both laugh and cry.I'd love to know your thoughts and what you'd like to hear more of in the rest of Season 4. I already have some amazing guests lined up but I'm always open to suggestions and questions. To get in touch send me a direct message on Instagram, @theworldwidetribe. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it, rate it and leave a review, it helps more people find this podcast, and it helps me to keep bringing you these stories. The more people who come on this journey with us, the more connected we all become, the more we unite as one Worldwide Tribe. Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

My guest this week is Manwar Ali - a former radical Jihadist who is now a leading campaigner in Britain against violence and extremism, and works with the UK police and Home Office to prevent radicalisation in young people.Whilst studying in London in the late 1970's, Manwar gradually became radicalised and was involved in radical Jihad for 15 years, recruiting others, fundraising and fighting for the cause. He is now one of the only scholars in the UK who has been directly involved in violent jihad and he draws on these experiences to address issues of extremism through education, social projects, charitable events and open discussion . Manwar and his wife came to my house for this conversation and it was very emotional for both Manwar and I. There's something really powerful about owning your mistakes and going through such a huge transition. Manwar is sincere and I truly believe anyone listening to this will understand what happened to him and the decisions he made. Manwar continues to teach Islam and now encourages anyone drawn to violence to let go of anger and hatred and instead see the beauty, goodness and truth in others. I hope you enjoy this eye opening and educational episode.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The whole world was shocked by the footage of last week's explosion in Beirut. It hardly looked real. But amongst the thousands of videos of the blast and the statistics being reported in the press internationally, are the hundreds of thousands of people who have been impacted by the tragedy. Today you will hear from two of these people, Lebanese rapper and director at Beirut Records, Jeff Bourjaili, and Syrian refugee and communications officer at SB Overseas, Ahmad Hafez. Both of them call Beirut home. In this episode, both guests share their important and different perspectives on the explosion. Jeff, whose home in the neighbourhood of Gemmayze in the city centre, has been completely destroyed, explores the failings of the Government and the frustration of the Lebanese people. Ahmad Hafez, who has been living in Beirut since 2018 when he fled compulsory military service in his hometown of Aleppo, represents the huge refugee population living in and around Beirut. An estimated up to 1 million Syrians live in the city, and around 1.5 million Syrians live across Lebanon.Ahmad Hafez also works for the incredible grassroots charity SB Overseas, who focus mainly on education and empowerment for displaced people in Lebanon - predominantly Syrians and Palestinians. In Beirut, SB Overseas run a beautiful school for the Syrian children living in Shatila refugee camp, which I had the pleasure of spending some time in last year. Even though Shatila camp is pretty far outside of the city centre,  it's residents were still impacted by the explosion and Ahmad Hafez explains the heartbreaking effects on his community.  In the aftermath of the explosion, SB overseas have shifted their focus to support the city's most vulnerable with their urgent needs - including Lebanese residents. Their work is incredible and invaluable, and this podcast episode is in support of them. To donate:https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wwtsupportbeirutBeirut will never be the same again, and everyone there will carry the events of the 4th August, 2020 with them forever. They will make it through this but right now they need not just out empathy, but our action. Most of us are not able to be there digging through the rubble, but can can support those that are. For anyone who has never been to Beirut, or doesn't know anyone there, it's natural that the events of this last week might feel far away. Thank you for being here and opening your hearts and your minds to these important voices and to Beirut and it's people. They need us right now. https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/wwtsupportbeirutSupport the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today is the six year anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide. If you don't know about the Yazidi people or what happened to them...this is the episode for you. My guest this week is Farida Khalaf - a Yazidi girl from a village in Northern Iraq - 100km west of Mosul. The Yazidi religion is an ancient minority in predominantly muslim Iraq, and when ISIS seized the city of Mosul in June 2014, Farida feared that her village would be next.On 3rd August 2014, ISIS fighters began the systematic slaughter of Farida's people. Just under two weeks later, on the 15th August, they surrounded her village, rounded up it's inhabitants and killed every man and boy. The women were taken to be sold, tortured, raped and enslaved.Farida shares her insanely harrowing story, from a simple village life, to mass rape, beatings and abuse at the hands of ISIS. Amazingly, Farida managed to escape and has gone on to write a book about her experience called ‘The Girl Who Beat ISIS'. She now lives in Germany where she is an advocate for Yazidi women globally. This episode is dedicated to every Yazidi who lost their life, experienced torture or continues to live under ISIS control. Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Prepare yourself for what is definitely one of the most amazing conversations that I've ever had. You might want to take notes during this episode, I felt like I did whilst Giles spoke these words to me. I wanted to remember every word that left his mouth...My guest this week is Giles Duley. Giles describes himself as an anti-war photographer, documenting humanity, love and connection in conflict zones all over the world. After years of working as a photographer in fashion and music, he realised he was not fulfilled in his purpose as a photographer, and set up Legacy of War (http://legacyofwar.com/), a photo project to connect people experiencing the impact of war. Very soon after, Giles stood on a landmine whilst photographing soldiers in Afghanistan, losing both legs and his left arm. Giles's own body became part of the story that he had set out to tell... the impact of war on innocent people. In this episode Giles shares  stories of the people he has met along the way, and the impact that they have had on his life. Listen out for Olive in Rwanda, Khouloud in Lebanon, Dawood in Mosul and more. Legacy of War has gone on to become a charitable foundation (https://www.legacyofwarfoundation.com/) which now not only shares people's stories, but changes the direction of them for the better.I'm so excited to hear your thoughts on this episode and I hope that this is the first of more that we record together because Giles has so many important stories and so much wisdom to share.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's an absolute honour to have been able to interview this week's guest...Waad Al-Kateab is a Syrian filmmaker, journalist, mother and director of the film For Sama. For anyone who hasn't heard of this film, go and watch it immediately (it's available for free online)...but be prepared. It's one of the most emotional and impactful films I've ever seen.Waad and her family's story is mind blowing. Waad documented living through the uprising and the siege in Aleppo, Syria for 5 years. During this time she fell in love and got married to a doctor called Hamza, and gave birth to her daughter Sama, a beautiful juxtaposition in amongst so much death and destruction. Today she shares stories of loss, laughter and survival, and what has happened since the release of the film. This interview is one of the highlights of my time working in this space and I'm so proud to share it with you!Artwork by https://www.milla-adler.com/Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Kicking off the season today I'm joined by a guest who's name might be familiar to you. Rob Lawrie is an ex-soldier turned volunteer from the north of England who made international headlines when he was caught smuggling a 4 year old girl from the Calais Jungle refugee camp in France, across the border and into the UK.Rob's actions saw him facing years in a French prison, with some branding him a criminal; but others saw him as a hero, and his crime, a crime of compassion. For those of us volunteering in Calais at the time, it posed the question, would we do the same? As you listen to this episode, I imagine you'll be asking yourself a similar question.But Rob's story didn't end with the judge's verdict. His relationship with this little girl's family has gone on to take many more unexpected twists and turns over the years. This episode is full of tension, surprise and mixed emotions...have a listen!Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode is another absolute treat.This week's guest is ‘Hairdresser to the Homeless,' Joshua Coombes. After years of living parallel lives working to destigmatize and unpick the stereotypes around some of the most marginalised of society, it's been a long time coming that we record this episode together. Josh started a hashtag and global movement called Do Something for Nothing after he began cutting hair for people living on the street and sharing before-and-after photos on Instagram, using them as a vehicle to share people's stories. We talk about shame, trust, patience and pain and some of the amazing people he has met on the street over the years.We also share the project we've been working on together over the last few months. It's called People of the Pandemic and it's a global portrait series amplifying the stories of the every day heroes getting us through COVID-19. It's something we truly believe in to set new foundations for the future, and we're very happy to share it with you!This episode is a collection of some of our learnings both individually and together over the last 5 years. It's a really important and personal one to me,  so I hope you enjoy it. Artwork by https://www.milla-adler.com/Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How do you self-isolate when you live in a refugee camp?How do you wash your hands with no running water?How do refugees even know about COVID-19 with no internet connection or phone signal?You lot told me what you wanted to hear next on the podcast, so here it is... COVID-19 in a refugee camp. And I thought we might as well start with the biggest one in the world, Kutupalong Camp in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, home to over 1.6 million Rohingya refugees.This episode is with Dr. Maryam, who has been working in Kutupalong since 2018.I spent some time in the camp at the end of last year and got to know Maryam as a friend. We recorded this conversation together, in person whilst I was there. Little did we know what 2020 had in store, and how relevant her words and insight into healthcare in the camp would be. She has since been updating me where possible on the situation in the camp now, and I have included these voice notes to bring you the most well-rounded account of dealing with a pandemic in a refugee camp, that I possibly could. Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Sarah Mardini has been on my radar for years.Her and her sister Yusra, who we heard from in the last episode, became known for swimming their boat to safety from Turkey to Greece after fleeing Syria. A year later, they were in Rio for the 2016 Olympics, where Yusra represented the refugee swimming team which was heavily documented by international press.But it was after that trip to Rio, that Sara and Yusra's lives forked in different directions, and Sarah's story took a pretty dramatic turn, ending up with her and her friend Sean Binder currently facing 25 years in prison, aged 24 and 25. From a war zone to the Olympics, from swimming for her life, to asylum in Germany, and one fateful day at an airport, that she will never forget...Sarah's story is everything from refugee to rescuer, hero to prisoner and more….Recorded just before lockdown, I hope you enjoy it!Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In today's episode I talk to Yusra Mardini. We recorded this conversation in her flat in Hamburg, just before the world went into lockdown due to the Covid_19 pandemic.During this time of self-isolation, it seems more important than ever to amplify voices like Yusra's. As a Syrian refugee, Yusra knows what it feels like not to have borders open to her or the freedom to travel, and to be separated from loved ones for long periods of time. Her story is one of ultimate adversity and huge triumph. She became well known for swimming her boat to shore when crossing as a refugee from Turkey to Greece, then going on to swim in the Rio Olympics one year later, as just 17 years old. She has now written a book, met Barack Obama and advocates for refugees worldwide.  I'm sure that Yusra's story is exactly what is needed during this pivotal moment in history. In this episode we discuss social media, sisters, swimming and more. Her outlook, at such a young age, truly blew me away. I hope you enjoy it...Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode I talk to Lord Alf Dubs. Alf is my hero. A child refugee himself, he fled the Nazi's in Prague in 1939 when he was 6. Over 80 years later he's still fighting for the rights of child refugees today.We recorded this interview at the Refugee Solidarity Summit in London, on stage in front of an audience for the first time. I was pretty star struck and Alf did not disappoint.We discussed our Government's recent actions against child refugees and what has changed in Britain's refugee response in comparison to WWII. I hope you enjoy it, and most importantly, I hope for everyone in the UK and beyond to better understand the decisions our government has been making on our behalf. Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

From pet goats to beans on toast, this week I chat to the amazing Mo Omar, a Somali-born comedian who grew up in Wales.Mo arrived to the England as a refugee aged seven with his mother and six siblings. Today we talk about his integration into the UK and how he draws on those experiences for his stand-up routine. Mo uses comedy to cover important themes such as migration, integration, religion, racism and more. Bringing humour to these topics often helps people to connect, and Mo does so beautifully. We discuss everything from double beds to controlling mothers, in a way that I hope will bring you lots of joy in the run up to Christmas.This one is to make you smile.Happy Christmas!Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's guest has been a long time coming for me and our conversation did not disappoint. Gulwali Passarlay, author of The Lightless Sky, shares his story of escape from the Taliban in Afghanistan, to finding safety in the UK as a twelve year old child refugee. He has some amazing tales to tell, from burning his face whilst hiding in the back of a lorry, to the moment he was reunited with his brother after months of no contact. He shares wisdom and information with a dry sense of humour; attributes that have seen him overcome prisons, border controls, refrigerated lorries and more to get to where he is today; a world-renowned author, spokesperson and international speaker on behalf of refugees globally. My first Afghan on the podcast, be sure to listen if you want to find out more about the situation in Afghanistan, the journey to the UK and life for Afghans once they arrive here.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After 39 people were found dead inside a refrigerated lorry in Essex two weeks ago on the 23rd October, I was left with a lot of questions. Why are people leaving Vietnam? Why haven't I met any Vietnamese people in refugee camps in Europe? The only Vietnamese people I see work in nail bars...is this forced labour? Today's mind-blowing conversation with 21-year-old Vietnamese refugee Nhat-Anh answered all of my questions and more. Trafficked to the UK to work on a cannabis farm, his story gives a clear and informative insight into what might have happened leading up to the deaths of these 39 people. This episode is for them.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we share the story of how The Worldwide Tribe began.I'm joined by my brother Nils who has been there with me every step of the way. From that first life-changing trip to Calais, to speaking at the UN Headquarters in New York less than a year later. He coached me through my nerves, unpicked my imposter syndrome and laughed through the negative comments. He was the stability I needed when my emotions got the better of me. Together we visited camps in France, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Croatia, Italy and more, and went on to set up projects and spread the word in schools and events together. Now, Nils focuses on running Jangala Wifi - a project started by the Worldwide Tribe, Richard Thanki and Samson Rinaldi, that has gone on to be a charity and social enterprise in it's own right, providing connectivity in emergency situations all over the world. Through our conversation we share how this journey changed our lives forever, and how we went from working in the advertising and fashion industries in London, to creating this global community of people who care.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week marks four years since my foster brother Mez made it to the UK hiding underneath the Eurotunnel train. This episode we talk about his life in England, as although one journey might have ended the day he arrived, another one of integration and big learnings began. We cover everything from his first day of school, his first time on a plane and his first opportunity to ‘chill'. We recorded this episode whilst on holiday down on the Kent coast, where he was putting this last skill into practise! Join us for a look at British culture and life in England through the eyes of a 14 year old Eritrean refugee.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week we hear from my foster brother Mez. This is an important episode for me because it was Mez becoming my brother that was the catalyst to me quitting my job in fashion and focusing all my energy into the refugee crisis and The Worldwide Tribe...but that's a story for another episode. Today Mez shares his story of resilience and survival. From fleeing compulsory military service in his home country when he was 13, to crossing the Sahara Desert and not eating for 15 days. From his boat capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea to hiding underneath the Eurotunnel train to get to the UK. Mez is the inspiration behind everything I do, and you will soon see why…Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week's very special guest is my mum, Oeda O'Hara.Together we talk about her experience of fostering three teenage boys from Eritrea, Afghanistan and Sudan and explore what it means to be part of a real life global family. This journey began for us four years ago, almost to the day, when my parents had just been accepted to foster. When a young Eritrean boy entered the UK, hiding underneath the Eurotunnel train, he was placed with my family and became my little brother. Four years on and Mez is the first of three new little brothers who have taken us on a journey of love, laughter, acceptance, compassion and growth. In this episode we discuss race, sexuality, teenagers, trauma and the true meaning of the word family.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week my guest is real-life-superhero Brendan Woodhouse, a firefighter and father of two from Nottingham. We talk about his journey from normal life in the UK, to saving lives in the Mediterranean Sea. It all started when he saw a Facebook post I wrote about the Calais Jungle Refugee Camp back in 2015, which prompted him to start collecting donations and driving over to Calais himself. Before long, Brendan headed out to the Greek Island of Lesvos following news reports of thousands of people arriving to it's shores seeking asylum.There, he began working in Search and Rescue, helping boats safely to land.The last four years have taken Brendan on a life-changing journey, which he shares with you today. I hope it resonates with you as much as it did me… his story about the baby will stay with me forever….Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I met Awad in the Jungle refugee camp in Calais, northern France, in 2015 and he was pretty unforgettable from the off. A Sudanese refugee himself, he helped volunteers with things like distribution, becoming an informal leader within the Sudanese community in the camp.Whilst living in circumstances hardly fit for an animal, he was always positive, loving and wise… as well as being the best dressed person in the camp.We recorded this episode late one evening after he'd cooked a big Sudanese feast for me and my sister in his new flat in Edinburgh. We cover some interesting  and unexpected themes, from the concept of identity, to change, to patience, to age and more. I hope you enjoy his words of wisdom.Support the show (https://www.justgiving.com/prism-worldwidetribe)Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/asylum-speakers-podcast-with-jaz-ohara-stories-of-migration. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.