People / Unsung Hero
‘I’m not superwoman but I can help them’
It’s hard to imagine that a child who has fled their country in unimaginable circumstances, travelling thousands of miles to saftey could be in need of a tour of Bristol but sometimes it’s the small steps which are incredibly important, says youth worker Shaista Yaqub.
Showing them how to get from the refugee centre at the Malcom X Cantre in St Paul’s to The Station, the city centre hub of Creative Youth Network, is a short but important journey as they start to integrate, make friends and feel safe and secure in their adopted city.
Through weekly and monthly sessions, Shaista has worked with hundreds of young refugees and asylum seekers, helping them to understand life in Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
“These young people have been through an incredibly traumatic time,” she says, “it’s important that they learn how to adjust to our culture and put themselves in a safe place by understanding what is and isn’t acceptable here.
“The way they are expected to behave here can sometimes be very different to what they are used to and they have to understand that.
“Sometimes they fall in with the wrong crowd especially if they don’t have any money…people traffickers could be looking for them… they can have mental health problems from trying to deal what they have seen and experienced.”
Through her Welcome Wednesdays and Unity Youth Forum sessions she has used sport, art and even cooking sessions to help young people from across the world get to know Bristol and each other.
“Some are homeless, some are isolated – these sessions help them feel more secure as we help with housing, voluntary opportunities and getting them into employment.”
Since Brexit the support sessions have become even more important, she says: “We talk about current affairs, how and why some of the media portray them and what they have experienced.
“There is a very small minority of people out there who are racist but we encourage the young people to talk through their experiences and help them deal with that.”
Passionate about working with young people Shaista says she gets a “huge sense of achievement” from her helping others: “They say ‘you remind me of my mum, aunt or sister’ and they trust me and talk to me.
“I’m not able to do everything myself – I’m not superwoman but I can help them.”
Read more: Bristol Advent Calendar Creative Youth Network