Southend Branch Attends CAST Conference

As part of the Black History month Communities and Asylum seekers Together (CAST) held its first conference in Southend on sea aiming at tackling a plethora of issues that affect refugees and asylum seekers. In attendance were members of the vibrant MDC Southend on sea, Southend Zimbabwean Network, The British Red Cross, Mind, Health watch, religious representatives and many others.

During the course of the day different issues that affect refuges and asylum seekers in the United Kingdom were discussed and explored in light of the CAST objectives and plans which aim to look at how to help Sanctuary seekers with accommodation and other needs as they face the day today problems in the sanctuary system.

Individuals from different countries had an opportunity to tell their asylum stories and during discussions it was clear that the sanctuary seekers from different parts of the world are faced by the same problems as they go through the sanctuary system. One could deduce that problems affecting Zimbabweans are not different from countries like Syria, Congo and all other politically unstable countries.

 The conference suggested ways on how communities and organisations can work together to help and support the Sanctuary seekers emotionally, socially and assist with accommodation. In one workshop on media it was agreed that the word 'asylum seeker' is derogatory and discriminative should be replaced by 'sanctuary'. Stanford Biti facilitates the U.K sanctuary (asylum) workshop which concluded on the need to revamp the whole system in line with United Nations millennium development goals. Washington Ali suggested that there is need for Sanctuary seekers to be assisted in different ways so that they don’t feel isolated in the communities. Charles Dliwayo entertained the conference with a great and emotional religious song. Shiellah Sibanda recited a subtle poem lived experiences of sanctuary seekers.

Shiellah Sibanda

Treasurer