Where is Home?

By Faosat

Home is where your heart is and it’s your temple. But where you are struggling to make ends meet in your country of origin, you move to where you can find comfort. Even though with uncertainty, you will take the big risk. I was born in Nigeria, an adverse country, but left Nigeria for London when I couldn’t find love amongst my people and couldn’t make ends meet. London is a country of opportunity and I came with the hope things will get better. I did not foresee the challenges I would face, trying to get my stay regularised.

On getting to London, and as a stranger in a manger, no one to show or direct me of what to do, I was in limbo. It was getting tougher and harder—days turned into months and to years. It has been twenty-five solid years of sojourning. Life seems dark, without light, no help in sight and I have been alone, like an animal in the wild, with no one to care and show love. I felt dejected, dumped, and abandoned.

Everyone has eyes, hands, feet and skin. When you take that away from them, you take away a big part of their humanity. They become a victim of cruelty.

Immigration is the key to all doors in this country. While trying to sort out your papers, you will need to make many turns to overcome many obstacles. You will be scammed, go through abuses of all sorts, bullying and exploitation of all kinds. Being an undocumented migrant, refugee or asylum seeker is not easy. Some people will share your pains and be empathetic, while some people will maltreat you and you will feel that the whole world is against you. This is when you tend to miss home. And being away for so long, you miss people, foods that you enjoyed, places of interest. And you will be home sick.

But as a realist, a strong, focused and resilient person, I know that no condition is permanent. And freedom will come in the end and you will be as free as air. Then you will be opportuned to visit as often as you like and enjoy all that you have missed while you were caged up with all the obstacles and challenges.

I refused to be criminalised by my situation in this country. And the same upbringing, I gave to my two generations of children that I raised in this country, for all of us to remember where we were coming from and be of good behaviours that will portray good about our home country, upbringing and family background.

All the above goals cannot be achieved without having support. I am glad that I found a good network of support through Migrants Organise. Through attending various groups, organised by Migrants Organise, I have learnt extensive new skills. Group sessions like creative reading and writing, the sewing group and women’s group have contributed immensely to my wellbeing. Because I am able voice out my feelings and share my experience with everyone in the group, it makes me like Oliver Twist, wanting more, and I am always looking forward to joining the group every week! May I take this medium to show my appreciation to all Migrants Organise Staff Team, volunteers and all my group members. Thank you all and God bless.

Audio Version

Artist Bio

“I am Faosat. My root is in Nigeria but I have been residing in London for over two decades now. I am a realist, a focused person, adaptable, strong, resilient and a very considerate person.”