| Abstract |
Refugee and asylum-seeking children from around the world tell their own fresh and moving stories straight to camera in this deceptively simple film.Ahmed is from Zanzibar, Maheria and Zakiah from Afghanistan; Gulsen and Fidan are Turkish Kurds; Amin, Fatiah and little Abdalla come from Somalia, and Valdemar is from Angola. Woven together, their stories tell of conflict at home, the dreams and disappointments of coming to Britain, and the pain and joy of family reunions and separations. For all of them, learning English is key to fitting in, making friends and getting the education they all value highly. Some are already sure that Britain is home now, with all its differences in street and playground culture; some dream of going home with the skills and qualifications to help build a new country. But continuing conflict produces a bleaker outlook in others. Teachers are asked to understand that many such children have a lot on their minds, however much they appreciate school. |
