March 15th 2024.
Faisal found himself in a difficult situation when he arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker. Due to the lack of official documents, he had to travel in secret, facing dangerous and frightening journeys. After reaching the UK, he was interviewed by Home Office officials who asked his age. Faisal, being honest, told them he was 16 years old. However, to his surprise, they declared him to be 26 years old without any explanation.
As a result, Faisal was placed in a hotel with adults, despite being a minor. This was due to the false age given to him by the Home Office. Faisal was not only living with strangers who spoke a different language, but he was also away from his family, whom he missed dearly. The hotel was crowded and offered no activities or support for Faisal, making his days even more difficult.
Faisal's journey to the UK was not an easy one. He had to leave his friends and family behind in Eritrea, where he led a normal childhood until the war in Tigray forced him to flee. Faisal noticed adults around him being sent to fight or moving into refugee camps, and he knew he had to seek a better future elsewhere. He traveled by foot and trucks, crossing borders to Sudan, Libya, and finally France, where he was fortunate to meet people who helped him because he was a child traveling alone.
Despite all the challenges, Faisal had big dreams for his future. He wanted to continue his education, learn English, and become a professional footballer or a barber. However, all these dreams seemed distant as he struggled to prove his real age to the Home Office. He felt stressed and depressed, seeing his friends who had their true age accepted, while he was stuck in a hotel with adults.
Faisal's mental health was deteriorating due to the stressful situation he was in. He desperately tried to get legal help to correct his age, but after four months, there was still no progress. Faisal hoped that other children seeking asylum in the UK would not have to go through the same ordeal as him. He also hoped that speaking about his experience would help others in similar situations.
Faisal's story highlights the issue of refugee children being wrongly assessed as adults by the Home Office, which leads to them being placed in inappropriate accommodation or detention. This not only deprives them of their childhood but also exposes them to abuse and exploitation. Faisal's plea to the Home Office is to give these children their true age and treat them with understanding and compassion. He also hopes that by sharing his story, he can make a difference in the lives of other children seeking safety in the UK.
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