December 25th 2024.
Alex sat on the couch with his partner Rebecca, their dog curled up at their feet. It was the holiday season and they were reminiscing about last year's Christmas. If someone had told them a few years ago that they would be putting up a Christmas tree with a TikTok-loving, Gen Z refugee, they would have found it hard to believe.
Normally, Alex and Rebecca didn't go all out with decorating for Christmas. They usually traveled to visit family in different parts of the country or Alex's family in the US. But last year was different. They had taken in Lina, a refugee, who was staying with them over the holidays. And there they were, taking her out to choose the perfect Christmas tree.
Lina was not familiar with the tradition of Christmas trees, and was surprised that they were going for a real one. But when it came to adding tinsel and baubles, she had a very specific vision and was thrilled with the end result. This year, Lina had moved into her own flat and started college, but Alex and Rebecca were excited to host another refugee over the holidays.
It all started for Alex a few years ago when he read a heartbreaking article about the treatment of asylum seekers. The thought of refugees being crammed into overcrowded temporary accommodation like hotels and the lack of future plans for those newly granted refugee status was distressing to him. He felt like he needed to take direct action and do something to make a difference.
That's when they came across Refugees at Home, a charity that connects refugees and asylum seekers with people who are willing to host them. As luck would have it, their next-door neighbor was a volunteer with the charity and they had talked about it briefly. After meeting some of the refugees she was hosting, Alex and Rebecca signed up to be hosts.
The vetting process was simple and within weeks, they had their first guest - Rami. He was only supposed to stay for a couple of weeks, but due to the Covid-19 lockdown, they ended up spending the entire pandemic quarantined together. It was a challenging time for everyone, especially for Rami as he anxiously waited for the outcome of his asylum claim.
During this time, Rebecca observed Ramadan with Rami and they bonded over cooking Middle Eastern meals and watching Netflix sci-fi dramas. Rami ended up staying with them for six months and they became very close. When he finally received his refugee status, they had a big celebratory dinner and he now works as a civil servant, enjoying everything London has to offer.
Since then, they have hosted refugees from various countries, and as a same-sex couple, Alex and Rebecca are particularly empathetic towards those who have faced discrimination because of their sexuality or gender identity. It gives them perspective to hear their stories and they are happy to be a small part of their journey as they settle into the UK.
Some people may find the idea of hosting a refugee scary, but for Alex and Rebecca, it has been an easy and lovely experience. Last year, they met Lina, a young woman in her early twenties from the Middle East. She had an incredible story and had been through a lot in her life. Chatting with her gave Alex and Rebecca faith in the resilience of young people.
Lina's enthusiasm for traditional Christmas activities inspired Alex and Rebecca to get more into the holiday spirit. They put up a tree and decorations, went out to do festive things, and even introduced Lina to her first mince pie. She made festive TikToks with their pets and extended her stay with them until she found a room in a shared house and started college.
For Alex and Rebecca, the holiday season is all about sharing it with others, and they feel lucky to have a growing family of refugees and asylum seekers who have become a part of their celebrations. They look back at their decision to become hosts with pride and are grateful for the meaningful connections and friendships they have made.
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