September 8th 2024.
As I sat there, scrolling through the news headlines, I could hardly believe my eyes. A little boy, just two years old, lying lifeless on a beach. The image was haunting, and I couldn't shake off the feeling of sickness that washed over me. He looked so much like my youngest son, George, and the thought of him in that poor child's place was unbearable. It was September 2015 and the world was reeling from the news of Aylan Kurdi, a Syrian refugee who had tragically drowned while trying to reach safety.
The story sparked a global outcry, but as the days went by, the attention faded and people moved on with their lives. But not me. I couldn't shake off the thought of Aylan and the thousands of other families who were risking everything to flee their war-torn countries. As a busy working mom, I had my own stresses, but I couldn't imagine the desperation of a parent who would do anything to protect their children. It kept me up at night, wondering what I could do to help.
That's when I made a decision – if I was sad about something, I had to take action. So I started researching ways to support refugees. It wasn't long before I came across a charity called Rooms for Refugees, which connected people willing to open their homes to refugees in need. I immediately reached out and registered myself on their database.
My husband James was fully supportive – he knows me well enough to know that when I have something on my mind, I won't rest until I do something about it. And he was just as affected by little Aylan's story as I was. We decided that for safety reasons, we would only host single women or moms with children. And in October 2015, we welcomed our first refugee into our home – a young woman who had fled religious persecution in Iran. She had been an accountant in her home country and I helped her study and gain the necessary qualifications to work in the UK.
As word spread, more families came to stay with us. Between 2015 and 2019, we opened our home to six moms and their children. Our own kids, who were three, six, and seven at the time, grew accustomed to having extra playmates and learning about different cultures. Our guests became part of our family and we were grateful to be able to provide a safe and welcoming home for them.
One of our most memorable guests was Agnessa, a 30-year-old woman who had fled Albania with her two children. She had been living in Home Office accommodation but was left homeless after being granted Right to Remain. She quickly became like a daughter to me and our kids were like siblings. I was in awe of her determination and strength, and she inspired me to do more.
In 2021, Agnessa brought home a desperate family she had found sitting on the street with their suitcases. Of course, we couldn't turn them away and they stayed with us for three weeks. It was then that I told Agnessa that one day, we would do something bigger together to help even more women in need.
And that opportunity came in the summer of 2023. While on vacation with friends, I pulled out a conversation card game and one of the prompts asked, "What would you do if you couldn't fail?" Without hesitation, I answered that I would set up houses for refugee women and their children to have a safe and comfortable place to live. My husband wasn't surprised – we had discussed this idea before, but this time, we knew we had to make it a reality. This was the beginning of The Welcome Home Project.
Growing up, I was always taught to take action when something made me sad. It's a value that has always stayed with me, and it was no different when I came across the heartbreaking story of Aylan Kurdi, a two-year-old Syrian refugee who was found dead on a Turkish beach. The image of this innocent child, lying face-down in the sand, was seared into my mind and I couldn't shake off the sadness and anger I felt. I have three children of my own, one of whom was the same age as Aylan, and the thought of him being in such a tragic situation tore me apart.
But as the initial global outcry slowly faded away, I found myself unable to forget about Aylan and the millions of other refugees who were struggling to find a safe place to call home. As a busy working mom, I had my own share of stresses and problems, but I also knew that I had a roof over my head, food on the table, and access to education for my children. It made me wonder, what if Aylan had been my child? What if it was my family in that situation?
It was then that I realized, if I'm sad about something, I have to take action. I couldn't just sit back and do nothing while so many people were suffering. So, I started researching ways to help. That's when I came across a charity called Rooms for Refugees, which connected people willing to provide accommodation for refugees with those in need. Without hesitation, I reached out to them and registered myself on their database.
My husband James was fully supportive of my decision, knowing how passionate I can get when I have my mind set on something. He also has the biggest heart and was deeply moved by Aylan's story. Together, we decided to open our home to single women or mothers with children as we felt it would be safer for our own young children. In October 2015, our first refugee arrived – a young single woman who had fled religious persecution in Iran. She had been an accountant in her home country, and I ended up supporting her through her exams so she could gain the necessary qualifications to work in the UK and support herself.
Over the next few years, our home became a temporary safe haven for six more families. Our children grew accustomed to having extra playmates and learned a lot about different cultures. Each family quickly became a part of our family, and we were happy to provide them with a place to call home until they could find their own. One of the families, in particular, left a lasting impact on us. Agnessa*, a 30-year-old woman from Albania, had fled her country in a lorry with her two young children. She was granted Right to Remain but had nowhere to go. She quickly became like a daughter to me, and our children were like siblings. I admired her strength and determination, and I felt a strong protective instinct towards her.
In 2021, it was Agnessa who brought home our next guest – a desperate family she found sitting on the street with their suitcases. They had nowhere else to go, and we didn't have the heart to turn them away. It was during this time that I told Agnessa, "One day, you and I are going to do something bigger, as a team, to help even more women." Little did I know that our chance would come just two years later.
It was the summer of 2023, and James and I were on holiday in Majorca with friends. One morning, over breakfast, we were playing a conversation card game when I drew a card with the prompt, "What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?" Without hesitation, I answered, "I'd set up houses for refugee women to live in, so they don't have to stay in horrible hotels with no access to basic amenities." James wasn't surprised by my response – we had often talked about what more we could do to help. But we didn't discuss it any further that morning.
Little did we know, that conversation would be the start of something much bigger. A few months later, we came across a beautiful house in Twickenham that was up for sale. It was perfect for our vision – a place where refugee women and children could live comfortably and safely. We took the plunge and bought the house, and with the help of Agnessa and other volunteers, we transformed it into The Welcome Home Project. It's now a place where refugee families can stay for up to a year while they get back on their feet, find employment and permanent housing.
Looking back, I'm grateful for that one conversation card that sparked the idea, and for the support of my husband and the amazing volunteers who have helped us along the way. But most of all, I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of these brave women and children who have fled their homes in search of safety and a better future. As a parent, I couldn't imagine the desperation and courage it takes to make such a journey, and I hope that through The Welcome Home Project, we can provide them with the love, support, and hope they need to start a new chapter in their lives.
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