A traumatic journey from Sudan brought 17-year-old Rafaat to YMCA Hillbrook House in April 2024.
“I was so afraid at first, although the police and the staff were kind. I didn’t really understand what was happening. I was told ‘This is your room’, but I didn’t know if I would be safe,” he remembers.
“My experiences had made it hard to trust. Fortunately, there were other Sudanese residents and I asked, ‘Will no one attack me here?’ They told me this place is good.”
YMCA Hillbrook House in Redhill offers affordable accommodation and support services for 16-30-year-olds. Residents can stay for up to two years, receiving a personal support plan to help them work towards becoming independent.
Being under the age of 18, Rafaat is an unaccompanied asylum seeking child (UASC). Assessed as needing accommodation by Surrey County Council, he has been given the option to become a ‘looked after’ child under Section 20 of the Local Authority Care under Children’s Act 1989.
“My YMCA Key Worker, Sarah, has helped me so much,” says Rafaat. “She took me to see a doctor and made sure I understood what was said. After a couple of weeks, I began to think that I might be OK.”
When Rafaat arrived he spoke minimal English. Sarah worked with him to improve his vocabulary, teaching him basics such as colours and animals and moving on to sing Billie Eilish tunes together. Rafaat began attending East Surrey College, quickly flourishing due to his determination to learn. Having started at Level 1 in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), he has now been reassessed and will begin the autumn term at Level 4.
“I read everything I can,” says Rafaat. “I love to study and I work every day for up to five hours. I understand past, present and future tenses. I just have to work on my grammatical errors.”
“I want to be a Environmental Engineer, because I have seen the problems in Sudan where there is not enough fresh water. What is available is very dirty and it makes people ill, so they have to buy water but this isn’t easy to do. The water should be treated. I need to study so I can solve this problem.”
With free membership to YMCA East Surrey’s gym, Rafaat spends up to two hours working on his fitness every day and enjoys running. He has made a network of friends through college, the YMCA, Mosque and Big Leaf Foundation – a charity which works in partnership with YMCA East Surrey providing activities for displaced young people aged 15-25 in Surrey.
“I have been on many trips already and learned new things,” says Rafaat. “We did canoeing and archery in Southampton and had a campfire. I’ve visited London and also worked on a farm for a week, looking after animals. I had a good time. I like to keep busy because it stops me thinking too much.”
YMCA Housing Officer, Sarah Bradford says:
“Every Surrey County Council UASC referred to YMCA East Surrey comes with their own individual history prior to their arrival. Our aim is to provide them with a stable environment and give them the opportunity to thrive and achieve their goals. Rafaat has made leaps and bounds in every aspect of his life. When he arrived, he was quiet and polite, but I have seen his confidence grow. Now he is more comfortable and will ask for help when he needs it. He’s beginning to open up about the traumas he has experienced.”
Although Rafaat is still an asylum seeker, YMCA East Surrey has helped him to obtain a solicitor. Documents will soon be sent to the Home Office and Rafaat should then receive an outcome.
He says: “When I arrived, I would often cry because I missed my home. Now, my language is better and my health is better. People are very kind. They listen and they help. I can tell Sarah everything.”
“I was in a bad situation before, but now it’s like heaven. I am happy. I like it here. I’m not going anywhere.”