Meet the Mancunian - Talking supporting refugees and asylum seekers with Mona Moussa

Meet the Mancunian-7.2-Mona Moussa transcript

Intro

Hello, and a warm Mancunian welcome to you today. I'm Deepa Thomas Sutcliffe, your host, and it's an honour to share Season 7 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester with you. This season is all about celebrating the stories of our local changemakers and the profound social impact they are creating.

Every Tuesday, I shine a spotlight on the incredible individuals weaving the fabric of our community. From grassroot heroes to local legends, their stories are the soul of Manchester. Whether you're tuning in on Apple, Spotify, Google or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk, get ready for a season that showcases the incredible social impact within our community.

Welcome to the second episode of Season 7 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester.

Passionate about supporting refugees, we hear from Mona Moussa, Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service Manager, Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury in this episode.

Episode 7.2

[00:01:14] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I'm delighted to introduce my guest Mona Moussa, service manager, Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury. Thank you so much, Mona, for taking the time.

It's really exciting to find out about your passion for supporting refugees and asylum seekers. Where did that come?

[00:01:30] Mona Moussa: It's all started eight years ago when my husband got a job opportunity in a hospital in Manchester.so we have to move from Egypt. I really had a comfortable life, I was working as a structural engineer, but when I arrived, was like a whole new world for me. I didn't have any friends.

And even though I've been taught in English for years, the accents added another layer of challenge. I felt isolated but because I am a person who likes to stay active, I began to volunteer at my daughter's school and with different organisations.

But the real turning point for me came when I met a lady. And she needed access and advice and legal support. And then seeing how completely transformed that, and hearing about the incredible struggle that the refugees go through. That struck a chord. Hearing about their resilience and determination inspired me.

I have a passion for inequalities. This is how my journey started and I really didn't know what the difference between refugees and asylum seekers is. I just wanted to help people.

[00:02:36] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much for sharing that, Mona, and it's really nice to hear. It's very interesting for me to know how each guest gets started with their passion, because obviously you have that deep passion.

And before I ask you about your work with Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury, tell us the difference between asylum seekers and refugees, can you explain for listeners?

[00:02:58] Mona Moussa: An asylum seeker, they are people coming to seek refuge because they are fleeing war or because of their religion or sexuality political. And they have to go through a process which uncertain how long it will take. They have limited resources. They are not allowed to work in the UK unless they have been here for one year and they are not entitled to education unless they've been here for six months.

While refugees they are, like a British citizen, they are entitled to all benefits, after the they get a positive decision or a negative decision and then they can be granted…

[00:03:33] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That's really interesting because I didn't realise there was such a big difference. Thank you for explaining that.

And now tell us about your current role where you're involved with Caritas Diocese of Shrewsbury.

[00:03:44] Mona Moussa: My journey as I told you before, began as volunteering, and it has been like quite a journey for me. I joined Caritas four years ago, and it's a large diocese starting from South Manchester.

My initial role was in Wythenshawe where I coordinated a project called The Will. And that is a volunteer project to teach English for people seeking asylum or refugees. But my role evolved. I started to lead well-being activities and coordinating temporary accommodation for people.

I'm proud, to be a part of a resettlement program as well. It's called Community Sponsorship, and that allows community members and volunteers, sponsor refugees families from the camps. And I really that this is the safest way for any family to come to the UK and, save them from the people smugglers. All the focus of our refugee projects are in South Manchester.

[00:04:39] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: And what is Caritas? Is that part of just the name.

[00:04:42] Mona Moussa: Caritas is the new social action and social justice agency of the Diocese I mentioned, people seeking asylum or and they really have to leave home, often find themselves in challenging circumstances. They are entitled to limited financial support.

So if they live in a hotel, they are entitled for 9 pounsd per week. And if they live in accommodation, they are entitled to 47 pounds. Considering all the rising cost of living that we are experiencing, it's a really tough situation for everyone to cope with.

And it becomes even harder if you have children. Because it's really hard to explain to the children why they cannot get this. It's very challenging for them. So tailored wraparound services, so that include essential items, like phones, SIM cards, which it's very important for them to even navigate and know. To call their relatives back home, it's really essential for them.

We also work collaboratively with a lot of organisations who gather donations we do form a lot of partnerships to deliver so like, English language because they need to know the language in order to understand the culture that they live in.

And we have art and craft sessions for women and children. We have sports activities, especially like football is very popular. Some schools took part as well by delivering sessions in the hotels for the children who are still waiting for school placement. We are really trying make their journey a bit easier sense of belonging and support during this challenging time.

[00:06:21] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you for sharing that, Mona, and this sounds like some really useful services to help them settle and integrate.

What are the challenges you face in this journey of supporting refugees and asylum seekers?

[00:06:35] Mona Moussa: I believe many charities would agree that one of the primary challenges is combination of limited resources and increasing demand of our services. Funding is like a significant issue. That's why we like to work in partnership as well, because we can more efficiently, without duplicating, make the most out of the resources.

And the constantly changing of the nature of the immigration policies and regulations, how people that we work with, still stay updated and navigating these challenges can be complex.

And then raising awareness about refugees and asylum seekers and how promote the empathy and understanding, in the broader community is very hard, with how to change the public especially around the negative media at the moment.

How foster a more welcoming environment as well is one of the roles that we take well to do raising awareness to the people that we work with through our webinars to talk. And how can we help. It's really important to provide a secure and supportive environment while respecting their privacy and dignity. A big challenge.

[00:07:45] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you for sharing that, and they're all very significant challenges. I hear this from many of my guests about collaboration and doing more by partnering so that we're filling the gaps and not duplicating. But it's also some very significant things that you're talking about, presenting people with dignity, and respecting their privacy in times when you have to provide a lot of support.

Tell us more about the impact that you've been able to make so far.

[00:08:15] Mona Moussa: I really consider myself like very lucky because I can get to see the impact in a very personal way. I can see it from people smiling or even the way they look at me, and it's to feel like by them, especially during the very dire circumstances that they face.

We helped people join colleges and we also guided a lot of people toward higher education with advisors who can help them navigate the process. We also provided people with volunteering and was actually evaluation being conducted Manchester Community Central about our work and support in the Afghan hotels. And it revealed that three young people, secured employment because of their early volunteering.

And it's easy to forget that we are all human beings and we, every one of us has their own culture, and identity. And I've met many highly educated that eager to make a positive impact on their community and they're just waiting for a chance with volunteering.

Providing volunteering, it's really important for them as well to keep them occupied, to give them a purpose, to give them something that they want to wake up and do and then have led like many activities and events as well.

When you finish the event and then come and approach you and say, we really don't know what we're going to do you. And these little… For them, it's very natural, but personally it makes me like very emotional and appreciate the work and I'm doing like impact people's.

For community well, like when we sponsor families to come to the UK through like a safe route, we have sponsored seven families in different areas within the Diocese of Shrewsbury and it's really great. And then the generosity of the community as well, because this project is only volunteer led. The amount of commitment from people and dedicated effort are very appreciating.

[00:10:13] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you for sharing that and they all sound like really great impact. You're absolutely right that the smile on someone's face and the gratitude from somebody and the fact that they can use their useful skills for good while they're waiting for formal work and for all those opportunities to come to them is really good.

And I let my guests define impact in any way they choose. It can be numbers or it can be touching the life of one person. So thank you for sharing what you did.

How can interested people reach out to you and learn more? Where can they find you?

[00:10:46] Mona Moussa: We are very active on social media, so you can find us on Twitter. And if people want to know more about the Diocese, they can visit our website, caritasshrewsburyorg.uk. And if anyone to reach out directly as well, we can connect on Twitter. We really would love to hear back from people and see who is interested in getting involved and supporting us through fundraising any volunteering.

[00:11:15] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you and shout out to volunteers or people who want to fundraise to get in touch with you.

What advice would you have for people looking to start a similar movement in another part of the world? As we know refugees and asylum seekers are now in many parts of the world. How can they support them? How can they get started?

[00:11:33] Mona Moussa: Listen to the people first, to know what they need. A lot of services will be built by what people think it's not effective as well. We have limited resources. I would say to listen to people first, to build trust people and, you or your staff, your volunteers to spend and invest time on that.

And then a word of advice, I learned that this type of work can be incredibly rewarding, but at the same time, it's physically. For anyone that wants to begin this journey and people, remember to find that balance and ensure you can the work and continue making a positive impact.

[00:12:11] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That's a great tip. All of them are great tips, but I particularly like the find the balance because like you said, you're investing so much of yourself in, physically and emotionally, possibly mentally as well. How can you make sure that you're getting the time to relax. Very good tip and one that we can apply in many different lines of work. Thank you for sharing that.

Opportunity now for you to talk about anything I haven't asked you about.

[00:12:37] Mona Moussa: Because we have Christmas coming so we need more because we work across like a lot of hotels. We need more volunteers give us time the festive season. A lot of gifts will be needed for the children.

It's good have something specifically for them. Usually, the things that they have are just like a second hand thing. So it's really in that festive season, it's really important them to have a brand new thing for Christmas, We need a lot of volunteering, a lot of donations, and if anyone felt like doing fundraising for us, that would be brilliant.

[00:13:09] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you for sharing that Mona and I do hope people come forward. You're absolutely right, everyone wants to feel special around the Christmas I hope the Mancunians as well as other people around the world might be able to come forward and support.

I now move to the signature questions I ask all my guests, and the first one for you is to describe the Mancunian spirit in a word or a phrase.

[00:13:30] Mona Moussa: Diverse, welcoming. I feel it took me a couple of months. I felt like I was so welcomed from the community, from my daughter's school. It's so special here. I really don't see myself moving. It's something special about it. And a lot of streets, I feel oh, this is like very calm places. And then I go to other areas. I feel like is like home. It's so a bit of everything.

[00:13:55] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I liked what you wrote to me, which is that you're Egyptian by birth and Mancunian by spirit.

[00:14:00] Mona Moussa: It is. I feel like Egypt is in my heart, of course. But I feel like when I to Egypt, I feel like oh, when I'm going to come back to Manchester, I feel like, calm and peace when I come.

[00:14:08] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: And can you share a Mancunian who inspires you and tell us why?

[00:14:11] Mona Moussa: I would like to talk a woman that I've met. When I hear people's story, it's really inspired me. It really moves me. It gives me like a purpose of what I'm doing. I met her three years ago. She's a refugee from Syria.

She came, referred by a social worker, she cried throughout the first station when she arrived. She felt lost and broken. She missed her family, and she was really desperate to return to her home. No matter how difficult circumstances are in some countries, many refugees still have longing.

She wasn't involving, she was very quiet. But gradually, over the weeks, she blossomed and it was really amazing for engaging in the activities, sometimes lead the decisions as well.

Like she's really confident to read the decisions. And it's really to see her come out of her shell. Today, her family are very settled. She set up her own business and a very successful business. She volunteered between her kids, her life, her business.

She found time to volunteer with me when the Afghan hotels opened two years. And to be honest, working in hotels is place to volunteer, like, offering support, word of encouragement for that was in same stage, when she was, three years.

And I remember because sometimes you can get very busy with your life, and I asked her, why do you volunteer with us? It resonated with me. And she said, I know how it feels to be in a country and I know from experience what a difference this support can make.

[00:15:39] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you. And just sound like she's really grown with the support your team provided. And of course, now she's shining herself and helping. You're absolutely right. Having come over myself three years ago, I can totally say that friendly faces and somebody to talk to you and show you the way is really helpful.

And even the little things, they're done differently here. So, whether it be learning to drive or many other challenges we have to navigate through, it is always nice when somebody who's been here longer, show you the way.

[00:16:12] Mona Moussa: Definitely.

[00:16:13] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: What's the most important life lesson you've learned so far?

[00:16:16] Mona Moussa: Actually, growing up, there is this idea that if you want to be successful, you have to be engineer. And this is why I became an engineer. And then coming to the UK, I felt like, Oh my gosh, I can be... I can start...

It just finding your passion and try to follow that. It will take a long time. It can be hard. There is some ups and downs, because, this is the passion. You're going to continue to. I don't want to restrict myself to something it's not even my dream, and I have to follow what's in my heart that is how.

[00:16:49] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I love that and this is so true because even when I was younger living in India, I've also heard those. There's things about the engineering, medicine, a few professions that encouraged and luckily for me, my parents understood that I wanted to follow communications, which was my profession and has been for now many years and my brother became a lawyer. We didn't quite comply.

The fact that today the world's your oyster, you can choose. It's a profession for a lifetime, for a season, or for something different. You can just change if you want to. That is wonderful.

If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

[00:17:29] Mona Moussa: I love travelling, so if I can just disappear in one be in another one that would be great.

[00:17:35] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: That would be lovely, right? No commuting.

[00:17:38] Mona Moussa: No flight expenses.

[00:17:39] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Flying, transportation, and combinations of that. It's extremely popular with guests. Of course, sometimes a journey is lovely, but sometimes a journey is something we can do without. I wish I could just click my fingers and be where I need to be.

Is there a funny story or a heart-warming story you'd like to share with listeners to end the podcast?

[00:18:01] Mona Moussa: Have a funny one, but it's a very embarrassing one, but it's fine, I'll share it. How differences be challenge itself.

When I arrived, I started driving. I took the license. For some reason in Egypt, we have a job for everything, someone like stay in the elevator. So when you go to the lift, they can press the button.

So I go to petrol station and sit in the car for 10 minutes, waiting for the petrol and then no one came. And then there's a gentleman approached me, and he was just knocking. Are you waiting for something? And I said, Oh, yes, please. I want full.

And he was just like. And he was like, spending five times explaining and how to open the tank. And how to open it as well because I didn't know how.

If he's listening, thank you so much for this valuable. That is the culture thing, we have someone do that.

[00:18:48] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: I'm still learning to drive, but my husband had to teach me how to do that because I was like, how does this work? Because in India also, we have people. It's a great story.

Thank you so much for sharing your experience as well as all the amazing work you do.

[00:19:02] Mona Moussa: Oh thank you so much, Deepa for having me. I really enjoyed. It was really powerful as well to how you get with this podcast and how amazing everyone's stories and what is the impacts behind in Manchester. Because I believe that Manchester is a great. Thank you so much for what you're.

[00:19:15] Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe: Thank you so much. I just love hearing this because obviously it's a tiny podcast, but I'm trying to make social impact through shining a light on all your great stories. I really appreciate it.​

Outro

Mona, I really enjoyed learning about supporting refugees and asylum seekers today.

Next week on Tuesday, 30th January 2024, I speak to Victoria Ramsden about mentoring the youth.

Dear listener, I hope you were inspired by today's episode and it sparks your passion to make change happen wherever you live and work. I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our community for your support and feedback. Your stories inspire this podcast.

Share your thoughts at www meet the mancunian.co.uk because this podcast is your platform too. Connect on socials @MeettheMancunian on Instagram and Facebook, and @ MancunianPod on X.

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To the podcast's amazing listeners and supporters, you are the true heroes. Keep thriving, keep connecting, and remember the power of change lies within us.