Strangers into Citizens Rally

Thousands of people, from all nationalities, came together to give a voice to the migrant worker population. Many gathered in Trafalgar square to hear the Asian Dub Foundation play and various political speakers from across Europe and the World give their opinion about how Britain treats migant workers. Overall, there was a concensus that there needs to be change by regularising undocumented migrants who have worked in UK for years but do not enjoy any rights. It also highlighted the plight of Malaysians with British-overseas-citizenship, who are often turned away by their own country (UK) eventhough they were born with only British passports.

For our group, the events began in Chinatown where the speeches drew attention from hundreds of Chinese migrants. After the lion-dog and dragon performance, the crowds of hundreds of Chinese followed the lion-dogs on a march to Trafalgar square chanting about workers rights. The event was an overall success which we hope will catch the eye of the Conservatives and Labour (as Liberal Democrats already support us), in order for the regularisation of migrant workers to be passed in parliament. It was touching to see the Chinese community stand so strong and united, of all ages. Those who could not join us, gazed out of their shop windows to watch the march. One man held a sign which struck me most. It said, 'black cats can also catch mice, ability has no ethnicity.' And this captured the essence of the campaign.

Roma in Rhodes

In the Summer of 2006, I spent a lot of time alongside the Roma whilst I was working in Rhodes in a Chinese Restaurant. In order to understand them, I spent a lot of time talking to them in Greek, as it was our only common language. Maria, who was the same age as me, became one of my close friends and they seemed to appreciate that I was treating them as equals and they reciprocated in the same way. As most nations have done, Greek society has also rejected the Tsigganoi (gypsies) and they are treated lower than the Albanians who live there. Many of them are children who lost their child-hood for begging on the streets to feed their brothers and sisters and parents. The gypsies come out every day at 6 to sell roses and toys to Tourists who may give them enough money to feed themselves that day and a few pennies to save for those who have rent to pay. Others live in caravans. Maria always told of her dreams to marry an Italian man who she had fallen in love with but she is now married to another Roma, whom her parents chose. Though only 19, her dreams of life have disappeared already as she has already become a Mother herself. Her worries will now be how to feed her daughter. All these children have no dreams, they will just follow in their parents foot-steps until their own children are old enough to beg on the streets for them. Throughout the world, gypsies are disliked, simply for the fact that they don't have a stable home. But I saw a different side to these people when I lives alongside them. They accepted me because I treated them as friends, as fellow human beings, not as 'scum' on the street. They even shared the little food they had with me. Above: ROSALINA

Αυτό είναι ο φίλος μου Mikel, είναι αλβανικός τσιγγάνος αλλά ζει στην Ελλάδα. Είναι μια ντροπή ότι λόγω της προέλευσής του, δεν γίνεται αποδεκτός ως κανονικό παιδί στην κοινωνία ότι ζει μέσα. Είναι η ευθύνη μου να σιγουρευτώ το μέλλον ότι του είναι φωτεινό.
This is my friend Mikel, he is an albanian gypsy but he lives in Greece. It is a shame that because of his origin, he is not accepted as a normal child in the society that he lives in. Though he speaks English, Greek and his Roma tongue, he will probably never become anything more than a musical act on the streets of Rhodes town.
Above: MARIA


Αυτό το αγόρι είναι ο αδελφός του Mikel. Το πρόσωπό του μας παρουσιάζει την αθωότητα της παιδικής ηλικίας. Δεν ξέρει ακόμα τη φύση του μέλλοντός του. Αλλά όταν, θα αρχίσει να παρουσιάζει τις ανησυχίες της πραγματικότητας.
This boy is the brother of Mikel. His face shows us the innocence of childhood. He does not know yet the nature of his future. But when he does, he will begin to show the worries of reality.

Text and Image Project

Papiya represents the struggle of British muslim Asians. She has seen everything, from infanticide to domestic violence to honour killing. For many years she had to live a life of two identities and the only thing that has freed her from that was being forced into marriage by her Father. Finally, now she can continue to pursue her dreams with her strong mind. From her experiences, she will help others in her situation in the future.
The text which is projected across her face is about her Mother, who has been a light and rolemodel for her throughout her life. She has showed Papiya how to endure pain and get on with life, and sacrefice your happiness for those you love.
As for many British Asians, Nizar struggles with his identity. We neither fit here nor there and we live a life in limbo. The text is the lyrics from a song by Outlandish which brings in the discrimination against Muslims when assciated with Terrorism. It brings forward the issue of what its like to be British and to be a Muslim.

Bandi is a refugee from Kurdistan. He is a man without a state. After the war, he came to UK to seek a better life. He has now applied for university here to study Islamic Law and dreams that one day, his country will be independent. The text is a poem about the massacre in Halabja, when Saddam Hussein used chemical gases to target hundreds of Kurds.
Zdenek is an economic migrant from the Czech Republic. The text tells us about his life. I chose to use the peopel's mother tongues to show the diversity of migrants in the UK, though they often get bunched together by the Media.
Alban is a refugee from Kosovo. He escaped the war when he was very young and like many others, saw the horrors of the genocide there. Even when he arrived in UK, he was detained at the age of 12. Now, he works in construction, like many other Albanians in UK. The text is an albanian translation of the song by the Cranberries called its in your head (which describes the war in Ireland). It has the same messages which relate to the Kosovan War.

The Gurkhas