The three sixth-year students from CBS Westland Row school in Dublin’s city centre were invited as part of the Edmund Rice Schools “Walk in my Shoes” event to share their experiences with their peers to help build a more welcoming, understanding school environment for teenagers seeking asylum, particularly those living in direct provision. Samir and Osman both reflected on the loneliness they felt during the time they spent in direct provision before receiving refugee status.
Mohammed, who was recently reunited with his mother and sister, initially struggled with the fear of being alone. “I felt destroyed, really – I felt like nothing was worth it. But when my family got here I felt great. “In Syria I used to hate school but school here had a really different atmosphere. It’s not just about education – they ask about our mental health and how we’re doing. They don’t put pressure on us that we can’t handle. They’re very caring. I really love that about school.”
Osman, who hopes to study biomedical science at university, says school has become “like a family”. “They accept us, they are very open to us. They don’t care about your nationality. Whenever we are upset, they ask is everything okay. It’s all about the humanity; they’ve really impacted on my life.
“The hallmarks for our schools are care, especially for those who are disadvantaged or vulnerable, and action for social justice and ecological justice,” Mr Bennett said. “They’ll bring the ideas back to their own schools which become the template for their student councils.”