name: Maria

organisation: The Minster Centre

age: 32

status: developed self-reliance and some hope for the future

funding: ended 15 August 2011




Maria's story

Maria (not her real name), a 32 year old Ethiopian single mother with a small baby approached the clinic for help in 2007. She was destitute and homeless because her National Asylum Support Service support was withdrawn after just one day's notice following the decision to grant her refugee status.

Through the conflict and oppression in her country, Maria had lost both her parents, while her older brother had died in custody. This all happened by the time she was 21. Maria also suffered imprisonment as did her older sister, who she has never seen since. She began her counselling whilst the clinic's advocacy and information service was finding her emergency accommodation.  Maria suffered with flashbacks and nightmares, was frequently very disturbed and agitated and had little emotional resilience, leading to a difficult relationship with her child. Gradually, over some months, Maria began to relax and develop trust with her counsellor. She became able to talk about the trauma she had experienced and started to consider what she wanted from her life and her future.  

Maria still asks for support from the clinic when she needs it and is still receiving some supportive counselling, but has developed a self-reliance and some hope for the future.

"Before I came to the clinic, my life was so miserable and unbearable because it was full of disappointments, hardships, anxiety and sadness. As an asylum seeker I felt tearful, isolated and powerless. I was thinking of what more bad things would happen to me. Instead of thinking the positive, I was fearful of the future and had no desire to live, but preferred to die. I was the person who had lost all hope for living.

However, I have now a new life. Thanks to the useful information and satisfactory assistance I received from my counsellor and advocacy worker at the clinic, I am now strong, resourceful and full of hope for the future. I am proud to have recently gained British citizenship. Finally, I would wish that those who are in similar situations to me should get the kind of support and assistance I received myself and should gain a new lease of life.

Thank you and God bless you."

The Minster Centre, funded by London Councils, provides counselling and support to refugees and asylum seekers through its Mapesbury Clinic.