CIRCLESOFCOMPASSION
listeningtotenpeoplecurrentlyseekingasylum
Circlesofcompassionisaconceptthatemphasisestheimportanceof extendingempathyandcaretoalllivingbeingsandtheenvironment.It encouragesustorecognisetheinterconnectednessofalllifeformsand theresponsibilitywehavetoprotectandnurturethem.Iturgesusto extendempathybeyondourimmediatecircleoffamily,friends,and community.
Thisphotographicprojectinvolvedcollaborationbetweenmyselfandten peopleseekingasylumwhoarebeingsupportedbyStAugustine’sCentre inHalifax.Participantsrepresentcountriesaroundtheglobe,fromEritrea toIranandfromSyriatoElSalvador.Aninitialdiscussionexplored aspectsoftheirlivesthatbringthemasenseofhopeandjoy. Noquestionswereaskedaboutcircumstancesthatledthemtoleavetheir homecountryortheirexperiencesonthewaytotheUK.
Eachparticipant’ scommentsprovidedthebriefforgatheringacollection ofimages–sometakenonahigh-qualitycameraandsomegathered frommobilephones.Outofthese,twowereselectedtobecomepartofa freeonlinephotobookandafreeexhibitiontobesharedduringRefugee Week,whichadoptedthethemeof‘Compassion’for2023.
TheprojectbuildsonearlierphotographicworkwithStAugustine’s Centrethataimedtoportraythespiritoftheplaceandprovideimages thatpromotetheworkoftheteamofstaffandvolunteers. Abackdropfor theseprojectshasbeenanunfoldingseriesoftragediesintheEnglish Channel;tighteningoflegislationaroundmigrationroutesintotheUK; racistprotestsaboutthelocationofhotelaccommodationandreductive rhetoricfrompoliticiansclaimingthattheywill‘StoptheBoats’.
Inthemiddleofacost-of-livingcrisisandwithwarragingontheedgeof Europe,reducingtheflowofmigrantsmightseemlikearationalpolicy. Butthewordsandimagespresentedbythisprojectprovideaglimpse intothelivesoftenpeople–tenmigrants–who,formanyUKresidents, liveoutsidetheircirclesofcompassion.Yet,theirhopesandjoyssound remarkablylikeourown.
IthasbeenaprivilegeandapleasuretoworkbothwiththeteamatSt Augustine’sandwitheachoftheparticipants.Theexperiencehas promptedmetoreflectontheconnectionbetweenglobalmigrationand theBritishsocietyofwhichIampart,includingclimateinjustice,the consequencesofconsumerismandthelegacyofacolonialpast.Global migrationislikelytobecomeagrowingfeatureoflifethatcannot–and shouldnot–bebrushedaside.
Useofpinkformountingboardsattheexhibitionandforendpaperinthe onlinephotobookwasinspiredbytheblossomonacherrytreeseen outsidetheStAugustine’sCentreinthemiddleofthisproject:Aprofusion ofsoftcolourheraldingwarmerweatherandbrighterdays.
Withasimilarspiritofoptimism,Ihopethiscollectionofwordsand imagesspeakforthemselves.Myaimistoinviteanopen-minded responsetoopen-heartedsharingbytenrefugeesandthoseviewingboth theonlinephotobookandtheexhibitionareinvitedtosharehowthis projecthasaffectedtheirownsenseofempathyandcare.
GerardListon May2023
‘Ourtaskmustbetofreeourselves–bywideningourcirclesofcompassion toembracealllivingcreaturesand thewholeofnatureinitsbeauty.’
AlbertEinstein
‘Iam32yearsoldandIamfromKurdistan,Iran.IstartedsewingwhenIwas 15yearsold.IfeelhappywhenIwork.
‘AtStAugustine’s,IamavolunteerinthefreeclothesshopandIconvertold clothesintohandbagsthatcanbeusedagainbecauseIfeelthatbydoing thiswerespectnature.’
‘Asatitleorlabel,I’marefugeefromIran–morethan9yearsnow.ButI’ma student–thewholeofmylife–andIwanttolearnnewthingsallthetime.
‘InallthejobsthatIdid,Ilearnedthatcommunicationismoreimportant; thefeelingismoreimportantthanearningmoney.
‘Refugeestatushelpedmeinthatway.Imean,innearlyallthedifficulties, IchoosethatIbringoutthebenefits–thethingsthatcanhelpmeonthe way.
‘Booksarethebestthinginmylife.Iwouldsaythat,ifIhaveasickness, thisismysickness;buyinglotsofbooks…andIreadalot.
‘ThemainthinginmylifeishowcanIfigureoutwhatI’mdoingnow, inthispresentmoment.’
‘Always,IputmyconfidenceinGod.Always,IknoweverythingwillbeOK… IamChristian.Myfaithisgrowing.Formethisprocesswasnoteasy.
‘WhenIarrivedatthecity,mysonandIwenttothechurch.Inthatplace,we foundgoodfriends–likeafamily.Itwasagooddecision.Now,itisourplace. AlwaysonSundayswesaywearegoingtothechurch.Forme,Godisthe safeplacetobe.
‘SometimesIfeellonely.IcancometotheStAugustine’sCentre,butit’s different…IfIgointothechurch,peoplehavethesamefaithandwecan talktogetheraboutGod,aboutJesus,abouttheBible.Wehaveaconnection andinthemiddleisGod.’
‘AlwayswhenIwalk,IcanthankGodforthisandforthat.Forme,Ialways amgrateful.’
Cristela
‘Always,IputmyconfidenceinGod.Always,IknoweverythingwillbeOK… IamChristian.Myfaithisgrowing.Formethisprocesswasnoteasy.
‘WhenIarrivedatthecity,mysonandIwenttothechurch.Inthatplace,we foundgoodfriends–likeafamily.Itwasagooddecision.Now,itisourplace. AlwaysonSundayswesaywearegoingtothechurch.Forme,Godisthe safeplacetobe.
‘SometimesIfeellonely.IcancometotheStAugustine’sCentre,butit’s different…IfIgointothechurch,peoplehavethesamefaithandwecan talktogetheraboutGod,aboutJesus,abouttheBible.Wehaveaconnection andinthemiddleisGod.’
‘AlwayswhenIwalk,IcanthankGodforthisandforthat.Forme,Ialways amgrateful.’
Cristela
‘IamSyrian.Iamanengineer…IhavemanyqualificationsthatsayIam experienced.IgotpermissiontoworkrecentlyandaNationalInsurance number.AfterRamadan,Iwillstarttolookforwork.Ihavehadone interviewandIamwaitingfortheresults.
‘ReachingtheUKwasagreatgoalandagreatresult.Itisgood–verygood –especiallyformydaughters.
‘Wefeelsafehere…Icangoanywherealone.Iamnotafraidofthepolice orthearmyoranyoneelse…mydaughterscangotoschool.Iamnot scaredthattheywillcomebackornotcomeback.’
‘Wecamehere–meandmywife–wemadethisadventureforour daughters.Wehopetheywillcompletetheireducation…Iwantthemto completeuniversity.Thisdependsonthem.Theyhavetherighttochoose inthefuture.’
AmmarandAlaa,withSana(7)andSireen(4)
‘IamfromElSalvadorinLatinAmerica.IhavelivedintheUKfortwoyears andthreemonths.Iamhappy.
‘Idon’tspeakmuch;Iamquiet.
‘Ienjoyworkindifferentplaces…sometimesinthekitchengardenand sometimesinthegardenandsometimeshelpingtofixthingsaroundthe centre…inmycountry,Ifixcomputers…Gardeningisrelaxing.
‘Itakephotographsoflandscapesandarchitecture.Ilikebridges… …thelinesofthebridges.
‘Ihopeforworkandforprogress.
‘IwouldlikelivinginScotlandbecauseitisaniceplaceandbecauseitis cold.Itiscrazybecauseinmycountry,itishot.ButIenjoythecold.Snowis goodforme.’
Rafael
‘IamjustcuriousaboutallthingsandIamsearching…everythingis interestingaroundme.
‘Irealisethatthetimeistickingandyouhavetoimproveyourknowledge.
‘IfI’mgoodatsomethinginparticular…it’stomakeabetterplacefor peoplejustlikeme…forthepeoplewhoneedhelp.
‘WhenIhavebeenuseful,thatgivesenergytome…Ireallyliketodosome positivethingsformeandforthepeopleIcanhelp.
‘Itlookslikevolunteering.Youdon’tneedanylettersoridentificationthat showsSamisjustlikethis.IamthatIam.
‘Repairing,art,music–everythingthatcheersmeup–andsport… …Ilikecross-fit.’
Sam
‘IamjustcuriousaboutallthingsandIamsearching…everythingis interestingaroundme.
‘Irealisethatthetimeistickingandyouhavetoimproveyourknowledge.
‘IfI’mgoodatsomethinginparticular…it’stomakeabetterplacefor peoplejustlikeme…forthepeoplewhoneedhelp.
‘WhenIhavebeenuseful,thatgivesenergytome…Ireallyliketodosome positivethingsformeandforthepeopleIcanhelp.
‘Itlookslikevolunteering.Youdon’tneedanylettersoridentificationthat showsSamisjustlikethis.IamthatIam.
‘Repairing,art,music–everythingthatcheersmeup–andsport… …Ilikecross-fit.’
Sam
‘Basically,Ilovebeingactive…I’mverygladtobepartoftheteambecause itgavemetimetoshowtheskillsthatIhaveanditalsogavemetimeto helpotherswhowouldliketobepartofit,butdon’treallyhavetheskills. Itgavemejoyandhonourbyteachingsomeoneelse.
‘IhadanaccidentandthedoctorssaidIhada90%chancethatIwouldnot beabletousemyrightarmagain–andIhadalreadygivenup.Alwaysmy handwasinstichesandstuff.Iusedtobeundervehicles,changing transmission,oilandstuff.’
‘Mynextjoywas,basically,tools.Anythingwithtools,yes,Ihavethe capabilityofdoingit.’
‘[WhenIseesomethingthatIhavemade]Ifeellight.Light…happywith myselfinside.Icansay,yes,Ididthisandsomeoneelseisgoingtoenjoyit anditgivesmeajoyalso.’
Dirwin
‘WhenIcamehere,wheretherearemanypeoplethatrun,itencouraged metokeepongoingwithmyfitness…IfIdon’tgooutrunning,mybody doesn’tfeelgoodatall…mostly,Irunthreetimesinaweek.Iamprepared togetupearlyinthemorningandgooutrunningwhenit’squiet.Ibreathe inthefreshairandenjoymyrun–mostlyonehourandthirtyminutes.
‘Inmyrunning,IhavelearnedofmanyplacesthatIhaveneverknown before.Idon’tliketoruninoneplace.Iliketoexplore–wherethereis scenery.
‘Mycooking,whenwegrewup,weneverhadtakeaway,weonlyhadour home-cookedmeals.Mygrandmataughtmehowtocookandthat encouragedmetocook.Mostly,whatIlikecookingisbeans.
‘Myyoungestsondidn’tliketoeatbefore.Butnow,whenIamcooking,the smellattractshimandhewillcomedownandsay‘mumIwanttoeatsome’ …noweverybodyinthehouseenjoysthefood.Mydaughterislearninghow tocookmostofthethingsnow.’
‘WhenIplay…Iamfeeling…Ilovefootball.
‘Iamnotthinkingaboutanother.Irefreshmyhead… …Notanythingaboutthepast.’
‘Bymyknowledge.Bymyskill.Ihelppeople…Maybeit’smynature. It’slikeagift.
‘Ihelppeopletogettoplaces.IuseGoogleMapsandIshowthem.AndI helppeopletowriteamessageoranemailandwithinterpretingforthose whocan’tspeakEnglish…AmharicandTigrinya.
‘IfeelhappywhenIdothat.IamstilllearningEnglishandamnotfluent. WhatIknow,Idoinagoodmanner.WhatIdon’tknow,I’maquicklearner. Ilearnalotfrompeopleandfromsocialmedia.Atfirst,Iwasafraidtobe withpeopleandofspeakinginagroup.ButIovercamemyfear.
‘Totakeaphotographisagoodthingbecauseitisamemory.Asituation thatyouhaveismemorableinyourmind.Buttotellthestory,itisgoodto sharewithaphotograph.’
Meklit
‘Bymyknowledge.Bymyskill.Ihelppeople…Maybeit’smynature. It’slikeagift.
‘Ihelppeopletogettoplaces.IuseGoogleMapsandIshowthem.AndI helppeopletowriteamessageoranemailandwithinterpretingforthose whocan’tspeakEnglish…AmharicandTigrinya.
‘IfeelhappywhenIdothat.IamstilllearningEnglishandamnotfluent. WhatIknow,Idoinagoodmanner.WhatIdon’tknow,I’maquicklearner. Ilearnalotfrompeopleandfromsocialmedia.Atfirst,Iwasafraidtobe withpeopleandofspeakinginagroup.ButIovercamemyfear.
‘Totakeaphotographisagoodthingbecauseitisamemory.Asituation thatyouhaveismemorableinyourmind.Buttotellthestory,itisgoodto sharewithaphotograph.’
