‘‘‘To understand someone, walk a few miles in his shoes” is an old saying, but privileged people like me cannot do that.' Photo: courtesy of Refugee Tales
Walks of life: Anne M Jones hikes with refugees
‘Walking alongside someone strengthens human bonds.’
Last month I went on a five-day ‘Refugee Tales’ walk, set up by the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group. It is the fifth walk of this kind, inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer’s fourteenth-century account of pilgrims who walked from London to Canterbury. Just as it did 750 years ago, each evening ends merrily, with music and life stories – except in this century the tales are of seeking refuge and asylum. We walk alongside refugees, exchanging our stories as we cover the twelve or fifteen miles each day. On the way we absorb the beauty of the landscape, respect each other’s private moments when tales become too painful, and support the less able when legs become weak.
Each tale I heard began on a triumphant note – ‘I have already accomplished my training as a plumber and have my own business’, for example – but in a tone that descends into darkness: ‘I was detained in Gatwick for almost four years after being trafficked here… I don’t know what I would have done without the weekly support from the volunteer. Her and my faith in a good God.’ For this refugee, the battle had only just started. After obtaining leave to remain, then began the extremely difficult task of finding somewhere to live. Thanks to a family at his church, he now has a fixed address, and studies at London University. It was a humbling tale of courage, persistence and faith.
Authors and musicians filled our evenings: Kamilla Shamsie, Rihab Azar on the oud, Amelia Gentleman, Shappi Khorsandi and Shami Shakorabati gave us their precious time. Euston Meeting’s own Tim Robertson hosted the second evening with great charm and sincerity. We walked the North Downs Way, from Merstham to Dorking, Guildford, Farnham and thence to Winchester. In each town we were offered a warm welcome and a church hall floor to sleep on.
‘To understand someone, walk a few miles in their shoes’ is an old saying, but privileged people like me cannot do that. We struggle even to imagine being driven from our families and country by prejudice, war or trafficking. But walking alongside someone, in a spirit of shared friendship and equality, swapping sweets and slices of cake, while chatting or admiring the wild flowers and majestic ancient trees, strengthens human bonds.
Enhancing understanding is vital, of course. But better than that it gave us all a determination to continue the fight against the ‘hostile environment’.
