Over the last 50 years Leicester has become home for people from countries all over the world. Victims of war, repression and economic migrants have all settled in Leicester, in the process enriching the daily life of the city. We have five very different stories to tell about people who chose to come and live in Leicester.  | | Halina Zawaozka |
Escaping Hitler and Stalin
Halina Zawaozka left Poland when it was partitioned by the Nazis and Russians in 1939. Halina's route to Leicester was a long one and included time in Zambia. Read the BBC account of the invasion of Poland in 1939. Hear Halina's story. 
 | | James O'Dwyer |
Looking for work
Jim O'Dwyer was one of thousands of young Irishmen who left home to search for work in England in the late 1940's. Fifty years later the tables are turned as the Celtic Tiger hosts English migrant workers. Read more about the exodus from Ireland over the centuries and how the tide has turned. Join Jim as he looks back in time.  | | Val Fisher and son |
Coming to the "Motherland"
Val Fisher from Grenada came to fulfil a dream to train as a nurse and help Britain cope in the 1950's. She told us about the dark and dank England she found. Find out more about immigration from the Caribbean through the BBC "Windrush" project. Val recalls darker days.  | | Priya and her brother |
Evicted from Uganda
In the early 1970's Idi Amin began evicting Asians from Uganda, forcing many to leave with only the clothes they were wearing. Atul and Manisha were among the thousands who were forced to flee. Use the BBC timeline to study Ugandan history. Hear their daughter Priya's story.  | | Jawaahir Daahir |
Fleeing from civil war
Asylum seekers from civil wars across the globe are now living here. For Jawaahir Daahir the ongoing war in Somalia meant she had to seek safety for her children. She came to Leicester 1998 for the short term but can't see any quick return to her beloved homeland. Read more about the the trauma of the war and UN involvement. Hear how Jawaahir coped. All of our contributors joined us to share their experiences over a meal made up of food from each culture. Polish poppy seed cakes, potato bhajis, soda bread and jerk chicken were on the menu as stories were exchanged and new friends made. Do you have world links? Can you tell us your story and send us a photograph to share with rest of Leicestershire and Rutland? Send us an e-mail. You can hear "Coming to Leicester" in the Spring on BBC Radio Leicester and also on BBC Leicester. | 
