ALI:I came from Afghanistan. I was quite happy there with my family all together. I still remember when I was a kid there; there were mountains, um, a lot of dust, and the houses aren’t that rich like England. They’ve got, like, tents.
There was fighting and war and it was starting to build up. They were sort of like, taking the… the good areas; they started to bomb there. Sometimes, when I looked out the window, I felt quite sad.
So then my grandma had decided all of us go to a safer place in Europe. By, by the time we got to the airport, I remember they let my grandma in, then me, but not my family. They said they didn’t have passports, and then they had to go back.
We thought that they were on another plane but when we got in England they weren’t there. We didn’t know… we thought, you know, something must have happened, they might be alive, you never know, and then every night I was… I was crying.
I was always dreaming about them. I had nightmares of my mum picking me up in school and then, er, and then when my eyes opened up I realised that it was just a dream. It wasn’t real. It’s like my bones were broken because I could feel really angry and really sad.
I went to school. I learnt new things there. It was, like, really frustrating that I can’t speak English. The only word I know is ‘yes’. Sometimes I get embarrassed that I don’t know the word.
The thing I was doing, like, sitting in the corner doing nothing, watching other people play. Sometimes people came with me to play with me, and then I started to play with them. I found new friends, I started to practice football with them.
Everyone was amazed by my pictures because I was a really good drawer. I had something special to show them every day – pictures of my family, of my mum and dad, me, Spiderman, because I like Spiderman.
Sometimes I was drawing pictures of football because I like football. That made me happy, but then when I, when I keep on, like, imagining my family, I want them to come here.
Four and a half years passed and then we had a phone call. My cousin said that they saw my dad in the mosque praying. And then they handed the phone to my dad, and then I started with talk my dad, my mum and dad, and then I was more happy that time.
My first wish would be my mum and dad coming to this country, because, it feels like its actually going to happen. But I get upset, I wish they could come right now. I can’t wait for that day.
Ali is a ten-year-old boy who fled his home with his grandmother during the war in Afghanistan.
In this short animated film he describes the pain of separation from his family as well as his experiences adjusting to life in the UK.
Despite having contact with his parents, they are still unable to be together. Ali has hope of seeing them again one day.
This short film is part of BBC Teach's Seeking Refuge series. Click or tap here for the main page, with support notes for teachers.
Teacher Notes
This short film could be used to illustrate why some people have to flee their country, and therefore, help raise questions about persecution and war.
It could also be used to start a discussion around what it’s like for children adapting to life in the UK, identity and the effects of alienation and displacement they may experience.
In addition, in an English lesson this film could generate discussion for the different genres of writing, providing an example of narrative and describing personal experiences.
Questions to support discussion
- _How does Ali describe the changes that happened in Afghanistan while he lived there?_Why do you think Ali’s family needed to leave Afghanistan?
Why do you think only Ali and his grandmother were allowed out of the country?
How do you think being separated from his parents made Ali feel?
What are the clues in the things Ali says which give us insight into his feelings (eg. ‘like my bones are broken’)?
What was one of the hardest things for Ali to cope with? How did this make him feel?
What helped Ali start to adjust to life in the UK?
If you could wish one thing for Ali, what would it be?
Curriculum Notes
Relationships, sex and health education
Links to: The benefits of healthy relationships to mental wellbeing; how families contribute to human happiness; the characteristics of positive and healthy friendships; that happiness is being linked to being connected to others.
PSHE education (non-statutory)
Links to:
Core theme 1: Health and wellbeing/self-concept
Core theme 2: Relationships/Relationship values/Positive relationships
Core theme 3: Living in the Wider World/Communities
RE
Links will depend on the RE syllabus that a local authority, faith school or academy follows.
More from Seeking Refuge
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Juliane's journey from Zimbabwe. video
The story of Juliane from Zimbabwe, who spent years living away from her mother in an orphanage before reuniting and escaping the country together.
Navid's journey from Iran. video
With his father's life in danger, Navid - aged just five - was forced to flee his home in Iran with his mother and make the long journey to the UK.
Rachel's journey from a country in Eurasia. video
Following the journey of 17-year-old Rachel, who escaped religious persecution in her country and settled into a new life in the UK before being deported.
