Illustrations by Maksym Filipenko

My name is Chinonso, and I came to the UK from Nigeria in 2023 to study supply chain management. I dreamed of building a safe and stable future for my family. But when violence back home made it too dangerous to return, I had to seek safety. That decision changed everything.

When I sought asylum, I lost my right to work and with it, my independence. I had always worked hard, paid my taxes, and provided for my family. Losing that ability took a toll on my mental health. But through the kindness of neighbours, my church, and Refugee Action’s BRAVE group, I found hope again.

Back home, I was a pharmacist and supply chain specialist, helping HIV patients get vital treatment. Here in the UK, even without the right to work, I continue to give back through volunteering. I’ve mentored young people at my church, supported families at the local foodbank, and taken part in community events, guiding visitors and helping things run smoothly. Each opportunity has reminded me that I still have purpose and something to give.

What many people don’t see is the quiet strength it takes to keep going when life feels uncertain. The asylum process has tested me in every way, emotionally, mentally, and financially. But it has also shown me the power of community. My landlord reduced my rent to help my family stay afloat. Neighbours offered food and clothing when times were hard. Teachers at my daughter’s school reached out to make sure we were okay. Those moments of compassion have carried me through the hardest days.

If given the right to work, I would love to use my skills to serve others again, this time in humanitarian supply chain management, helping deliver essential medicines and support to people in crisis. My wife, who is also a pharmacist, shares this dream. We both know we could contribute so much to the UK if only given the chance.

What keeps me strong is my family. My wife’s strength, my children’s laughter, and the kindness of strangers remind me that I belong. When my son asks if I’m okay or my daughter dances to make me smile, I feel hope rise again.

I am more than a refugee.

I am a father, a husband, a pharmacist, a neighbour, a volunteer, and a man who believes in kindness. I am also someone who carries the memories of family gatherings back home, laughter around firewood, food shared from one bowl, the warmth of belonging. Those memories stay with me as I build new ones here in the UK.

Together, we can build a world where people seeking safety are seen for who they truly are, full of talent, dignity, and hope.

P.S. We need you. Winter can be the harshest and most isolating season for people seeking safety. We need to raise £97,000 before the New Year to offer vital services and show people they aren’t alone. Can you help us reach our target?