No room to relax

There is really no room to relax when every time l. try to close my eyes there is one problem or the other ready to brew but l don't know when all this is going to end .With the help of all the lovely good hearted people that has stood
behind l was able to go to Liverpool to make Further Representation now is the turn of my housing providers to stress me out ,this is the Third time l will be receiving a letter from them asking me to move to Leeds .Lhave made several cases and reason why l can't but they are not seeing it my way l just hope this ordeal will pass by quickly and l can fully concentrate on my kids. It is really a hard life as an asylum seeker

Liverpool day

Today being Friday was te d-day for my trip to liverpool to make furter representation ,the night before the d-day l did not sleep a wink and then moning came my heart was raising so fast, l was really scared  l wanted the whole thing be over and done with but l keep saying to myself te day will go as normal which did happen the day went as normal and  it was time to start the journey with a wonderful friend ,sister who had all through the week soughted out the whole document that l needed to take along with me and yet volunteered to drive me down to Liverpool herself what more can l ask for Hendrika Thank You Very Much and l will forever sing your praise.Tony the partner of a friend and kate who was once my kids health visitor but now a very good friend as well travelled  to Liverpool with me,it was really amazing.
The trip was really good despite the heavy rain we got there on the brink of time and took us about 30-40 mins in and out of the building.We had snacks and then started the journey back to sheffield admist the traffic we were in sheffield for 4pm.
please don't get me wrong it's not 40mins of easy pizzy lemon sqeezy but that of fear and anxiety .But tha.nk goodness is all over

wednesday

As the day goes by l think of what the future hold for me and the kids! but nothing is by my might .l got one day left to go make futher representation at Liverpool l tell you  nothing comes easy tomorrow is going   more stress tomorrow as every piece of paper that needs to be taken along has to b sorted but l still THANK GOD FOR HIS MERCIES  l have good people around me that are really helping me.know what things that l would not  ordinary do on my know are all being done on my  behalf l will forever be grateful to you all.
How am l feeling today?Still NERVOUS  AND AFRAID  l think this is a feeling that will not go away until am out of this deep water.am trying to keep a clear head which is always difficult when am by myself  and no  one to talk to it is really a hard time for me.

The days go on and on

Monday is the beginning of another school week,  my activities started as usual making sure the kids get into school ,settled in and start off with me having to talk with the lovely people that has risen to give us good support and to be honest with you the whole situation of what l should do ,how l should go about things is better off with them and l really do appreciate because l cannot do it better that,s while in as much as l fel ashame of myself l am not  regreting that my campaign went into school.
Went into the studio as usually to do my radio progranne with open mind despite my heart being heavy with worries l was still able to do my hourly show cos is what l enjoy doing.
Yea  Tuesday is here and gone , is  count down to the road to LIVERPOOL am not looking foward to it but is what l have to do.Is really scarey,this is a building you enter and no way of escaping if the worst is to happen am only trying to be brave.l laugh and behave as if everything is ok when am out there but inside of me l know am not feeling too fine ,l ,find it difficult to sleep in the night infact l hate it when it's night time .But  The Struggle Continues.

Audio recording of the speakers who attended the Sheffield Rally

http://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/2010/09/461356
This recording is of the speakers and singers. Recorded by Chris at Indymedia. There are also many more photos of the Rally. 

Rally outside Sheffield Town Hall on Saturday 25th September

On Saturday 25th September outside Sheffield Town Hall well over 150 Supporters gathered to demonstate their support for the Okpara Family. Placards, many made by school friends of the children threatened by deportation, read 'Keep The Okpara Family Safe in Sheffield' and 'Stop The Deportation Of  The Okpara Family'. Amoung the speakers were St Catherine's Primary School Headteacher, Local Councillors Ben Curran and Ibrar Hussain, as well as parents and children form the school which the children have attended since their arrival in 2005. Councillor Paul Scriven Leader of Sheffield City Council, and a supporter of the camapign, was unable to attend to speak due to illness. Hundreds of people rallied in support of the demonstrators and signed the petition that will be taken to the UK Border Agency in support of the Family's request to remain.

sunday

Too tired to even step my feet  out of the house but sat down in front  of the computer and trying to piece my head around yesterdays RALLY but l still cannot believe how the whole event was piece together with beautiful perfection  KUDOS to everyone that has really stood by  me .l don't really know how am feeling today but l know am just a shadow of myself,not happy,living the day  as it comes but my head is full of what l don't understand.  l feel  like hiding some where a do abit of crying but the kids are watching my everymove as am watching there's.lt is really a difficult time for me.

Event of today

 THANK YOU to everyone that had stood by me ever since my ordeal started the support has really been AMAZING l and my kids really APPRECIATE l have not be able to do any writing for some time but  l can pour my heart out .Where do l start from ok got you am starting from the every end which is today's activity.Words cannot describe it  for the  first time in this my predicament,today was the day l felt the most nervous my heart was beating so fast that i thought it was going to stop at any moment but lo and  be thou it's still walking but as well as  it should be am falling deeply into depression .The effect the whole situation is having on my kids is most traumatising, on Friday went to collect my kids from school and find out my daughter was in front of her class weeping and was been cuddled with two of her teacher getting close to her asked what the problem was and she said MUMMY THIS WHOLE THING IS TOO MUCH FOR ME as a mother l felt like swepping the whole thing away but is not in hand to make it go away.All l have to do is to keep calm and remain strong for them but it is really difficult .

Another day 22 September

lt is the beginning of another day and usually my activities begin and putting up my bold face l do my necessary activities and then throw myself into my thinking spot of what next to do,but l wonder what is it that needs to be ?The answer is Alot.l try to keep my self sane as possible but the most difficult of all still stand. l need to get Home Office Liverpool on phone to make appointment for me to go submit fresh claim and yet all is still proofing vain but l shall keep on trying until am able to get thru.

Mildred's Story - coming to the UK and application for asylum

Mildred arrived in the UK amid fear and confusion. Her case for asylum was handed from one legal representative to the next with little consistency and plenty of room for error. On arrival and over the years whilst she attempted to find some normality in the state of limbo that asylum seekers live within she never felt she was in control of her own application and as it transpires no one else was either.

Mildred’s Story - before asylum

 In this blog Mildred tells some of her story - one she has never wanted to talk about and about a life she'd rather put behind her - a life of fear.  A life where her husband lost his life because he refused to join in the violent activities of the separatist group MASSOB. Where she and her children were threatened and abused and where there was no one to turn to. In Nigeria there is no safe haven for this family. 

                              

Stop the Deportation of the Okpara Family

Mildred Okpara is a mother of three young children, originally from Nigeria and now living in Sheffield in the north of England. In 2005 Mildred had to flee Nigeria with her two children, then aged three years and 5 months, after her partner was abducted and murdered. She settled in Sheffield, applied for sanctuary as a refugee, and started to rebuild her life and bring up her children in a safe place. Over the past five years, Mildred has been very active in her community, volunteers with various local projects, and was given an award by City of Sanctuary in recognition of her services to the community. But the sanctuary she has found is in danger of being taken away. Mildred and her children urgently need your help.