Family Quote by Benjamin Zephaniah
““My name is Alem Kelo. I live with the Fitzgeralds, my foster family, at 202 Meanly Road, Manor Park, London. I have also lived in Ethiopia and Eritrea. I have spent a few nights in a hotel in Datchet, one night in a children’s home in Reading, and for a short while I stayed in a hotel in Forest Gate, which was a bit rough. I have stayed in all these places in the last year. To be really honest I would prefer to live in Africa with my mother and my father but they have both been killed and there is war in my country. Things are very hard for me. Look at me, look at all the things that I am capable of, and think of all the things you could call me – a student, a lover of literature, a budding architect,””
About This Quote
Source Interview: BBC Radio 4, 2023
A young refugee recounts his displacement, hardships, and desire to return to Africa, highlighting resilience amid loss and war.
In simple terms: He shares his struggle as a refugee and hopes to return home.
Key Takeaway
Empathize with displaced individuals and support their aspirations.
Themes
refugee experience
displacement
war trauma
identity
hope
Mood
emotional
hopeful
Type
humanitarian
narrative
When to use this quote
- asylum applications
- housing support
- education access
- mental health services
Key Concepts
resilience
family loss
migration
cultural adaptation
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies better support refugees like him?
- What role does storytelling play in advocacy?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex geopolitical causes of displacement.
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