Layan’s Story

 

 

You’re 7 years old; you’ve been forced to leave your home country; you’ve arrived in an unfamiliar city with your little sister and your parents; your mum is pregnant; you’ve virtually nothing, only a succession of temporary addresses; now Covid is unfolding. Who is going to help you and your family?

This was the nightmare that Layan and her family found themselves in when they were forced to leave their home in the UAE and seek asylum in Sheffield. 

When a health visitor referred the family to a nearby Make Lunch club serving hot meals and distributing baby clothes, Layan’s family met Terence Williams, Associate Pastor and Make Lunch Co-ordinator at City Life International Church (CLIC). The TLG Make Lunch community stood in the gap between Layan’s family and despair.

‘TLG Make Lunch to me is working with families that are in need, meeting whatever their need is but the main thing with TLG is providing hot meals for children, plus having fun at the same time!’ explains Terence, who started CLIC’s Make Lunch club in 2021.

Layan describes how she felt about her new life back then. ‘Before I came to Make Lunch, I felt a bit lonely. I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know what was happening and I didn’t know anything about this country.’

Layan’s mother, Bouchra, found it equally hard: ‘ I left my family and my country, my everything there and came here. It was very difficult for me.’

‘We went to their house, a government house,’ says Terence. ’The situation wasn’t good. They had 28 days to move out and find somewhere to go. We supported them in whatever way we could.’

‘We met Terence and his wife, Vivian, and they helped when my wife gave birth in terms of providing clothes, nappies, a lot of things,’ explains Wissam, Layan’s father.

‘I really like being around Terence and Vivian,’ says Layan. ‘They always help us with everything, like if we’re in the house, we needed something, we didn’t have it...‘ ‘They would come and bring it for us!’  Tala, Layan’s little sister finishes.

‘We have seen the journey and the children and the joy when they come in here. We gave them a safe place at Make Lunch. They are part of our family,’ says Terence.

Bouchra agrees. ‘I have no friends here, no family here, but they are my family.’

Bouchra, now mother of three after the safe arrival of Sara, looks to the future: ‘I hope that the time will come for myself to volunteer at Make Lunch so I can help other people.’

You know something is fruitful when those who were helped grow into the helpers.