Exhibition Stories
I am someone who is like a pinch of salt, scared of heights but only a little. But even so, I love high places: the top of the clouds, the highest floor in a building. The reason that I am scared of heights is because I feel like any moment now, someone would push you down or the wind goddess might play a prank on you by blowing a little bit harder.
Ka Yan Yin
I was my parents' first child. No one wanted a girl but my dad. He wanted a girl as his first child. Someone he could love more than his own self and spoil to bits. He called me his dream girl and said he could ask for nothing more
Aneesa Begum
I nearly got myself killed on a building site. Someone put a can of exploding foam in a fire. It exploded with a big bang. I went flying into a tree and all my face was covered in hot black foam. I still do construction at school, but haven't had any near death experiences recently. Still, you never know what's round the corner, so when I leave I intend to go to college and train as a sports therapist … it's probably safer
Scott Powell
I come from Kurdistan. For those of you who don't know where that is, it's to the north of Iraq. When I was little we moved to Iran and were a bit poor. Every time we went out I'd ask my dad for chicken. He didn't want to upset me so he'd spend his money on chicken. When we got home my mum would cook it. I never ate it though.
Jaelan Norie
When I grow up and am capable of doing a job I want to be a doctor so I can save people's lives. If I am unable to do this then I wish to study law so I can help those innocent people who are not at fault.
Roha Ejaz
My dad used to be a teacher in Afghanistan. He loved to teach but one day he had to leave all those things behind. I can remember when my dad told me there were soldiers all over the country and no-one was able to go outside their houses because if they did they would be shot by the Russians or the Taliban. It hadn't just started. There had been war in Afghanistan for more than fifty years. We moved to Pakistan. When my brother, who was living in Manchester, came to visit us my father asked him to take me back with him. I was so scared and worried. What would it be like there? Would it be worse than Afghanistan and Pakistan? Or would there be peace?
Obaidullah Obaid
When my father was fourteen, which is more than thirty years ago, he ran away from his family in Somalia. He went to Yemen and then to Germany, where he became a professional seaman. The country had a government then, but soon there were hundreds of ferocious fights. That's when everyone had to evacuate and there was no government for over twenty years. My father took only me and my mum to Djibuouti because he didn't have enough money for all of us. Soon we got a letter that said we were allowed to go to Germany. We were all excited. We arrived at Bremen airport at twelve o'clock noon on 23 December 1999. It was snowing. We were terrified and also lost because we couldn't read the German language. We lived there for two years. During that time I had an operation on my left ear. I still cannot hear properly in that ear. But the German surgeon was a fantastic friend.
Hussein Hanan
One day I had a very bad accident. I was burned by a firework on my neck. My whole skin came off.
I thought I was going to die. I went to the hospital as fast as I could. When I got there the doctor asked me some questions. I answered in fright and pain.
Daniel Isaacs
Everyone has a story to tell: some good, some bad. Then there are the ones made of fire. My name is Roger Degue. I am twelve years old. I was born in Nigeria and brought up in England
Roger Degue
As the oldest of three siblings my life is suffocated by endless expectations and limitless responsibilities. Finding time or even space to breathe is my mission impossible. But where are my manners? The name's Cain, Horatio Cain. Only joking.
It's Abdulmalik. But I would like to be called Horatio Cain. Of the twenty or so cousins I have in Manchester I am one of the oldest. Most of us live in Moss Side so you can imagine what an extended family we are. I've always wanted a life that is unpredictable. A life where I can do whatever I please, go wherever I wish and nothing and no-one can stand in my way. What I have is the complete opposite.
However nothing on the face of the earth can restrain my brilliant and colourful imagination.
Abdulmalik Rabah
I was born near Amsterdam in a place which I can barely pronounce – “Nijmegen.” It is the oldest city in the Netherlands – over two thousand years old. As a child I was happy there. School, snack, sleep. That was the life. Until, as a five year old, I came here to Manchester – a modern and populous city with the hustle and bustle of the business world and cutting edge technology. Old to new. Rural to urban. And another language to learn .
Idris Sheikhnur
My name is Asha Ahmed and I am eighteen years old. I was born in the capital city of Somalia, called Mogadishu.
When my father died we moved from Somalia to Yemen. We used to live in a small camp. It was too hot and the weather was bad. I started to go to school.
It was difficult for me. After that my mother decided to move to Kenya. We had a small restaurant and it was a happy life. But when my grandmother came to England we came too. I found lots of friends, and my teachers are helpful and kind. Now I am enjoying my life. Thank you.
Asha Ahmed
My name is Michaele Tsegoy.
I am from Eritrea. I was born 25 August 1990. When I was sixteen the situation in my country was bad. I went to Sudan and after six months to the UK. The Home Office in Liverpool sent me to Manchester and I started school at the Manchester Academy. Life was strange at first but I have adapted. But I would like to think Social Services cared more about what will happen to me.
Michaele Tsegoj
My name is Luisa and I am eighteen years old. I was born in Luanda. Luanda is the capital city of Angola, which is located in West Africa. Luanda is a nice place. It is like a small island, because the sea is all around. It is very beautiful and the sea water is blue as the blue of the sky. I do not have parents because my mother died sixteen years ago and my father about nine. I used to live with my aunt, my mother's big sister, and I suffered a lot.
Josina Teixeira de Barros
It is really sad, if you have no idea where you belong. England, Belgium, Poland. All names of countries I lived in, none of which I could call home. England the country I moved in two years ago, where my little sister was born. Belgium the country I lived six years, where I learned most about life. Poland, the country I was born in; supposed to be my country. White and red; supposed to be my colours. Poland: the country where honesty and hope are often seen as a virtue.
Sara Kolber
In Pakistan our street was a beautiful place because we had a big house with stalls all around and also all the people were very kind. It is very different how I live now because it is much cleaner and very quiet in the night. There are no shops around now but people are still very kind. Masooma Hassan
My name is Rahman, Syed Rahman. Licensed to live in Manchester.
Syed Rahman
Now to the really interesting part. I am related to the French Royal Family! It's true! My second name is actually La Famboise which means ‘raspberries' in French. We were related to them like years and years and years ago. How awesome is that? We even have our own crest!
Katherine Franche
14 February 2004. I can remember the day as clearly as yesterday. It was the day my life turned upside down. The day everything messed up. The day my life was finally over. It was the day I moved to England. There was no way I could avoid it. I could close my eyes at night but the thought danced around my mind. I could try to do something else but eventually the thought would come back to me. I could even desperately try to block it out but there just wasn't any point. I would have to face up to it. I was moving. Moving away from everything I knew and everything I loved. Why? Why? Why?
Zamzam
My home is in Manchester, as is my heart. I have lived in Manchester the whole of my life. The furthest I have been is Wales. I remember how I envied my friend Nuria. She was born in Portugal and had already visited about five different places before moving to England. However, if I said I have had a boring life here in Manchester that would be one of the biggest lies I have told. I have lived an incredible life here in Manchester and I couldn't wish for better.
Nisha Hinds
My dad, who is very caring and loving but sometimes very strict when it comes to misbehaving, was a refugee and he didn't see snow until 1980 at the age of thirteen. He was born in the middle of the Vietnam War and my grandma was a trader who traded things from China to Vietnam. When my dad was born they took refuge in China, where my uncle Hoa was born. They then moved to England, where my uncle San was born. My dad has three brothers and two sisters but one sister lives in England as my other aunt was kidnapped by sea pirates.
Aaron Tran
I grew up in Somalia. I had a lovely time when I was younger. I lived with my mum and dad. I have fond memories of my childhood. I loved to skip with my cousin. We skipped for hours, outside in the sun.
Yesra Sharif
My mum was a good mum. She gave me everything I needed. I played with my mum all the time. She bought me a car with a remote control. I also loved when she cooked her very sweet cakes. I remember when I was playing in the mountains near my village. I found a wolf's baby and took it. The wolf chased me. I was scared. When I got to the top of the mountain she went away. When I was younger there was a lot of fighting in Somalia. My mum died in an explosion. We couldn't find my dad for a month but one day when I was in Ethiopia a man told me my father was alive. My father came and got me and brought me to England. I was so excited to start a new life in peaceful Manchester.
Hamze Ismail
I moved to Manchester because there was so much fighting in my country between two groups. First we moved to Holland, then Italy, Kenya and America. My baby sister was born in America. I didn't want to come to England. America was fun. (Abdi Ahmed)
Mohamed. I have the magic touch of a marvellous magician. I am a person with a sense of humour. I live in a quiet peaceful place called Rusholme.
Mohamed Sofi
