Asylum Seeker and Global Citizenship Educator for Amnesty speaks to East Coat Radio (Ireland)

Asylum Seeker and Global Citizenship Educator for Amnesty speaks to East Coat Radio (Ireland)

Mavis, An Asylum Seeker who now works for Amnesty as a Global Citizenship Educator speaks to East Coast Radio about what it is like living in a Direct Provision Centre in Dublin.

Mavis wouldn't tell East Coast Radio the details of her asylum application and was surprised to be asked about them because it was understanding from chatting with a researcher for the East Coast Radio called Clare that the conversation would be about the DP Centre opening up in Wicklow and not the specifics of her case.

Mavis says although the right to work was given to asylum seekers last February, there is a condition that the asylum seeker must be living in Ireland for nine months without a negative result in their asylum application. This means a lot of asylum seekers cannot avail of the program. Mavis got a six month contract with Amnesty international with her work permit.

She is separated from her husband who lives in a different Direct Provision Centre over physical and emotional abuse she claims she suffered from him.

Mavis also told East Coast Radio that living in a hotel feels like the walls are closing in and is not easy at all. She says the best solution to the criticism over the Direct Provision Centre is to limit stays for a period of 3 - 6 months and after that just grant permission to live in Ireland for all asylum seekers regardless of whether their application is successful or not.

Broadcast: 19 Nov 2018 | East Coast Radio

https://www.invidio.us/watch?v=QGMsInIiuqU

https://www.invidio.us/channel/UCgzyycFR6PEv-B90rAiFsQg