MILAN

Milan arrived in England from the Czech Republic during February 1998. He had left behind a lifetime of bullying and beatings, this still evident today in his passport photograph.

It was his Roma heritage that had led to this lifetime of discrimination, now at the age of twenty-three he faced an uncertain future.

The asylum system, then in place, gave Milan £34.50 per week in voucher and paid for his lodgings in the hotel. These vouchers could only be used at a specified supermarket for food only, no clothing, no telephone calls, no visits to the barber for Milan.

However, Milan fortunes were to change, he had been contacted by a local refugee organisation who soon realised that Milan would not be content to sit and wait for the Home Office. He wished to secure his future and was not comfortable on handouts. A business plan was drawn up and Milan went on to the EEC association agreement, whereby he was no longer entitled to any benefits and became self-employed.

His chosen business was that of a cleaning service, as with all businesses things began very slowly, he survived with help from friends.

During this time he met Tina, Tina's level headedness and energy matched Milan's stoical approach to business. As their relationship grew so did the business.

Tina had arrived in England a couple of years previous to Milan, with her pregnant mother and younger sister. Due to the persecution they had received in Slovakia they had already received status and had settled down to life in England.

Tina had been attended English lessons, albeit for a short period of time, she had quickly learnt this new language and her command of it was something to be admired, it was this command of English that became an asset to the growing business.

A couple of years have now passed and Milan now has a thriving business working six sometimes seven days a week and sometimes employing other people. Earlier in the year he and Tina married, they now have a son and a newly born daughter.

They have no wish to receive handouts, or to be labelled as 'scroungers' they are happy to work, to try and save in order to buy a home and to raise their children in peace.

This Page was last updated: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 at 2:12:23 PM
This page was originally posted: 26/2/03; 1:51:04 pm.
Copyright 2004 Thanet Refugee Access