Yonas

I am half Ethopian and half Eritrean and I came to this country in 2002 as an asylum seeker. I came here to get protection after surviving torture in my own country. I have built a life here and have a partner and two children aged 9 and 11.

I had therapy with the charity Freedom From Torture to help me with my PTSD and the trauma of being a survivor. But after a couple of years this was discontinued without any alternative arrangements. But the PTSD symptoms were still going on. With other Freedom From Torture survivors I wanted to organise a positive source of support and together we decided to set up a choir for ex clients of Freedom From Torture – the Sing for Freedom Choir.

Right from the start, those of us involved felt like the choir was a therapy for us. But after a year Freedom From Torture were unable to continue to support the choir financially. Then Together Productions stepped in to take over and keep the choir going.

I am on the committee of the Sing for Freedom Choir and involved with fundraising, making decisions about the future of the choir, recruiting new staff and supporting each other.

As a torture survivor I was silenced and afraid, but this choir now has given me a voice. I’m different now. I’ve built my confidence, I’ve improved my language. I’m socialising with other people, sharing ideas. And I’m singing a lot which makes me feel happy.

Before the choir I felt very alone. I’ve no extended family in this country. Now I don’t feel alone – I have the choir, I have friends, I have a community.