It's a DRS-iversary!

Today is my DRS-iversary 🎂

A year ago today I walked into @derbyshire_refugee_solidarity and my life changed.

A magical place, full of magical people ✨️. Every week I get to experience so much joy.

The night before I first went to DRS, I read this poem. DRS has brought so much love into my life; family, lifelong friends and community. I am endlessly grateful.

I am so privileged that I am able to meet the most amazing people, from all across the world. And I am so privileged that I get to play a tiny tiny role in people's lives and then I get the honour of watching them start new lives, growing into who they want to be.

It's been a year of community, joy as an act of resistance, solidarity, friendship, anger, conversations, resilience, frustration, celebrations, tears, music and so much laughter.

DRS, and the people I have met, have taught me about the world, life and myself. They've picked me up when I'm down. They've made me always feel welcome, even when I was feeling lost. It's helped me carve out my own space, with a career I am passionate about. It's taught me how to use my power and my voice, even when everything feels hopeless.

DRS is different. DRS is a foundation for so many, a safe space, a home, a family.

It's so much more than a building. It's a way of life and my life is so much richer, so much more vibrant, so much more joyous with DRS 🧡