Araya Yohannes escaped the war in his country but had no idea that he would be faced with a different war in the UK.
“I grew up in a frightening environment because of the war. My father died when I was seven. He had stomach problems that doctors could not treat. Up until this point we were doing well financially but as soon as dad died, we really struggled. My mum was a housewife so she couldn’t support the family.
I ended up moving in with my uncle. Though he provided everything for me, I was unhappy and felt very lonely. It just didn’t feel the same as when I was with my family.” Araya encountered many more problems as the years went by. Between the ages of 8 and 9, he started having nightmares, which became a part of his life for the better part of 20 years; and at 13, Araya developed stomach ulcers and lived in constant fear.
“Every night I’d dream I was being chased by animals or that my body was floating in the air. Sometimes it was like I was being suffocated and couldn’t move. It was horrible. I hated the nights. After a while, I accepted the nightmares as a part of my life and that they would never go."
After finishing secondary school, Araya moved to the UK with 4 of his cousins in search of a better life.
“We came to the country as asylum seekers. Initially we lived together in one place. I got a job which didn’t pay very well; and worked nights stacking shelves and during the day I studied, life was very difficult.”
Araya completed his course and went on to do an access course in engineering. He then spent an entire year applying for his dream job as a Civil Engineer, but was always rejected. After a year in Hertfordshire, Araya’s life was going no where. His cousins were now married and had there own lives.
“I felt like a nobody. I was going around in circles with no way out. When I came back to London, my cousins had gotten married and it wasn’t possible for me to live with them anymore so with nowhere else to go, I became homeless. I was on the streets for a while until I applied for accommodation and was put in a hostel. I had my own room but was sharing a bathroom and toilet with drug addicts and alcoholics.
I was so frustrated, sad and depressed and wanted to go back home to Eritrea. I’d done my best but nothing was coming out of it. All my hopes and dreams evaporated into thin air.
One day, I was on the bus and noticed a City News on the floor. People were trampling all over it not even paying attention to what was on it. It made me think of my life - overlooked by everyone. The next day I went to the UCKG in Finsbury Park and spoke to a pastor who told me that there was a solution to my problems. He prayed for me and I felt so much peace."
Araya started attending the UCKG regularly, especially the Friday sessions. About a month after, the stomach ulcers had gone and he also started sleeping well at nights as the nightmares went as well. Never the less, Araya was still frustrated in his career.
“Though I had managed to get a job working in my field as a Civil Engineer, I wasn’t in the post I wanted. I wanted to work as a Highway Area Engineer. When a Campaign of Israel came, I grabbed the opportunity. I gave all that I had and told God I wanted to move forward in my career. I applied for the position and now I’m working in my dream job and my salary has doubled.”
And does Araya still feel lonely?
“My love life was a no-go area as I was shy, but as I attended the Partners 4 Life meetings on Saturdays, I found my partner for life.
Our wedding will be on the 28th November on top of Ben Nevis - I cannot let the Peckham HelpCentre close down after all the help I’ve received in the UCKG."
Why not help save the Peckham HelpCentre; a place where hundreds of people receive help as Araya did.
Life can be different if you take charge and decide to make things different. Speak to a spiritual counsellor at your local UCKG or call the 24 hour helpline on 020 7686 6000 now to help you get started.
Araya Yohannes escaped the war in his country but had no idea that he would be faced with a different war in the UK.