I came to Praxis in March 1992, when I had recently arrived in London after fleeing Colombia. At that time the Home Office was still processing my asylum claim, I wasn’t working yet, and I didn’t know many people in London.  

I had been invited to a Bible study group held at the church that Praxis shares its building with. Once there, I was told that the charity upstairs, Praxis, was hosting diaspora groups’ activities, including many run by Latinos like me, and they invited me to go.   

The place I found was so vibrant - this was a space with open doors for migrants and refugees from all over the world.  

People could go just to get a tea and chat with others, read a book in their library, or get involved with one of the many activities Praxis was organising in collaboration with the groups it hosted: conferences on the human rights situation in Latin America, vigils outside embassies of countries oppressing their people, public talks, poetry readings and workshops – Praxis really was a place for shared learning and activism.   

The people who came to Praxis were from all over the world. There was a very strong Latin American presence – people from El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia – but also from East Timor, Rwanda, Sudan, Philippines and so much more.  

Most of the people who were coming to Praxis had fled their countries for political reasons. Human rights – and fighting to protect them – was incredibly important for us, both in our home countries and in our new London home. And Praxis was offering the opportunity and the help needed to move these fights forward.  

As soon as I understood what kind of place Praxis was, it became my new home. Back in Colombia I was a social worker and I was managing community work with indigenous groups, so the work Praxis was doing really resonated with me. While the Home Office was processing my asylum application I started to come and volunteer here the whole day, like so many other people who dedicated their time to the activities Praxis was supporting. From Spanish classes for children to organising national conferences on the situation of refugees, there was always something to do.  

Once, we hosted an international conference to bring refugees together, and I volunteered to host a delegate coming to Spain – she was a lady from the Dominican Republic now living in Madrid. What I couldn’t foresee was that years later, when my own sister was forced to flee Colombia and escaped to Spain, the same lady I hosted took my sister under her own wing – supporting her as she started building a new life for herself and her family in Madrid. This really represents what Praxis did – we were there for each other, we shared what we had, and we stood up in solidarity when some of us needed support with individual or collective struggles.  

The projects Praxis worked on evolved over time depending on the issues migrants and refugees were facing. Whenever a new crisis happened around the world, which would push new groups of people to seek sanctuary in London, they would find a new home in Praxis, and they would bring their perspectives, knowledge and struggles to the charity – and we would craft new responses, together.  

After I was granted asylum I was offered a job at Praxis, where I am still working. I have done different roles over the years and these days I work with people seeking asylum who have been accommodated in hotels, I coordinate a Praxis’ group for men called GIANTS and I also provide welfare support to our clients. It has been a long journey but I am grateful Praxis has given me the opportunity to support other people.