This is a GIANTS journey. A story of migrant men, a story of struggle, resilience and finding a home. 

And it goes…

After years of living in fear, years of missed opportunities, homelessness, detention centres, years of the Home Office’s culture of disbelief, I was at rock bottom.

I was separated from my family, with no place to sleep at night, struggling financially and I needed a place to feel safe after everything I’d been through. I was scared to ask for help, scared that I would be sent back to detention.  

I went to look for housing support, but they couldn’t help me. I didn’t have recourse to public funds. They said “There is nothing I can do, I’m sorry” 

I wasn’t eating enough and went to my local food bank, but they couldn’t help me. They said “You need to be referred before we can give you food to eat.” 

I needed a place to talk. I went to a community group, but they couldn’t help me. They said “There were no groups for men.” 

I would just walk and cry to clear my mind. On the outside I seemed ok, but men struggled to tell their story. Our culture tells men that they have to suffer without opening up. I trusted no one.

One day, I met someone at Praxis who listened and knew where I needed to be. She said, “We have a group for migrant men, and I think you would benefit from joining”.  

After being turned away so many times, I struggled to trust her, but I took up the invite. 

On the first day I joined GIANTS, I was on edge. I had a very short fuse, constantly on the lookout for danger, constantly near tears. I peeped through the door and saw a room full of people. Someone gave me a cup of tea and welcomed me into the group. They made a space for me to come in and they all showed me respect. 

In time, I opened up. I sat down and quietly watched a group member sing and in that very moment I knew everything was going to be alright. I knew I had found my place. I knew I had found friends. I knew I had found brothers. My future didn’t feel so scary with GIANTS by my side. GIANTS is a family, we stand together, grow together. After so many years of holding back, of holding everything together, we can finally share with men who understand what we are going through. We can tell our story and get advice. We can find strength in each other and help to be positive.  

In our times of need, GIANTS are there for each other. At immigration court hearings, we stand together. In the good and the bad days, we stand together. I always say: "Praxis is my GP and GIANTS is my medicine". It has made us the men we are today. There is so much joy that comes out of this group. There is a culture of belief.  

Our dream is to see more places like GIANTS. Places where we don’t have to be alone, places where we can get advice, places where we can give back.