What would you like to change for unaccompanied and separated children?

They should have regular pathways to citizenship. Once they are secure in their status, they can do anything. Listen to their voice. I would insist that the carers, the workers that support children, unaccompanied especially, speak their first language, and speak with love. I would change the way they are treated and I would end detention for any minor. I think I would change many things for unaccompanied and separated children on the move. But if there would be one thing only, I think it would be their feeling of being cared for and being part of a community and a new family, and not feeling left alone on their journey.

I think that it would be great if we could do work with them so that if they needed to migrate and move that they could do it safely and securely. And if they really didn’t need to do it, then we could support them to stay in whatever environment that they can stay in, that’s secure and stable as well. It would be how quickly they are identified as being alone and how quickly they can access, actually, the services they need. Having access to education, to healthcare, to people that actually can listen to them and can help them navigate the very complex, sometimes, systems that they find in a new country that they do not understand.

I would say offer them friendship, because it’s often a really lonely journey.