FRANCOIS Mukuna feared for his life in his home country because of his work as a newspaper editor. He is one of thousands of asylum seekers who come to Britain looking for refuge every year. Gayle McBain reports.

JOURNALIST Francois Mukuna was the editor of the main daily newspaper in the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But it was his work in the city of Kinshasa that forced Francois to flee his country.

He had 10 years' experience in journalism and loved his job.

"But in our country we do not have the freedom of speech you have in this country," said Francois.

His newspaper would challenge the government and it was something Francois would pay a high price for. Thankfully, he did not pay the highest price - his life.

Francois said: "My life was in danger. I was facing persecution and I knew I could be killed."

He was regularly visited by government soldiers and threats were made to him and his family.

When Francois was investigating a story, in this country, he was forced to seek asylum.

"I was told I should not return or I would face death," he said.

He knew it was a possibility - a colleague had been murdered.

"It was something I knew could happen," he said.

Francois' family was forced into hiding and he sought asylum in London.

He remained there for two-and-a-half years - it was a lonely and desperate time for him.

"I was living in a new country and I couldn't speak very good English. I couldn't get a job because I was an asylum seeker," he said.

Francois was living in one "very dirty" room and relying on social services to provide him with food.

"I did not get any money. It was a terrible experience," he said.

He missed his family and struggled to make ends meet. But two-and-a-half years later, he was granted status to remain in this country and Francois was able to look for work. It also meant he could apply for his family to join him.

He said: "I was a journalist. I had a degree in French literature and a diploma in journalism but I couldn't get a job. Most people wanted you to have experience.

"Although I was finally able to look for work I still couldn't get a job."

As Francois pointed out, many asylum seekers who come to this country are professionals.

"I know someone who is a teacher but she can't get a job here," he said.

"What many people who complain about asylum seekers don't realise is that many of us had professional work in our home countries and we could offer such a lot to this country.

"It is dreadful to have qualifications and be a professional but find you can't work. You feel useless,"

Francois, aged 44, has been determined to do something with his life and when his family joined him - four years after he first arrived - and he moved to Salford, he got involved with Respect Counselling in Bolton, a charity which helps a wide variety of people, including many refugees.

The organisation offers a counselling service - a confidential listening facility.

Francois is training to be a counsellor and is delighted to have his family with him.

"I spent four years without my family. It was very hard. But I have been determined to do something with my new life and I want to be a counsellor," he said.

His family has settled well. Francois's eldest son, David, is manager of a fast-food restaurant and his other three children are all in school. His wife, Marie-Therese, aged 43, works part-time.

When Francois gets his diploma in counselling, which he is working towards, he plans to become a self-employed counsellor.

It is a change of career for Francois, who took English classes to help him integrate into British society.

He misses the newsroom and the excitement of working for a daily newspaper, but he is not bitter.

"I didn't have a choice and I am doing my best to make a new life for myself and my family," he said.

He is also actively involved in helping asylum seekers and refugees help themselves with a new group called HOPE - Help, Organise, Promote and Empowerment.

The group aims to help refugees and asylum seekers in Bolton find out how they can get information.

A simple problem could be that someone wants to visit a library to use the internet and find out what is going on in their home country. Francois can show them how they can get to the library, explain which buses to use and provide the money for the bus fares.

Francois is not alone in wanting to work. Many refugees and asylum seekers enjoy helping out on the allotment run by Respect and are able to grow their own food and, therefore, provide food for themselves, he said.

Although Respect is available to all residents, it is a lifeline to many refugees and asylum seekers.

FACTFILE

  • An asylum seeker is someone who is waiting for their application for "refugee status" to be assessed by the Government.
  • When asylum seekers arrive in this country they do not have a choice as to where they are sent. They are dispersed throughout the country.
  • They receive less than income support to live on. Accommodation and support costs are funded by the Government. There is no extra cost to council-tax payers.
  • Asylum seekers have the same rights as any UK citizen to access healthcare and children's education.
  • Most of the world's 12 million refugees are given asylum by the world's poorest countries, including Iran and Pakistan.
  • The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo live under the threat of civil war.