This section - Asylum Scheme | Mythbuster | Terminology

A Safe Place - Coaching with a conscience

Glasgow: January - March 2006

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Questionnaire responses

Why do asylum seekers and refugees come to live in Scotland ?

We can see therefore, that of the pupils who responded in a negative manner to this question prior to the workshop, 78% of these pupils gave a positive reply after their involvement with the project.

A pupil from St David's Primary gave a great example of the ignorance that some children have with respect to people from other races. When asked the above question, his reply was that our Government "had brought them over to be slaves".

After the workshop his answer to the same question was that, "the asylum seekers are here so they do not get hurt. They are scared because there are wars in their countries".

Another example of a child not understanding a situation was when a pupil from Holy Cross stated that asylum seekers and refugees were in Scotland "because their countries are too hot". After the workshop the same question brought the response that "they are looking for a safe place".

A personal view from a pupil at Shawlands Academy was that "they come to Scotland to get money and houses here". Following her involvement in the workshop, her response to the same question was that "they come to Scotland because it is too dangerous to live in their country.