My name is Amina Khan; I am a young person who been in care for 13 years. Once I’ve reached the age of 18 I have been moved into a supported housing, now I have been living there for almost 2 years now. It’s been a good experience as I got a lot of support and but sometime it can be difficult.
Now I will be talking little a bit about my self on how I’ve been stereotype in care but mainly at support housing!
As you can tell by my name, I am from a Bangladeshi background. Brought up in a Bangladeshi foster family, some of the good things about my culture background are that I had the opportunity to celebrate Eid and fast during Ramadan. However since being in supported housing I have not been respected because of how I am and what I wear. I have been stereotyped because of why I wear a head scarf, I find that offensive and it upsets me. I think that my support worker does not accept me as an individual.
This is not the first time that happened to me. When I’m out for a dinner or a party, I get people in general staring at me because I wear a scarf.
On top of that when I was working in Dorothy Perkins for my work experience; I had people that work with me did talk behind my back about my head scarf. I did not tell the manager course she might think the same.
Its hurts me a lot when people question me about me wear scarf but it’s my choice if I want to wear scarf or not!
My main point is that people should not judge me if I they are supporting me. ‘Children in care need supporting but not judge them’.
I won’t let this hold me back course from my positive side I am happy and I have been working in a lot of different charity sectors, this is why I want to help people in care and make a difference. It helps me gain a lot of confidence and I am honored to be part of it.
On top of that I am working with a charity called Raleigh International; I have been chosen to do the Raleigh International overseas expedition! This is a once in a life time opportunity and I am privileged to be part of this great expedition. Raleigh International is a charity which organizes expeditions helping local communities and the environment.
I will be going abroad to Costa Rica and Nicaragua for 10 weeks to work on three phases: Environment Project, Community Project and Adventures! I will be travelling to Costa Rica and Nicaragua as a volunteer. I will be living and working amongst the local community, in the pursuit of improving health and educational services, helping to protect the countries’ natural environment. In addition, other activities include trekking over mountainous terrain, beaches, jungles and volcanoes.
