Alem is a 14-year old Ethiopian refugee who has just arrived in Britain.
Alem felt slightly uncomfortable. Everybody's eyes were upon him, which made him feel a bit
like an animal in a zoo. But when the woman spoke he felt different, much better.
She was Ethiopian, she looked like someone from the Oromo tribe, dark, round-faced and
s slim. But what did she want? Alem wondered. Was she a good guy or a bad guy?
"My name is Mariam and this is Pamela. We come from an organisation called the Refugee
Council. We heard that you were here and we have come to help you. First of all we need to
know that you're OK, and then - well, then we have to try and do whatever you need. We are
here for you. It's our job to make sure that you're looked after. We are not the police, we are
10 not from the government and we don't have any special powers, but we are on your side."
"We work with many people in the same situation," Pamela interjected, "so you have nothing
to worry about."
Mariam took out her notebook and began to make notes. "We have to apply to what we call
the Home Office for political-asylum². We need to get you this political asylum status so that
15 you can stay in the country. Because we want to make sure that your wellbeing is protected
and you get the best of what we have to offer, we have to ask you a few questions to start with.
Can you tell us what happened before you came here? What made your father bring you here,
and what was life like where you came from?"
"Yes, I will try my best."
Benjamin Zephaniah, Refugee Boy, 2001.
1. a little-2. protection
Document B
The Refugee Council is one of the leading charities in the UK working directly with refugees,
and supporting them to rebuild their lives.
If you are under 18 years old and in the UK without your parents we can help you.
- We can help you through the asylum process.
5- We can provide English classes and social activities.
- We can help you if you are in detention (immigration only).
www.refugeecouncil.org.uk
A) Compréhension de l'écrit
Document A
1° Identify the characters who are present and those who are only mentioned.
2° How does Alem feel at the beginning of this passage? Why ?
3° What do the two women have in common? Why are they here?
Document B
4° Who is 'you' (1.3) and 'we' (1.4) ?
5° What is the goal of this organization ?
Documents A and B
6° What is the connection between the two documents ? pouvez vous m aider