I was born in Eritrea but I grew up in Ethiopia, where I studied Biomedical Sciences at University. In my second year I was forced to flee the country after I was banned from university and detained because of my involvement with the opposition party. I came to seek sanctuary in the UK in 2002 and it has taken me 19 years to get British citizenship. For the first 9 years as an asylum seeker I could not work. My PTSD and trauma have prevented me from advancing my career. I have been very involved with the charity Freedom From Torture and their survivors group and in 2016 I co-founded the Sing for Freedom Choir with other survivors. Since Together Productions took over the choir I have been a member of the steering committee who make the key decisions about the future of the choir, fundraise, and support one another. I have represented the choir at events and to the press, and helped to recruit new staff.

Favourite Together Productions Moment: My favourite TP moment was at a Singing Our Lives workshop where 200 of us were playing drums together. And also the day we performed outside the Mayor’s Office by Tower Bridge. And also the Thurrock carnival where 150 of us performed together. So many memories!