Carrying Home Across Borders – Hoyam's story 

  
I look back on my life, I see two homes: the one that raised me, Sudan, and the one that sheltered me, Wales. 

I arrived in the UK in December 2007, coming straight to Cardiff to join my husband. I had never lived anywhere else in the UK, but from the moment I arrived, the city felt familiar. Cardiff welcomed me quietly, and over time it became my sanctuary, long before I realised how much I would need one. 

I grew up in eastern Sudan, a region rich in culture but deeply marginalised. When I moved to Khartoum for university, I carried my region with me, its struggles, its girls who deserved more. I studied Economics and Political Science, graduating in 2000, and later completed postgraduate studies in International Relations. Alongside my studies, I became involved in human rights work, especially campaigns against female genital mutilation, early marriage, and girls dropping out of school. Activism became part of who I was. 

My journey to Wales looked ordinary on paper. I arrived as an immigrant wife. But starting life here, without family or community, was deeply challenging. The isolation was overwhelming. Although I spoke English, the everyday language of doctors, neighbours, and schools felt unfamiliar. When I became pregnant soon after arriving, everything became harder. Navigating the NHS was confusing and frightening. I waited months to register with a GP, not knowing if my baby was healthy. In Sudan, even without money, you can always see a doctor. Here, I was told to wait. 

That first pregnancy was the loneliest experience of my life. I missed my mother, her reassurance, her quiet care. After giving birth, I struggled with depression, shaped by isolation and lack of information. Looking back, I understand I was not broken. I was simply far from home, becoming a mother without support. 

Slowly, Wales opened to me. Other mothers at my children’s primary school showed kindness. I attended every course and activity the school offered. Small conversations, community events, and everyday interactions helped me rebuild a sense of belonging. Discovering St Fagans Museum helped me understand Welsh history and resilience. I saw parallels with Sudan. 

As my confidence grew, I turned my experience into action. I volunteered with refugees, asylum seekers, and older people, first with the Red Cross and then with local organisations. I learned how systems worked and how to support others so no woman would feel as lost as I once did. 

I have now lived in Cardiff for eighteen years. My daughter is doing her A-levels, my sons are growing, and they call Wales home. I am grateful they have grown up in peace. Neighbours became family. Elderly neighbours were “Auntie,” “Uncle,” even “Granny,” reminding me of Sudanese community life. 

I miss Sudan every day. The war has taken so much. I lost my sister in 2021, my father in 2023, and my brother last year. My family is now scattered across countries, like so many Sudanese families. 

Still, I dream. Last year I completed a degree in Human Resources and the Future of Work. Studying as a mature student reminded me that learning has no age. I hope one day to pursue a PhD and to keep serving communities here and beyond. 

Being named Woman of the Year at the Nation of Sanctuary awards was not just for me. It was for every woman who survives, nurtures, and carries families through displacement and loss. 

If you come to Wales, come with openness. Give your time, be patient, invest in the community. Wales is a nation of sanctuary. If you give, you will be welcomed. 

Life is precious, and we honour it best by living with humanity.