Qerim was born in Pristina, Kosovo. When conflict broke out Serb forces made him leave his home. He became trapped at the Macedonian border but was eventually evacuated to Britain. Despite struggling with the immigration system, Qerim has settled permanently in Britain.
Qerim was born in Pristina in 1973 and comes from a working class Kosovar Albanian family. He is one of six children, with two brothers and three sisters.
While Qerim was growing up, Kosovo was still part of Yugoslavia. He remembers it as a liberal country, where people could travel freely and had the right to practice their religion.
But in the early 1980s, life became increasingly difficult for Kosovar Albanians. Many were campaigning for equal rights.
‘I remember as a child…I was brought up amongst tear gas…it was quite familiar…and running away from the police…’
Qerim’s parents were not involved in politics until they lost their jobs for refusing to accept a new constitution which revoked Kosovo’s autonomy. Qerim had to start work to help support his family.
‘One life was taken away and I am not going to give up this one...’
In 1997 conflict broke out in Kosovo. When the NATO bombing began, Qerim and his family, along with thousands of others were forced out of their homes by Serb forces.
‘They came to my house with machine guns, with balaclavas on their heads…and they ordered us to leave…’
Qerim and his family were marched to the train station. They waited two days without food before being forced onto a train to Macedonia. Qerim was on the train for nine hours. Twenty four people were crammed into a compartment meant for six, so there was only room for him to stand on one leg for the entire journey.
When they reached the Macedonian border, it was closed.
Qerim was trapped with thousands of others without food and shelter. When people were finally allowed to cross the border, Qerim’s family became separated into three groups. It took two weeks for them to find each other again. After several more weeks at a refugee camp, Qerim was evacuated to Britain with two sisters and a brother.
His siblings eventually returned to Kosovo but Qerim decided to stay in Britain. He was determined to rebuild his life.
‘One life was taken away and I am not going to give up this one and I just decided to fight and stay.’
After several years of struggling with the immigration system, Qerim was eventually given British citizenship. It has taken him nine years to feel settled in Britain but he is still proud of his Kosovar Albanian identity. He regularly visits Kosovo.
‘I belong here, but I still belong there as well.’
Qerim now works for Refugee Action, one of the charities which helped him when he arrived in Britain.
‘I feel part of this country, I feel like it’s my job, it’s my duty to help...’
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