New Londoners

New Londoners was a long-term participatory project with young refugees, mentored by established and emerging photographers, which resulted in a published collection of photographs and writing. Read more

The participants in the project – all separated from their families and homes – came from around the world. The resulting book, New Londoners: Reflections from Home was published by the award-winning Trolley Books.

“It is important that we are involved in making this book. It is a big thing for us. And it’s important that other people should learn about what is going on. Even a great Prime Minister – with great skills – might not know about our situation.” Mussie, New Londoners participant.

Through the photographs we glimpse a side of London little seen and understood, from the point of view of some of the city’s newest arrivals. It reflects on their experiences of home: both the place they have left and the place where they have arrived.

In the introduction the author Hari Kunzru writes, “Taking pictures is a way of establishing that a new life does have a form, for confronting the looming shadows and celebrating what’s beautiful. These pictures are memories – and when you have memories of a place, you’re beginning to put down roots.”

Many of the participants in this project have since been granted permanent leave to remain in the UK. Link to New Londoners book.

: My friends in Iraq would be shocked if I told them I took this picture in London. They would not believe that some Londoners live in such poor housing. It is just like Iraq – the washing line, the drain pipes, the badly painted door. © Al-Mousaoy

: I have not chosen to be here and I have no choice if they want to send me back. I am here but I am always thinking about my city Kirkuk. I want to live in my city, but I can’t. © Chalak Abdulrahman

: I always thought I was entering the colourful world of freedom since I left China. But then it turns out just to be black and white. Memory and hope are of the same colour for me. © Chen Feng_Cheng

: I felt so relieved when I started going to the Refugee Council. They listened to me, and they are always there for me, they cheer me up. When you come to this country you feel so lost, but here I met other Congolese people and this reminded me I am not alone. © Loria Siamia

: This apple tree comes down into our garden. When I look at the apples, they seem to be ours but they are not. © Mussie Haile

: When I first came to England it surprised me when I saw how many different cultures there were all living here side-by-side. © Shamin Nakalembe

: I have an interest in how citizenship ceremonies affect and shape one’s person identity, and in how it is reshaping communities in cultures that are already established. © Tatiana Correia

: My first impressions of London were strange, it was not like the London I had seen on television. But once you get over the strangeness of difference you understand how many things are the same. © Bajram

Back to gallery