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Hassan Akkad: bike recipient and BAFTA winner

 

A bike cannot fix a broken asylum system but it actually really helps, it helps a lot.

It was 2016 when I arrived to England from Syria and I was living in Brixton. Someone told me go to The Bike Project workshop in Brixton because they are offering bikes to asylum seekers so I went I presented my BRP and there I was given very generously, I still remember it, it was a blue bike.

It really helped make my life so much easier getting from A to B around London and I love cycling because I used to cycle all the time back home in Damascus so getting that bike was an incredible act of generosity which I still remember. Incredible blue bike.

Fast forward four or five years and the bike project has grown a lot and I personally know around 5 or 6 people, my friends, who all have been given bikes by The Bike Project. Everyone has spoken so kindly about the charity and really appreciative of the great work that they are doing.

Of course, as we said, a bike cannot fix a broken asylum system but it actually really helps, it helps a lot. I personally witnessed and experienced the help that the bike has given me. That is why we are making the film, so people can get engaged, can take out that bike that is rusting in their shed and give it to The Bike Project so they can refurbish it and give it to people who actually really need it.

written by Hassan Akkad

If you’re inspired by Hassan’s words and want to stand with refugees, sign the declaration now!

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