Gulwali Passarlay to speak at Barrow event organised by Furness Refugee Support

Gulwali Passarlay was still a child when his father, a doctor, was killed by US forces in Afghanistan. The Taliban tried to recruit both him and his brother, but the pair fled the country instead in 2006.

Separated from his older brother at 12-years-old, Gulwali began walking through countries including Iran, Turkey, Bulgaria and Italy, arrested and assaulted along the way.

He heard his brother was going to the UK so crossed the Mediterranean in a 20-person boat with 120 people crammed aboard.

He endured a 50-hour journey without food or drink before finally getting into a lorry in Calais.

15 years later, Gulwali has a politics degree from Manchester University, as well as masters in public administration, and has published a book, ‘The Lightless Sky’, about his journey and the resilience needed to complete it. 

Gulwali – who is now a public speaker and political campaigner for refugee rights, social justice and education - is heading to Barrow to share his incredible story at an event organised by Furness Refugee Support.

He regularly gives talks at schools, universities and conferences to encourage compassion and understanding for refugees.

Paul Hutchings, the co-founder of Refugee Support Europe – set up to protect and support people who had fled violent conflict – will also be speaking at the event.

Paul planned to spend only a year on Refugee Support Europe but, working with his co-founder John Sloan, has set up operations in seven refugee camps in Greece, with Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, for a migrant caravan in Mexico and a Dignity Centre in Cyprus as well as support for asylum seekers in the UK.

Over that time, Refugee Support Europe has helped well over 15,000 refugees with the support of more than 1,000 volunteers from over 40 countries.

The event will be at held at The Salvation Army in Abbey Road at 7pm on October 6.

Cash-only tickets will be available on the door for £10, including refreshments.