School rallies to fight student’s deportation
Story idea: Mark Wells
A benefit concert is being held tonight in aid of a student at the Hewett School, whose family face deportation. Over 3000 people have signed an online petition.
18 year old Gabriel Mokake is described as a promising drama student. Having just taken his A levels, he has gained scholarships at 2 leading drama colleges to study Music and Theatre. However, he and his family face deportation to Tanzania, despite living here in Norwich legitimately for the past 9 years.
A benefit concert, including performances from former students, the N&N Operatic Society and Youth Music Theatre UK will be held at the school tonight. Proceeds from the show will go towards helping Gabriel’s family with the cost of legal fees of fighting the deportation.
Cordelia Spence, who’s organising the concert, said: “Gabriel’s family have been under tremendous strain. I just think Gabriel is such a wonderful man and such a good role model to younger children in the school, we want to do all that we can to help him.”
One of Gabriel’s friends, Rebecca Lee, has organised a Facebook page to raise the profile of the campaign. On it, she describes him as: ”smart, talented, and one of the kindest and most selfless people you will ever come across. Last Saturday (12th June) the British Government Visa Services/ UK Border Control gave Gabriel and his family 16 days notice to get out of the country and they are forcing him to move back to Tanzania, a country he has not lived in since the age of 9.” She adds: “Gabriel is one of the best friends I have ever had, I love him so much, and I am not prepared for him to be sent back to a place away from his friends and the life he has worked so hard to build.”
Gabriel came to Norwich 9 years ago when his mother gained a visa to study at the UEA. Her latest application for visa has been refused, because the paperwork showing she’s gained a PhD hasn’t been issued yet. She’s appealing against the refusal and now has Norwich’s 2 MPs, Simon Wright and Chloe Smith, helping her.
Robert Anthony, Associate Headteacher at The Hewett School describes what the family have been through as a “Catch 22 bureaucratic nightmare.” He added: “What I’ve been shocked by are the barriers that are put in place for people who are doing exactly the right thing. We were very concerned that one of our best students would be prevented from taking his A levels, which is why we got involved with Gabriel’s case.”
The hope now is that intervention from local MPs will influence the final decision.
Tickets to the concert at The Walter Roy Theatre at The Hewett School tonight are available on the door. The organisers are asking for donations of £5.
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