Micheal and Joseph’s journeys to the UK were filled with uncertainty, fear, and an unbreakable will to survive. Both just 16 years old, they left behind their homes in Sudan in 2021 and 2022 respectively, determined to find safety. They both embarked on dangerous journeys, crossing borders and treacherous waters, not knowing where they would eventually settle. 

Micheal has now been in the UK for two years, navigating life in Reading. Despite the ongoing dispute over his age, he has built a community and found strength in those around him. Joseph, on the other hand, has been in the UK for just one year, living in the quieter and more isolated town of Maidenhead. With no one around him and no access to education, Joseph struggles with frustration and loneliness. Both boys are being supported by the same caseworker at Refugee Youth Service (RYS), who provides guidance and is supporting them to develop a sense of belonging.

To help lift Joseph’s spirits, RYS invited him to a special outing—an end-of-year bowling trip in London. The event aimed to bring young people together, offering them a chance to embrace their youth and experience the festive spirit that is so cherished in the UK. Since neither Micheal nor Joseph could travel alone, RYS team members accompanied them from their hotels to London, where they would meet other young people for a day of fun and connection.

At first, it was just another group outing – something to break up the long, quiet days and bring a bit of lightness to Joseph’s new life in the UK. He was quiet on the way there, watching the world go by through the train window, carrying the usual weight of homesickness that never seemed to lift.

But then, halfway through the day, something shifted. Joseph kept glancing at one of the other boys, Micheal. There was something familiar about him. The feeling tugged at Joseph’s memory, until suddenly it clicked.

“I know you,” Joseph said quietly, eyes wide. “You’re from my village. In Sudan.”

Micheal blinked, and then recognition dawned. “Joseph?”

In an instant, the years melted away. They had been childhood friends, before everything changed. Now, here they were, reunited in the most unexpected place.

The rest of the day was pure joy. They bowled, ate together, laughed at old jokes only they understood, and shared stories of the people and places they missed. For Joseph, it was more than just fun — it was healing. He wasn’t alone anymore.

Time spent together did not end with the bowling trip. Micheal and Joseph have stayed in touch, checking in on each other and providing the support that only those who have shared the same struggles can truly understand. As the New Year approached, they reunited once again, celebrating together by watching the fireworks in central London and meeting new friends.

Their story is a testament to the power of connection – how a single moment of reconnection can reignite hope and remind us that even in the darkest times, we are never truly alone.