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Calais Jungle crisis: 'Too much time is spent checking children's ages. Just help them'

"We need to provide more help – not shut down the borders to this country." The message of a former asylum seeker in who is now helping others in Wolverhampton.

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Alvine Dongmo-Noumey came to this country from her native Cameroon aged 27.

She says she fled to escape domestic abuse and political discrimination.

But on arrival in Cardiff, she found life difficult here, living on £32 a week while housed in a hostel.

Now she, through her organisation Alzec Vision, is assisting asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in the West Midlands.

Last year, she helped 254 asylum seekers, compared to 200 the year before.

Wellbeing classes, dance therapy and food parcels are among the services provided.

Today, Miss Dongmo-Noumey said the UK needed to open its arms to take in more people escaping conflicts in their own countries.

She said: "People here are spending too much time checking ages of the children coming in.

"What we should be doing instead is checking on their health, providing education and helping them. Many of these young people have left their families behind, they are in trauma and need our help."

Miss Dongmo-Noumey spent a year living in Cardiff before she was granted a resident's permit, making her a refugee. This entitled her to work and study. She studied in English in Cardiff before moving to Wolverhampton.

Living in Whitmore Reans, she then studied public health at the University of Wolverhampton. Since then she has volunteered at the Refugee and Migrant Centre in Wolverhampton, as well as working for free for Diabetes UK.

In 2013 she set up Migrant Empowerment Group, which was superseded by Alzev Vision Community Interest Company this year.

Miss Dongmo-Noumey said the UK needed to open its arms to take in more people escaping conflicts in their own countries.

She was invited by former Prime Minister David Cameron for an event in Downing Street to commend her work.

Miss Dongmo-Noumey, now aged 36 and living in Wolverhampton with her five children, said: "People come to this country for a range of reasons. They are often scared and do not speak the language.

"We are here to help them, engage with them and put them in contact with others in their situation.

"But we know we can do more as the demand increases.

"Last Christmas we gave out 400 Christmas parcels to those in need.

"This year we are sending out 1,000. This will be for needy migrants from all countries struggling at that time of the year."

The group is also looking for a new home in Wolverhampton.

Anyone wanting to help the group email alzec.vision@yahoo.com or visit www.migrantem powermentgroup.co.uk

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