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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
World
Mostafa Darwish

Acting in Irish cinema while being in direct provision: the story of Tumi Gaonwe

This video tells the story of South African actress and direct provision resident Tumi Gaonwe.

''My name is Tumi Gaonwe, and I live in direct provision," Tumi tells The Irish Mirror. "And I'm a mother of four kids; I work in one of the biggest retailers in Ireland. And I also work in the movie industry as an extra."

Ms Gaonwe has participated in a few movies since her move to Ireland, one of which was last year's award-winning Aisha.

READ MORE - Over 100 Direct Provision complaints from residents in 2022 including knife attack, drug selling and theft

Ms Gaonwe arrived in Ireland in February 2019. She spent six months between the Balseskin Reception Centre and emergency accommodation before moving into direct provision in Letterkenny, where she remains.

"Back home in my country, I had a production company. And then, when I came to Ireland, I had to give up everything. But when I was given the opportunity to be in a famous movie as I shot, I realised that this is an opportunity to grow myself in the movie industry."

Later after this movie, Ms Gaonwe got more opportunities to act and participate in more films in Ireland.

"Sometimes I feel under pressure when I have to drop the kids at school and come back and be able to go to work. Or maybe I'm being called to go and shoot in Dublin, which is very far from here."

Adding to that, her oldest son can sometimes help when he can, she explained - "I'm trying hard, we work together to ensure everything goes well. But, we don't neglect my job, including the kids."

She says things are getting better, and she feels welcomed in Ireland. But she believes direct provision must be brought to an end soon.

She insisted that it's not great to raise kids in direct provision.

Despite being largely welcomed in Ireland, she said: "Some people say 'why don't you go back to your country?'

"Obviously, we came here for a reason. And we didn't come here to be able to come and beg whatsoever. We came because we were in trouble.

"I would say that to people that are having those kind of comments that we are hard workers, most of us, if we are given the opportunity to do something, we do it to the full best of our ability. So it's not like we are here to be dependent on government money or anything."

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