From a young age, we are told to follow our dreams, but some of us don’t get that opportunity right away. That was the case for Galway-based actress and model, Pamela Uba. Pamela and her family, who are from Nigeria, came to Ireland when she was around eight years old.
“It was me, my mum and my three siblings, I am the eldest child. My mum wanted a better life for us. It wasn’t the easiest of journeys.
We ended up in the direct provision system,” she recalls. Pamela and her family lived in a centre in Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, for over 10 years.
While they were grateful for safety, she admits it was tough to adjust to their new way of life. “It was like being in lockdown, except we only had a singular box room most of the time. We didn’t have much money, that limited what we could do and where we could go,” she says.
Read more: Dr Mehvish Khan on moving to Ireland: 'Irish people have big hearts, shaped by their history' Read more: Ngozi Elobuike founded Ireland's first black-led wine club after winning a competition to move here Growing up, it was hard being different, and as she got older Pamela began helping her mother by talking to different solicitors, in the hopes that her family would be granted residency. She continues: “We had joined every club, attended all the parish events, we were totally integrated. We just wanted to live our lives and start giving back to society.
” Pamela did really well in school and after her Leaving Cert was offered a place in .