Anywhere but Home

Ayan’s world was shattered when war came to the camp in Yemen where she lived. At fifteen years old she was separated from her family and left with her two younger siblings to look after. With no possessions, no money and no one to help, they fell in with smugglers and young girls like her were highly prized. But Ayan was descended from Somali nomads - storytellers and poets - skilled orators with a rich oral history and like them she had the gift of language.  Anywhere but Home is a six-episode audio drama brought to you by Save the Children. To find out more about the real people who inspired this story and their incredible journeys go to: Written and created by Alexia Singh; directed by Alexia Singh; produced by Natasha Coleman; sound design, editing and music by Nikky French; casting by Meryl&Leslie. Recorded and edited by Nathan at the Blue Studios. Ayan - Ahd Kamel Francesca - Emma Cunniffe Mike - Nick Khan Arabic voice - Lubna Fakhry 

A family fleeing conflict find a sick baby hidden under a pile of leaves deep in a forest. With gunmen all around the race to get her to safety and find her family begins. Anywhere but Home is a six-episode audio drama brought to you by Save the Children. To find out more about the stories that inspired this episode and learn more about what’s happening in South Sudan go to: Written and created by Alexia Singh; directed by Alexia Singh; produced by Natasha Coleman; sound design, editing and music by Nikky French; casting by Meryl&Leslie, script editor was Ben Lambert. Recorded at One Louder Studios. Gabriel - Richard Pepple Young Gabriel - Rhoda Ofori-Attah Sylvia, Rose and the nurse - Anna-Maria Nabirye

In a town in Syria, surrounded by minefields, with bombs exploding overhead, an elderly woman sets out on an epic journey to bring her grandchildren across the border to safety. But even if they make it will they ever recover from the horrors they’ve witnessed? Anywhere but Home is a six-episode audio drama brought to you by Save the Children. Special thanks to Cat Carter for sharing her personal story and providing the inspiration behind this episode. To find out more about Cat and the Syrian children who inspired this episode go to: Written and created by Alexia Singh; directed by Alexia Singh; produced by Natasha Coleman; sound design, editing and music by Nikky French; casting by Meryl&Leslie, script editor Ben Lambert. Recorded at One Louder Studios. Grandmother - Amira Ghazalla Cat - Zoe Tapper

Samira’s father knew he was taking a risk by allowing girls to study at his school. In their village in the north west of Nigeria, just teaching the western alphabet could get you killed. When the insurgents came for her father and he paid the ultimate price, Samira swore that she would never go to school again. But a chance meeting with a boy soldier gave her the courage to fight back.  Anywhere but Home is a six-episode audio drama brought to you by Save the Children. To find out more about the real people behind this story go to: Written and created by Alexia Singh; directed by Alexia Singh; produced by Natasha Coleman; sound design, editing and music by Nikky French; casting by Meryl&Leslie, script editor Ben Lambert. Recording and editing by Nathan at the Blue Studios. The teacher - Richard Pepple Samira - Rhoda Ofori-Attah

When his home in Damascus was destroyed by bombing Sam knew that he should leave and follow his family to safety in exile, but his work helping refugees was too important. When his activities brought him to the attention of the authorities he was faced with the hardest decision of his life. To stay and risk his life, or to leave and lose everything he’d worked so hard to build.  Anywhere but Home is a six-episode audio drama brought to you by Save the Children. Special thanks to Mutasem (Sam) for sharing his amazing story and providing the inspiration behind this episode. To find out more about Mutasem and the crisis in Syria go to: Written and created by Alexia Singh; directed by Alexia Singh; produced by Natasha Coleman; sound design, editing and music by Nikky French; casting by Meryl&Leslie. Recording and editing by Nathan at the Blue Studios. Sam - Nick Khan Ahmed and Militia Man - Basel Abbas Abdullah and Smuggler 2 - Mahmoud El Faituri Sisters 1 and 2 - Ahd Kamel and Juliana Yazbeck Smuggler 1 - Richard Pepple Arabic voice - Bashar Akaak