Refugee Employment - Refugee Achievers
‘You need to keep pushing, knocking on the door. Life is what you make it’
Habte Hagos, Director of Finance at the TDA and an Eritrean refugee.
The UK has given refuge to those escaping persecution for decades. In their turn, refugees have used their skills and experience to rebuild their lives from scratch, contributing to our vibrant and diverse society, particularly in London where migrants, including refugees, make up 35% of the working age population.
Making a Difference
Making a Difference is a new publication celebrating the contribution refugees make to the UK labour market. Based on case studies from refugees and their employers, it highlights the motivation, flexibility and commitment essential to rebuilding a life here.
To order copies or for more information please email us.
In June 2005, the Employability Forum commissioned a number of journalists and individuals to gather together case studies of refugees who have been successful in the UK labour market. The excerpts below give an idea of the story of each of the individuals featured.
In addition, a number of those listed below are happy to expand on their stories by talking
to journalists and speaking at conferences. Those willing to speak to journalists are indicated
by the small newspaper picture 
next
to their name, those willing to talk at conferences have a picture of a microphone 
.
If you want to be put in touch with any of the individuals, please email Yaminee Pande.
Zafir - A multimedia refugee
Zafir
Zafir (a refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina) came to the UK in 1993, where he worked in an Oxford pub before studying for an MA in Migration Studies. He now runs a successful multimedia business and works as a consultant on refugee and asylum issues.
Indira
Indira came as a refugee from Kosovo, and now works as an Advice and Outreach worker for a Refugee Community Organisation.
Amra - Maths Teacher & Head of
the EMAG Department.
Amra
Amra is a refugee from Bosnia, where she was a teacher and interpreter. She is now a Maths teacher and Head of the EMAG Department at Walthamstow School for Girls.
Latif - freelance consultant.
Latif
Latif came to the UK as a 16-year-old fleeing the troubles in Somalia. He now works as a freelance consultant on refugee issues.
Samir
Samir came as an asylum seeker to the UK in 1992 from Bosina and Herzegovina. He is now a very successful IT Systems Analyst for a bank in the City of London.
Qerim
Qerim is a Kosovan who came to Britain to seek asylum in 1999. Since arriving in the UK, he has worked in various parts of the refugee community, and established himself as a key figure. He is now Deputy Manager of Refugee Action in Bristol.
Abdi
Abdi is a Somali refugee living in the UK, where he has been since 1996. He currently works as a Co-ordinator for Waltham Forest Somali Welfare Association.
Halima
Halima fled the civil war in Somalia in the 1990s. Since coming to the UK, Halima has worked for the Royal Mail, run her own catering business and been a language assistant. She is now a Learning Assistant in a local primary school.
Mageed
Mageed works as a statistician for the NHS in Scotland. He came to the UK from Sudan to study for a postgraduate qualification in statistics, and at the same time sought asylum.
Tatsiana
Tatsiana came from Belarus with her partner in 1996. The couple set up their own business selling furniture and carpets. However, Tatsiana is now single and working as a Sales Consultant.
Ahmed
Ahmed fled the civil war in Somalia in 1992, and arrived in the UK in 1998. He recently gained his Masters degree in Medical Engineering from London University.
Omar
Omar came to Britain as a refugee from Sudan. He now runs a successful restaurant in Edinburgh with a British-born Sudanese partner.
Shany
Shany had a number of good jobs in Rwanda before being forced to flee the war in 1996. After much upheaval, she now works as a Housing Support Officer in Edinburgh.
Minoo
Minoo is a Legal Advisor at the Bristol and Avon Law Centre. She was a women’s activist in Iran until she was forced to flee in 1983.
Arthur
Arthur came to Britain as a refugee from Zimbabwe in 1997. He now works as an Advisor and Advocate, working to help those who cannot help themselves.
Joab
Joab Omondi - Teacher
Joab is a Kenyan who came to Britain in 1997 to seek asylum. He took a master’s degree at King’s College London and then he completed his PGCE at the Institute of Education. He currently teaches Geography at a secondary school in Halstead, Essex.
Emily
Emily is a refugee from Zimbabwe, where she was a qualified general nurse. She came to the UK at 1998 and had studied adult nursing at South Bank University. Now she works for a Woodlands Nursing Home in Ilford, Essex.
Georges
Georges is from Congo, he came to the UK as a refugee on 2002. He was a chief representative for the National Freight Office in Congo. Currently Georges work as warehouse personnel.
Sanja
Sanja is a refugee from the former Yugoslavia, she came to the UK in 1994. She was working as a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon. Since arrival she was trying to re-qualify her studies and skills and now Sanja works as a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon in Hull, UK.
Svetlana
Svetlana is a refugee from Moldova who came to the UK and claimed asylum in 2000. Prior to coming to the UK she was a student. Svetlana enrolled at Lewisham College for the Legal Text Production and the Legal Secretarial courses in 2004, Svetlana is working as a Junior Legal Secretary by Devonshires Solicitors.
Fatima
Fatima came to the UK from Ethiopia in 2002, she was a fully qualified nurse prior coming to the UK. By getting through the progression route for requalifying as a nurse in the UK, now she is working as a nurse at the West London Hospital.
Karzan
Karzan is an Iraqi who has claimed asylum on 2000. He has successfully completed NVQ level 3 in Information, advice and guidance and currently works with Birmingham TUC Centre for the Unemployed as an Employment Adviser.
Paywand
Paywand is an Iraqi who came to the UK as an asylum seeker on 1999. After receiving some training on Immigration and Asylum issues, Paywand started working voluntary first as a Housing Officer and now he is a Support worker for Midland Refugee Council.
Fodye
Fode is from Guinea and came to the UK as a refugee in 2002. He was working as an engineer prior to leave his country. Currently he is working as an Assistant Engineer.
Miran
Miran came to the UK and claimed asylum in 1999. Before leaving Iraq, he was forced to abandoned his studies and start up his own business. Miran is now working as Housing Case Worker.
Isiri
Isiri sought asylum in the UK in 2002. Prior to coming to the UK Isiri was a student in Somalia. She is working as a health assistant with the Future Health and Social Care Trust since January 2006.
Abdi
Abdi - Teacher
Abdi is from Somalia and came to the UK as an asylum seeker on 1999. He took a City and Guilds teaching certificate in 2001. He is currently working as a Maths teacher with Plumcroft Primary School in Plumstead.