Case study: Ali's Journey to Integration and Entrepreneurship
All names have been changed along with some aspects of these case studies to maintain anonymity.
Ali, a client of the Gulab Sorkh Foundation, fled Afghanistan under the ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy) scheme due to the dangerous conditions he faced after the fall of Kabul. His journey to the UK was fraught with uncertainty, but with support from Gulab Sorkh Foundation, his friends and family, and local community members, Ali has built an incredibly successful life in the UK.
From overcoming challenges to serving up smiles – Ali’s journey to restaurant ownership is a story of resilience and flavour.
Initial Struggles and Community Integration
Upon arriving in the UK, Ali was placed in a quarantine hotel for a month, followed by temporary accommodation in a hotel in a large city. During this time, he struggled with feelings of isolation. “It was really boring, I stayed in the room all the time. I was trying to find a job but I didn’t know anyone around there”, he recalls. His first job at a carwash was short-lived due to an infection which forced him to resign, and Ali faced several months of unemployment.
Ali was offered a house in a small rural town at the end of his temporary accommodation period, a change which he was very resistant to. Ali explains, “when I was in the larger city, I had friends everywhere and lots of people visited me, one of my family members even stayed in the same hotel as me. I was very hesitant to move to a small rural town where I would know no one”.
Ali explains that this all changed when his distant relative moved to the small town and convinced him that it was an excellent area to live in, along with the Gulab Sorkh Foundation Operations Director who seconded this opinion, and talked to Ali about his concerns. “When I came here and saw the small town, I saw that it was very quiet and asked myself why I came. For the first month I felt like I can’t live here, and I was desperate to move back”, Ali explains.
The former Operations Director of Gulab Sorkh Foundation who worked with Ali when he was debating the move explains, “we were noticing many clients who were refusing to move to smaller, rural villages and towns as they were afraid that they would be socially isolated and struggle to bond with the local community. We worked with the clients to address their fears and concerns to try to enable them to see the benefits of living in a small place, such as shorter travel distances, lower living costs, caring communities, lots of activities, and safer spaces to being up children. The outcomes we saw were amazing, with people being welcomed with open arms into small rural communities and really becoming an integral part of the villages and towns.”
It was in this small town that Ali’s integration journey truly began. His Gulab Sorkh Foundation Case Manager referred him to an Employment Advisor, following which he secured a job at a petrol station and was able to start building meaningful relationships within the community. "When I found a job, I became settled. I made friends with the local people, and I wanted to stay", Ali shares. He notes that the warmth and friendliness of the people in the town, which reminded him of the culture in Afghanistan, made him and his family feel welcomed and at ease.
Ali’s story highlights the crucial role of community support in the integration of refugees. His involvement with local residents helped him adapt to his new surroundings, and his ability to secure employment fostered a sense of belonging and stability. Through this experience, Ali developed strong connections in his town, preferring it over larger cities where he felt a lack of personal connection. “I’ve been to lots of big cities in the UK and people here in my small town are very smiley, not like in a big city. It makes me feel very welcome to live here. My neighbour even takes out my bins every week”, he says chuckling, reflecting on the contrast between the fast-paced life of the city and the close-knit nature of the rural town he now calls home.
Entrepreneurship: A Path to Independence
Ali’s long-term vision was not just to secure employment but to achieve independence by starting his own business. "The only thing I was thinking about was my family. I left my brother, sister, father, and mother behind, and I need to support them. I have to have my own work", Ali explains. Ali is incredibly hardworking; he started his journey to self-employment by volunteering at a local takeaway, and since then, he has been continuously promoted in his career, eventually becoming the Store Manager of a large national retailer.
In 2024, a unique opportunity arose that he felt would enable him to fulfil his dream. The same shop where Ali had started his career volunteering in became available for sale, and with the support of a friend, he was able to purchase it. "My friend started this shop from zero, and he believed I could take it over. I decided to buy it with another friend", Ali proudly shares. Owning his own business is a testament to Ali’s perseverance and commitment to creating a sustainable future for his family. Now, Ali looks forward to growing his business and contributing to his local community in meaningful ways.
Impact and Reflection
From securing employment to reuniting with his family and eventually becoming a business owner, Ali has achieved a remarkable level of integration and success. His journey illustrates the significance of community connections and systemic advocacy in helping refugees overcome barriers and build a new life in the UK.
Ali's success not only benefits him and his family but also contributes to the wider community. By running his own business in a small rural town, Ali plays an active role in the local economy and serves as a role model for others in similar situations. His story underscores the importance of Gulab Sorkh Foundation’s approach that focuses on community engagement, individual empowerment and systemic change, paving the way for lasting impact.
In Ali’s own words: “The journey wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it.”