Finding work as a migrant comes with huge challenges, even for the highly skilled – but there are entrepreneurs offering a lifeline
Laughing with customers one baking hot Saturday last month, while encouraging them to taste chai teas from a market stall in Forest Hill, south-east London, marked a momentous occasion for Ahmed Yousefi*. After a long battle to find employment, it was the Iranian refugee’s first day of work since arriving in the UK eight months ago. “I really enjoyed it as I could practise my English and meet different people,” says Yousefi, whose dream is to be a dentist. “It’s interesting – I think it’ll be a fun place to work.”
Although he’s applied for jobs, 22-year-old Yousefi has faced challenges common among refugees when seeking work: a language barrier and no local work experience or references. He’s just started a part-time job with tea company Chaigaram, which provides employment to refugees and aims to help them better integrate into the UK.
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Source: Guardian