Hudderfield’s Succesful Refugees

Hudderfield’s Succesful Refugees

To celebrate Refugee Week, The Examiner has published the stories of 8 refugees that overcame the obstacles and defied the odds and weaved themselves into the “rich cultural fabric” of Huddersfield.

Khalil and Rojin Khalaf, a Kurdish couple from Syria, opened Middle Eastern Med One on Westgate in December 2014.

Razan Alsous, from Syria, founded the award winning Yorkshire Dama Cheese after arriving in 2012. She runs a deli and tours food markets and fairs.

Sleman Shwaish, a Kurdish translator from Syria is a refugee co-ordinator at the British Red Cross and volunteer with Citizens UK. He received an invitation to the 2014 Queens garden party in honor of his four year dedication in Syria to providing first aid ad support to war victims.

Jasleen Kaur, an Afghan lawyer arrived unable to speak English, but studied legal practice and was offered a 2 year training contract with Nabarro in London.

Thabo Mkwanansi arrived from Zimbabwe at the age of 18 in 2003 before becoming the front man of the hip hop and soul act Extra Curricula and acoustic soul act Thabo and the Real Deal. 

Abiey Legesse volunteers to help other asylum seekers at DASH, the organization that helped him overcome his depression and build a new life after seeking asylum in the UK from Ethiopia.

Izzat Taljeh escaped the Syrian war in 2014 and settled in Huddersfield. He has a Fine Art degree and uses watercolous and coffee to paint the “cathartic” yet “harrowing scenes” he left behind. 

Mariam Tola Williams was named Yorkshire’s Refugee of the Year for her work volunteering in a charity shop and in Huddersfield Royal Infirmary. Mariam was brought from Nigeria by an abusive criminal. 

All of these men and women, and countless others have been able to find success after seeking refuge. 

For more information: 
http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/refugee-week-meet-eight-refugees-11504102