• From Volunteering to Employment: Ferial’s Journey to a New Beginning

    When Ferial arrived in the UK from Sri Lanka in 2024, she left behind everything she had ever known—her home, family, friends, and the life she had built. Seeking safety and the opportunity to rebuild her future, she began a new chapter filled with both hope and uncertainty. The asylum process took around 18 months…

  • A New Beginning: Bashir’s Story

    Bashir Adam arrived in the United Kingdom in 2023 as an asylum seeker in search of safety and stability. He had fled a devastating civil war in Western Sudan. leaving behind his home, family and many loved ones. Like many others forced to leave their countries, his journey was not only long and exhausting but…

  • From Isolation to Inspiration: Naila’s Journey with FODI

    When Naila arrived in the UK from Pakistan over 20 years ago, she never imagined how long it would take to rediscover her sense of identity. After years of uncertainty and loneliness, everything changed when she was moved to Sunderland seven years ago. That’s where Naila found FODI, a charity supporting asylum seekers and refugees.…

  • From Sudan to a New Beginning: Abdelhai’s Journey

    Abdelhai Haroon Yahya fled Sudan and arrived in the UK in 2023, seeking safety from conflict, persecution, and economic hardship following the outbreak of war in April 2023. Like many asylum seekers, Abdelhai faced the daunting challenges of adapting to a new language, culture, and environment, and at first, he often felt isolated. Everything began…

  • From Isolation to Belonging

    When Farkhunda Nawzadi arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker, everything she once knew had changed. Back home, she was a successful and capable woman with a strong sense of identity. In her new country, however, she felt invisible—isolated, uncertain, and reduced to “just a number” in an unfamiliar system. Despite these challenges, Farkhunda…