Changing perceptions of UK refugees
From an article on Pioneers Post
Fuad Mahamed is changing perceptions of UK refugees. He is CEO and founder of refugee integration and resettlement social enterprise ACH.
Over 21 years ago, Fuad Mahamed arrived in the UK as a refugee from Somalia. Although grateful to be welcomed into the country, he felt frustrated at the feeling that people perceived him as “humanitarian case and a charity case” rather than a person who could contribute to UK society at a high level.
Following a successful career in the corporate sector, Fuad went on to found ACH – a social enterprise which works with refugees and migrants to not only support them in finding housing, but to provide them with training and education to help settle them into UK society – without the “broken refugee” stigma that can come with it.
Since 2013, it has gone from an organisation of 12 people turning over £1m, to more than 70 people with a turnover of £5m +. It has housed more than 500 tenants, and trains more than 3,000 people at any given time.
As Fuad states, "People did not see the ambition within me. I wanted to be seen as somebody who has got talent, skills and aspirations and, if given the opportunity, can and will contribute to UK society."
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From an article on Pioneers Post, 01/10/2019