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NARIMAN'S STORY
Displaced Talent Ambassador
After fleeing Syria during the civil war and residing in Lebanon, when thousands of Syrians were escaping to Europe and neighbouring countries including my own family, I rejected the idea to travel completely. Not because I had only started my first job after graduating or because me and my husband wanted to feel settled but because I didn’t want to be labelled again. All my life I’ve been labelled. When I was born in Cyprus, as you can imagine with a distinct name like mine, I grew up known to be different, I was a ‘Syrian’. When my family decided to move permanently to Syria after 25 years living abroad, I was labelled as a ‘foreigner’ due to my broken Arabic which made me feel more like an outcast rather than at home. Moving to Lebanon didn’t help either, again I immediately stood out as a ‘Syrian’ because of my obvious dialect. I really hated the spotlight.
Travelling abroad would mean I’d become a ‘refugee’. Another label. Why couldn’t I just be normal? Or fit in? I’d have to be a 'refugee' which is always associated with a negative connotation especially in terms of education and literacy but the truth is many refugees are talented and qualified individuals yet the misconception lives on by what the media wants to portray. I am educated and only God knows how hard I worked to get into university, how hard I wanted to make my parents proud. There was so much on the line and I was going to make it. I got good grades, graduated in 3 years instead of 4, had 2 job opportunities going for me! This was it! All my hard work was going to pay off and I was gradually going up the ladder towards the light! But sadly, the Syrian war ripped my future out right in front of my eyes.
Devastated. Heartbroken. Shattered.
All my dedication and perseverance gone to waste. Maybe everyone was right, a degree doesn't really put food on the table and was a waste of time but somehow, the striver in me couldn't accept the defeat and was determined to work as hard as ever wherever life was going to put me, get a good job, start a career and still climb that broken ladder.
Sadly, it was much easier said than done. Somehow the circumstances always seemed to be against us and eventually my husband and I lost all hope. As hard as we climbed, parts of that ladder just seemed to break apart. We didn't even know if we could put our children in school anymore. Falling was inevitable, until finally, one day we decided with a heavy heart that we find a smuggler, so my husband could travel to Europe alone as it was the only way out of the hole. As much as I was against this idea, it was truly the only way. I don't think I'd ever cried so much before.
The days before my husband's travel was due, was the day I received the phone call that changed my life forever and next thing you know, I landed an interview with one of the top recruitment companies in the UK, PSR Group and got recruited to join their social value division, Build A Career!
I was a displaced talent and I'm growing fond of this new label because it represents my story and where I’ve come from. I am so grateful for all the blessings that have come my way and I’m determined to give back to the community and help others because being in the UK has changed our lives completely. We have human rights, can dream again, have a secured future for our children and are not afraid anymore. Not afraid of being sent back to our country or for working illegally.
We’ve been freed.
And as the Displaced Talent Ambassador at Build A Career, with first-hand experience of the struggles of being displaced, the knowledge that I have brought and my unique insight empowers me to help other companies change the lives of others as well. If you are interested in recruiting talented people and want to know more about the value refugees can add to your company, connect with me on LinkedIn or feel free to email me at: nkaddour@psrbuildacareer.co.uk