Refugee Voices - Ahmad

Ahmad had never thought of migrating from Afghanistan. He was married and had children, lived near his family and had a job as a senior manager in the government; in fact, he had even forgone several opportunities to migrate that came in conjunction with his work with the UN and IMF. Despite the persistent threat from the Taliban, he chose to stay in the familiar environment of his home country.
 
However, everything changed when the Taliban surrounded Kabul and took the city. He recalls in vivid detail how employees in his building, which was situated close to other key government buildings, forced their way past security guards and fled into the chaos of the city. He himself ran for over an hour and a half to reach home, having heard on the phone that his mother had become severely distressed, to the point of falling unconscious. When he arrived, he gratefully embraced his mother but knew at that moment that he had to make the difficult decision to leave the country. He first crossed into Iran, but the Taliban continued to threaten him over WhatsApp while also blocking his bank account. Furthermore, the close ties between the Iranian government and the Taliban meant that he had to move on once more to seek out true safety. It was at this point that he was granted a student visa to the UK, which allowed him to come to the country legally before seeking asylum, rather than having to pay a smuggler to take him across the continent through perilous routes.
 
Upon arriving in the UK, Ahmad immediately felt welcomed, and despite the many cultural differences, he greatly appreciated the safety of the country. Although there were points during the anti-refugee protests in 2025 where he and his wife were stressed, he noted that, on the whole, people were welcoming and eager to help him settle in. His relationship with HWR began when he was placed in contact with a volunteer who helped him to begin working once a week at the drop-in sessions, where he helps other refugees and asylum seekers to learn English, his knowledge of 5-6 languages helping him to establish connections with refugees from a wide variety of backgrounds. Ahmad greatly enjoyed the sense of purpose that this gave him, noting that he now feels like 'a small part of a big community'.
 
Ahmad believes that it is crucial for charities like HWR to continue their work, as they have a critical role in allowing asylum seekers who can't speak English to integrate into the community. He notes that learning a language is not just a means of communication; it is a gateway into society, helping people to grasp key components of the UK's culture, such as humour. This allows refugees to make friends, feel confident and avoid the cycle of isolation and mental health issues that many experience.
 
Ahmad is hopeful for the future even though he misses his family deeply, especially his mother, who passed away six months after he arrived in the UK. After completing his second master's degree, he wants to obtain an English certification and work in a field related to his area of expertise, which is banking and finance. Combined with his volunteer work, he is eager to start over in the UK and looks forward to using his education and experience to benefit society.