Meet Salem, one of our dedicated integration support workers at Scottish Refugee Council. Since joining in 2018, Salem has played a vital role in helping refugees rebuild their lives in a new city in a new country – Dundee, Scotland!
Salem tells us more:
“My work has changed over the years. At first, I met families arriving from Syria and Iraq at the airport, supporting them to settle into their new community. This involved helping them find things like local shops, access essential services like banks, get their children to school in a new area, and access ESOL classes.”
With the more recent resettlement of Ukrainian refugees, Salem has been supporting families fleeing the war against Ukraine. He has been assisting people with securing housing, managing council tax, accessing education, including applying for colleges and universities.
Hybrid working
“I work part-time and split my week between home and the office. On Tuesdays I work from home and dedicate my time to client calls and recording work. Wednesdays and Thursdays I am in the office, working face-to-face with clients alongside my team and our partners at the council. We share a building with Dundee City Council staff.
It’s a really friendly atmosphere. We often have lunch and coffee together, both teams. When in the office it’s also easier to ask for help or share ideas when you can talk face-to-face.”
Challenges and rewards
“Every day brings challenges, some within my control and others not. Sometimes I have to tell a client I am unable to help them in a certain way. But that’s balanced by the positive things I can do for people. I get immense satisfaction from supporting people to rebuild their lives after fleeing war and trauma.
“I feel proud of my work. Many people I’ve supported now have good lives – jobs, houses, cars. Knowing I played a part in that journey is very rewarding.”
Teamwork
“The best thing about the team is our supportive environment. We all share the same goal of helping refugees integrate and build new lives in Dundee, Scotland.”
Winding down
After a long day, I love spending time with my wife and five daughters. We chat, watch films, and enjoy a big family lunch together – we have this around 6pm. In my culture we call this meal “lunch” which is funny because in the UK ‘lunch’ means between 12-2.
At the weekend we spend time looking after our garden, where we grow different vegetables and fruits. Right now we’re trying to grow coriander, parsley, cucumber, strawberries and we have an apple tree. We are hoping for a good crop this year.
Salem’s story is a testament to the dedication and compassion of our staff. By providing a helping hand and fostering a sense of community, we work to empower refugees to rebuild their lives and create a brighter future in Scotland. Find out more about our Dundee resettlement service.
