“Adam" from Yemen

“They help refugees from their heart"

 

Adam was born in Yemen, where his early childhood was peaceful despite the instability around him. His father, originally from Afghanistan, was killed during a war, leaving Adam's family vulnerable. With no other choice, he embarked on a perilous journey to the UK at 13, accompanied by a family friend. His arrival was chaotic. After arriving in the UK, a kind stranger took him to Slough Refugee Support (SRS), who handed him to social services. Though a child, he was initially treated as an adult; "I felt strange, I felt scared, I felt intimidated," he recalls of his first days in the UK. Without SRS advocating for him, his situation could have been worse.

 

Adjusting to life in the UK was overwhelming. Simple tasks like using public transport were foreign to him. Though life in Yemen had dangers, nothing compared to the isolation he felt in a new country. With SRS’s support, Adam enrolled in school, then university, earning a BSc and MSc and is now pursuing his PhD in engineering. Wanting to give back, he became a volunteer, then a trustee, and now serves on a committee at SRS.

 

Now a father, Adam remains grateful to SRS, who even supported his children from birth. In his free time he actively addresses misunderstandings about refugees and is committed to ensuring a peaceful future for his family. Though he misses Yemen’s warmth, after 15 years in the UK, a large part of his identity is British. For Adam, SRS was more than an organization—it was a family. “They help refugees from their heart,” he said, reflecting on the kindness that had changed his life.