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Metro
a day ago
- General
- Metro
My mother's words as I fled my homeland ring in my ears
I'll never forget the last thing my mother told my husband, Zakirullah, before we had to say goodbye. 'Fatemah is my amânat to you, take care of her.' Amânat is a Dari word that essentially translates to: 'A gift you entrust someone with.' She said this as floods of tears streamed down my face. I didn't want to leave her – or my three younger siblings – but Zakir and I had no choice. Within two weeks, Kabul fell to the Taliban and my whole world shattered. I was born and raised in the west of Afghanistan in a city called Herāt. Devastatingly, my father was killed by the Taliban when I was just six years old, leaving my mother to raise me, my younger brother, and two younger sisters. Despite this, I was always encouraged to dream big. That's why, after university in 2013, I decided to study a master's degree in Kabul, which is on the other side of the country. From there, I worked for the British Council, where I was in charge of the child protection department and various programs within schools and higher education. Zakir and I met in 2015 for the first time. I delivered a training in one of the orphanages in Kabul, and he was working there. I think God had already decided for us. We met each other by chance at one of the institutes again, and there we started talking, sharing job opportunities and study plans. I realised we were similar in many ways, but different in others. I liked that he was smart, educated, and caring. But his family is quite conservative, so the women in his family didn't get an education or a job. He has always been so supportive of me and my dreams though. Refugee Week is the world's largest arts and culture festival celebrating the contributions, creativity and resilience of refugees and people seeking safety. Each year, IMIX – a charity that helps change the way people think and talk about migration – supports Refugee Week Ambassadors. These are people, like Fatemah, who came to the UK to rebuild their lives and who now play an important part in our communities. IMIX is proud to work with Metro as a trusted partner in highlighting these voices and shining a light on the many ways refugees help make the UK a better place for everyone. You can read Dorsa's story below I hugged my dad to hide the terrifying truth We got engaged in 2016 and were married a year later. We were thrilled to welcome our two sons in 2018 and 2020. After that, our lives felt settled and comfortable. In fact, Zakir and I were doing so well (he was working with the US government by that point) that we managed to rent a home in Kabul and were able to help move my mother, sisters, and brother from Herāt to be near us. It was worlds away from how we both grew up. We were all so happy. Then, in April 2021, we saw terrifying headlines that NATO allies were going to start withdrawing from the country, which would effectively hand it over to the Taliban. Within a month of that, Zakir heard about the UK's Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) scheme, which helps relocate Afghans who worked with the UK to get them out of the country. I was eligible because I had worked at the UK Ministry of Defence and the British Embassy, as well as various international organisations over the years, which would almost certainly put me in grave danger. My husband decided to apply for us and it was all approved by July. Of course, we felt relieved at the idea of escaping to safety, but it was heartbreaking to realise we couldn't bring anyone with us besides our two boys. Breaking the news to our families was incredibly tough. We didn't know when – or if – we would see them again and I was so scared that my work would put my family in danger. That's when I had the emotional moment saying goodbye to my mother and siblings. Her words were still ringing in my ears as we boarded the plane heading to the UK on August 3 – a country I'd never been to before. We arrived in Manchester and were placed in hotel quarantine for seven days due to the pandemic. We were moved from hotel to hotel across the country until we finally secured permanent accommodation in south-east London. Thankfully, both my husband and I were able to continue working, but this wasn't easy while juggling trying to get our sons settled and adjusting to school. I have since completed another master's degree and I work for the British Council again after a career break, while my husband secured a job at Queen Mary University. As for my siblings and mother, they were forced to flee their homes repeatedly to avoid detection from the Taliban until we managed to secure visas for them in Pakistan by the end of 2021. Thankfully, my mother, brother, and sisters secured visas again – this time to Australia – by the year after, where they still are today. Throughout it all, it's been incredibly difficult to be away from them. Of course, we regularly talk but I haven't seen my siblings now for almost four years. I feel quite lucky to be able to say that I met with my mother in Germany last August for the first time since being separated. The moment I saw her, I broke down in tears – I was so happy. Remarkably, my eldest son – who was around three when he last saw his grandmother – remembered her. In fact, he was so overwhelmed with joy at being reunited that he cried himself to sleep on her shoulder. Unfortunately, we only managed to spend two weeks together in Germany before she had to go back to Australia and me to the UK. Ever since, my eldest son still asks when we're all going to be properly united. Of course, I want that to happen, but they're all so tired of starting over again and again. For that reason, I don't know what the future holds for us all. For now, I'm concentrating on building a life for my sons in the UK. Part of that is trying to be a role model, which is why I'm an ambassador for the charity City of Sanctuary, as well as involved with Refugee Week. More Trending At the end of the day, I want people in the UK to realise that we're real humans with real stories. We miss our homeland a lot, and we came here as we had to, not because we wanted to. My story is not yet finished. But at least we still have the greatest amânat of all – our lives. As told to James Besanvalle Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing Share your views in the comments below. MORE: I went to Glastonbury and discovered it's just really overrated MORE: I'm allowed to date other women – my partner isn't MORE: How I stopped feeling insecure when my partner didn't orgasm
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Quadient and Nuvei Sign New Partnership to Enhance Cloud Payment Capabilities for Businesses Globally
The partnership supports seamless, secure payments through Quadient's AR and AP solutions for businesses across North America, the UK and Europe Quadient (Euronext Paris: QDT), a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections, and Nuvei, a leading global payments company, today announced a strategic technology partnership to enhance cloud payment capabilities for businesses globally. Through this partnership, Nuvei's advanced payment processing technology is now integrated into Quadient's cloud-based Accounts Receivable (AR) and Accounts Payable (AP) automation solutions, providing businesses of all sizes across North America, the UK, and Europe with a unified platform to manage B2B payments more efficiently, securely, and at scale. With the integration of advanced global payments capabilities, Quadient is tackling a major challenge in the fast-evolving $120 trillion global B2B payments ecosystem, where more than half of small and midsize businesses still rely on fragmented systems to manage financial transactions1. Quadient now offers a unified, scalable cloud-based platform that automates AR and AP across multiple currencies, payment methods and regions. By integrating capabilities such as customer onboarding, pay-ins and payouts, and risk management, Quadient helps businesses navigate the complexities of cash flow management, align payment terms, and transition from manual, fragmented processes to streamlined digital workflows. 'We're excited to be able to offer our customers globally a solution that goes beyond just automating payments. We're empowering businesses to modernize and take control of their financial processes,' said Chris Hartigan, chief solution officer, Digital, Quadient. 'With our cloud platform, we're helping businesses streamline workflows, gain deeper financial insights, and build stronger relationships with customers and suppliers, driving efficiency and sustainable growth to succeed in an increasingly digital and regulated marketplace.' Philip Fayer, Nuvei Chair and CEO, added: 'Nuvei B2B technology partners, such as Quadient, provide customers with full-stack, enterprise-grade solutions that optimize payments and deliver a superior payment experience. By integrating our advanced payment processing technology into Quadient's cloud platform, we're enabling businesses to seamlessly manage transactions across multiple currencies and payment methods through a single, unified solution. We look forward to supporting Quadient as it empowers its customers with customized solutions to accelerate their growth.' About Quadient®Quadient is a global automation platform powering secure and sustainable business connections through digital and physical channels. Quadient supports businesses of all sizes in their digital transformation and growth journey, unlocking operational efficiency and creating meaningful customer experiences. Listed in compartment B of Euronext Paris (QDT) and part of the CAC® Mid & Small and EnterNext® Tech 40 indices, Quadient shares are eligible for PEA-PME investing. For more information about Quadient, visit About NuveiNuvei is a global leader in B2B payments. It offers modern, future-proof technology that empowers customers to accept frictionless payment methods, unlock new revenue opportunities, and enhance the value of existing software —all in one seamless solution. For more information, visit Media ContactsJoe Scolaro, QuadientGlobal Press Relations Manager+1 Alex Hammond, 1 market intelligence Attachment PR Quadient Nuvei Partnership_ENSign in to access your portfolio
BBC News
19-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Northallerton Afghan refugees to run pop-up restaurant
A family who fled Afghanistan to Northallerton during the Taliban's resurgence are running a pop-up restaurant to showcase Afghan cuisine and say thanks to their Rahimi worked as an interpreter with the UK Armed Forces and left the country in 2021 with his wife Nelab and their four family moved to North Yorkshire in 2023 after the government granted them sanctuary Rahimi said: "We are very grateful but we want to work and pay our way. I wanted to share Afghan cuisine and culture with the local community." According to North Yorkshire Council, 484 Afghans have been relocated to 97 households in the region since August 2021 under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) or the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS).People being resettled under the ARAP scheme include interpreters who worked for the Armed Forces. 'Life on the line' Habib said "Living in Northallerton has been a wonderful experience. The people here are very kind and friendly, which has made it easier for us to settle. "We feel safe and the community has been supportive, especially in helping us find a home and adjust to life in England."Jonathan Spencer, who is senior resettlement officer for the council, said the authority felt it had a responsibility to support the Rahimis because they would not have been safe had they stayed in Afghanistan. "Habib really put his life on the line, quite literally, so they've really risked their lives for the UK."The pop-up restaurant will be held at Northallerton Town Hall on 19 April. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
