Too often, public conversation around refugees is dominated by numbers, fears, or politics. But behind every statistic is a human journey — filled with setbacks, perseverance, and quiet victories.
When I arrived in Scotland as an asylum seeker, I didn’t carry a roadmap. What I had were hopes, aspirations, and a deep uncertainty — but also an unwavering determination to build a better life. I sought more than just safety. I sought a future.
What I found here was more than refuge. I found a country that, despite its challenges, has offered sanctuary to tens of thousands like me. And within that space, I began to build a sense of belonging — not all at once, but milestone by milestone.
A Journey in Moments
The first step onto Scottish soil — cold, unfamiliar, yet strangely hopeful — was my first milestone. It wouldn’t be the last.
The theme of this year’s Refugee Festival Scotland is Milestones — a word that carries unique meaning for every individual. For me, it reflects a slow but steady journey from survival to participation, and eventually, to contribution.
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It was my first English class, where I tentatively spoke aloud and felt heard — truly heard — for the first time in this new land.
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It was when strangers became friends, opening their homes, their hearts, and most importantly, their minds.
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It was my acceptance to the University of Aberdeen, followed by years of hard work and late nights culminating in a First-Class degree in Politics and International Relations.
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And it was my first day working for the Scottish Civil Service — a job that would once have seemed unimaginably out of reach.
More Than My Story
Each of these moments is deeply personal. But none of them happened in isolation.
They were made possible by teachers who believed in me, communities that included me, mentors who made time, and policies that recognised potential beyond immigration status.
Every milestone I’ve reached is a reflection of what can happen when a society chooses inclusion over indifference.
This isn’t just my story. It’s yours too. It belongs to Scotland — to every person who volunteers, who listens, who extends kindness without expectation. It belongs to a country that, even amidst political debates and institutional pressures, continues to show that humanity is not a border.
Milestones Still to Come
There are still many barriers that refugees and asylum seekers face — in housing, in employment, in acceptance. But festivals like this one remind us that progress is possible, and belonging isn’t just a policy ideal. It’s something that happens step by step, person by person.
As I walk through the milestones of my life, I know there are many more ahead. I also know I don’t walk alone.
