Getting to know people, making them smile and providing the knowledge they need to have a good day are the reasons I want to do this job. I just really like helping people.
I first became homeless in 2017 when I left Syria due to the war. I fled to Istanbul and was homeless there for 3 months whilst I lived in a shelter. Whilst living in Turkey, I began work in a hotel as a housekeeper. I spoke good English, Arabic and Turkish and I would help the guests with translating. The manager saw I was good at this and asked me to start working on the reception at the hotel. I did that job for almost 2 years, before being granted refugee status in the UK.
I was helped to move to London as part of a project at Hammersmith & Fulham council and first arrived in the city just a few months ago now on 1st July 2019. I am currently working at a hotel as a housekeeper, with this extra training putting me in a stronger place to get a better job and more experience so I can progress my career.
I’m bored of change now. I’ve moved around so much, so right now I just want to build a settled life and find a job I like doing. I’d like to go to university in the long-term, but for now, my plan is to take this chance and help myself and not take help from others or the Government. I know I can do this and my life is going to get better and better.
For personal reasons Alla has chosen to use a pseudonym rather than his real name.