Asylum Seeker Contributes to Sheffield Community Through Volunteering

Saeid Hashemi arrived in the United Kingdom from Iran as an asylum seeker. After being granted refugee status, he established himself in Sheffield and now aims to contribute to his local community. The BBC encountered him while he was assisting elderly residents in enhancing their digital proficiency. Saeid, aged 35, expresses his desire to alter public perceptions regarding asylum seekers. He previously worked as an electrical engineer in his country of origin and is currently attending English language courses at the Learn for Life Enterprise, located on Abbeydale Road. He dedicates his time voluntarily to conduct digital training sessions for the Lodge Moor Tenants and Residents Association (TARA). Doreen Treweek, a member of TARA, describes him as a “godsend” for herself and her neighbours. “We all love him, I love him. He helped me set up Zoom so I can speak to my grandson.” “I’m a bit of a dinosaur with all that but he’ll do anything you need, he’s a clever boy.” Saeid indicates that the mutual relationship he shares with them has aided his integration into life in Sheffield. “The ladies are my only family here. I do like helping people. I want to give something back.” “The women are like mothers. They bring food, they look after me. They try and help me with my language and revising for exams.” Barbara Bates has similarly gained from Saeid’s proficiency, noting that he has “helped change people’s attitudes.” “Most people around here don’t understand what a refugee is. When they hear the word refugee, I think something different comes into their head now because they meet Saeid and they learn. “It’s all about learning about other people’s problems and what they’ve been through.”” Gill Rhodes, who serves as the director and lead tutor at Learn for Life, describes Saeid as an “exemplary student.” “We don’t just teach English, we teach people so they can go into the wider community and integrate into society.” “Saeid is a remarkable person. He picked up English very quickly. He understands the importance of not just learning but actually using the skills to become a responsible person in the UK.” Saeid is currently seeking permanent employment while maintaining his volunteer commitments. Doreen further commented: “He is already an upstanding member of society. He’s more like my grandson now – he’s like a member of my family.” “He teaches me a bit of Farsi and I teach him a bit of Yorkshire – he’s more Yorkshire than me!” For further content, highlights from South Yorkshire are available on BBC Sounds, and the latest episode of Look North can be viewed. The BBC encourages submissions of stories for potential coverage. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information on its external linking policy.