A North East activist turned business adviser has been singled out as one of the top 20 trailblazing refugee women in Europe.
Sarah Ahmadi, a project delivery manager at North East BIC in Sunderland, has been named in the first Visa Everywhere Pioneer20 project, with the banking giant recognising her for the “extraordinary contribution” she has made in the region. The list – run by WeAreTheCity and digital payments leader Visa – shines a light on the work of refugee women living in Europe who are working to break down stigmas and stereotypes, campaigning, changing lives, challenging narratives and empowering women and girls across the continent.
Ms Ahmadi moved to the 海角视频 from Afghanistan almost 23 years ago to flee Taliban rule. As the head of the Afghan Women’s Education Centre and chief editor of a magazine called Women, she felt it was no longer safe for her to stay in the country. As well as helping her to lead a happier life, her decision to leave has also helped hundreds of other refugee women, who have sought to use their skills and expertise to contribute to their communities.
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She said: “It is an absolute honour to have been named among Visa and WeAreTheCity’s ‘20 trailblazing refugee women living in Europe’ list for 2023. Over the past 23 years, I have had the great pleasure of working with hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers to help them better integrate into North East life, both through my work with the Afghan British Association and United Community Action, which I chair. However, we could never have achieved this had it not been for the fantastic support and work of my colleagues and those that have supported us on our journey.
“The support we’ve had from the region’s business community and the communities we serve has been absolutely fantastic, so it has very much been a team effort. I’m just one of the many refugees who come to the 海角视频 holding high level qualifications in fields such as medicine, law, entrepreneurship and management.
“Unfortunately, most who come here end up in menial labour work due to the language barrier. They have the potential to make a real contribution to the 海角视频 economy and that is why we launched RISE, to help them to do just that.”
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Paul McEldon, chief executive of the BIC, said: “I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this accolade than Sarah. Since she joined the BIC in 2018, she has made a real impact not only upon the team, but on the lives of so many people across the region seeking a better, more prosperous life. She is a real credit to her profession and we are absolutely delighted to have her as part of our team.”
Katherine Brown, vice-president for inclusive impact and sustainability at Visa Europe, said: “It is an honour to be able to highlight the journeys of these inspirational women such as Sarah who make up the inaugural Pioneer 20 list. In many different ways, they have all worked incredibly hard to not only rebuild their lives after significant trauma and upheaval, but to support others who are going through similar experiences.”