Member Article

Afghan refugee scoops Achievement in the Private Sector trophy in Yorkshire awards

An Afghan refugee who arrived in Yorkshire without a word of English has scooped a prestigious award for Achievement in the Private Sector.

Habib Karimi, who now lives in Bradford, arrived from Afghanistan in 2006 and couldn’t speak any English. Starting work at 17, he studied and saved to pass his driving test at 18. After graduating with a BA and MSC, he struggled to get a professional job but attended many workshops and eventually became a customer adviser at Santander. He also worked for YBS Group and is now an Associate Investment Manager with Business Enterprise Fund.

Habib was one of 12 winners at the Yorkshire Asian Young Achievers awards – dubbed the YAYAs – which took place at the Cedar Court Hotel, in Bradford, before an audience of 350 invited guests.

He received his award from Maz Ahmed, finance director at category sponsor Morrisons. Now in their third year, the YAYAs are open to any young person aged 16 to 30 of South Asian heritage (Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi etc) who was born in, or lives and works in Yorkshire.

Aimed at rising stars who have overcome deprivation and disadvantage, or have broken down traditional barriers to progress, the YAYAs attracted scores of entries from throughout the county and highlighted many outstanding achievers.

Bradford-based QED Foundation, a registered charity which exists to improve the social and economic position of disadvantaged communities in partnership with public, private and civil society organisations, worked with their headline partners, York St John University, to organise the awards.

Leeds-born software developer and former Bradford University student Neil Bharat Patel clinched the overall Young Achiever of the Year Award. Bradford-born Neil, who currently lives in Leicester, has Cerebral Palsy and is a wheelchair user. He overcame the challenges he faced through his health issues to gain a First-Class Honours degree in Computer Science from the University of Bradford.

Neil, who works for Next, said his employers helped him to get where he wants to be and he encourages others to follow his lead.

“I have overcome my challenges and I hope others can do the same and get to where they want to be,” he said. “I was very surprised to receive the award. I feel very happy and it has made me proud and my family proud. I also think it will inspire others with disabilities to overcome challenges and life obstacles and to achieve more.”

The Young Entrepreneur Award was won by the owner of the Sizzling Lounge restaurant, in Bingley. Yeasin Mohammed was born in Burma/Myanmar. After staying in a Bangladeshi refugee camp, Yeasin came to England in 2010 as a refugee asylum seeker through United Nations.

Undeterred, despite his lack of English, Yeasin succeeded in launching his own 100-seater restaurant at the age of just 24. He is also an award-winning bodybuilder who cares for his mum and supports his siblings.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Perry Austin-Clarke .