Najib Rasooli
Najib Rasooli fled Afghanistan aged 15, following the trauma he experienced at the time given the lack of stability and security in the country. After a dangerous and difficult six-month journey he reached the UK in 2002. He had no support from friends or family, spoke no English and had a painful physical condition.
Since his arrival, education has helped Najib find strength in the face of adversity. Determined to go to university, he took English classes and quickly progressed from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. By 2007 he had also achieved GCSE Maths, a Level 2 First Diploma in Business and a Level 3 with Merit BTEC National Diploma in Business.
He said, “At times it was really difficult to remain motivated when my problems threatened to overwhelm me, but I knew that education was a way to survive.”
However, his dream of attending university rested on a good pass in GCSE English. He joined an ESOL for Professionals course, and this helped him achieve a much-needed grade C. He is now studying for a BA in Business and Financial Management at Sheffield Hallam University.
Najib said, “I struggled with language, and although I didn’t want to mix with other people at that time, I realised that having a life with no education was not what I wanted. I enrolled for English classes because it took my mind off my problems and, I found, gave me fun and enjoyment.”
Najib also works as a volunteer fundraiser at the Red Cross and, being a fluent speaker of Uzbek, Dari and Farsi and also speaking some Urdu, he interprets for friends in need of medical and legal translations.
His nominator, Judith, said, “He appreciates the chances he has had and he has made good friends in the Red Cross who really value his contributions. He is and, I’m sure, will continue to be a great asset to UK society”.