Running with it - the story of how I started REFEO
by Mariam Diakite, founder and chair of REFEO
Who would’ve imagined that an idea I had 5 years ago on a bus to Birmingham would become an entire organisation? Certainly not me...
In the months before, I had seen the many hurdles that my partner, who is a refugee from Sudan, had been facing to make a life in the UK. Because the university diploma he gained in his home country is not recognised in the UK, he had no choice but to study a career again here. It wasn’t easy for him to start over as a mature student, both emotionally and financially.
We were shocked to find that he wasn’t eligible for any scholarships or student loans and instead he had to pay student fees. This did not make sense to me as I believe education should be accessible to everyone, particularly to migrants who are already disadvantaged because of their immigration status. As a Black woman born outside of the UK and the daughter of parents who arrived in Europe as undocumented migrants, sadly I’m no stranger to the challenges and injustices that come with being different.
What my partner was facing became the fuel that propelled the idea of creating my own organisation. I wanted to help people like him who, after fleeing danger and arriving in the UK, should be able to start a meaningful education and career.
Next thing I knew, I had signed myself up to the Manchester Marathon and published a crowdfunding page. I wanted people to understand why we need and organisation like REFEO and also to help me raise the initial funds to launch it. Amazingly, the crowdfunder was very successful, reaching £1066! In fact, the donations I saw coming in helped me to stay focused during the three months of training prior to the marathon and also to tackle those 42 kms on the day.
Running the marathon was a memorable experience, one that still makes me emotional when I think about it. I am so grateful for the support I received from family, friends, colleagues, acquaintances and even people I didn’t know. After the race, I got so much confidence in myself and my idea that I felt ready to start REFEO. I also knew I was now accountable to all those who donated and to the refugees and people seeking asylum who need the support.
Raising funds was only the start of this journey. I then found people to form the Board of Trustees, registered the charity in April 2019 as Refugee Education For Equal Employment Opportunities (REFEO), and once the foundations for the charity were solid, I began to work hard to raise additional funds to make our work sustainable. As we continue to grow, my goal is to become the go-to organisation for UK refugees and asylum seekers who want to access university/college and employment.
Three years after REFEO was born, we now have a team of 24 volunteers who are passionate about our work. I had never managed so many people at the same time, but I am lucky to be supported by the team leads who are ambitious women like me. The work we do everyday is a huge motivator - whenever I hear how getting a laptop or accessing a professional course has transformed a person’s life, it reinforces the "why" I do what I do. It is a labour of love!
I still can't believe that what began as a small idea has gone such a long way! Thinking back to where it all started reminds me of the power we all have to support our community and take action against the injustices that we see. I’m certain that, like me, other women out there have inspiring ideas that are waiting to become a reality. To them I would say: be patient and trust the process! Developing a project is never linear, but the fruits of your work will come.