RADICAL REALIST

My name is Laila, and my journey from Afghanistan to the United Kingdom has been one of perseverance and determination. As a refugee, I’ve faced numerous challenges, but through entrepreneurship, I’ve found a pathway to independence. 

Arriving in the UK as an asylum seeker, I faced the daunting task of rebuilding my life in a new country. I was determined to pursue higher education, which is a great challenge for asylum seekers. But I didn’t give up, and with a full scholarship from Goldsmiths, University of London and SOAS, completed my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. At one point, the Home Office argued that I did not have a right to higher education, which set me back in my studies and caused a huge amount of stress to me and my family. I can still remember myself before: naïve to the conversations happening around me, and envious of people with freedom, peace and independence in their countries. They seemed to worry only about which music they liked, what festival ticket they could afford, at the time a far cry from my reality.  

When I arrived in the UK, I suffered from a skin condition worsened by the stress and anxiety of being an asylum seeker. My skin troubles slowly made me less socially active as I was conscious of my appearance, on top of struggling with English. I felt I was not even presentable. After a lot of self-development, encouragement, and research, I founded Gilguzi, a skincare brand for individuals facing similar challenges. Through Gilguzi, I not only sought to address a market need but also to create employment opportunities for refugee women. Refugee entrepreneurship offers a pathway to independence and empowerment, enabling individuals to overcome barriers and contribute positively to their communities. I channelled my passion and personal struggles into what I want to be and who I want to support, which makes Gilguzi such a unique platform for me. 

Despite the successes of Gilguzi within the small community we have built, I continue to face challenges in securing funding to scale my business. I want to build on my successful tests and create a product that is available around the world. As a refugee entrepreneur, accessing financial opportunities can be very challenging due to many institutional barriers and a lack of resources. By supporting refugee-led businesses, we can create a more inclusive and equitable economic system that benefits everyone. 

My journey from asylum seeker to entrepreneur is a testament to the resilience and capability of refugee women. We possess the same level of talent and capability as anyone else and can overcome challenges to make a better life for ourselves and our communities. I urge those reading this not to support refugee dreams with charity, but rather with a belief in our collective potential for success. Buy from refugee businesses, invest in them, and spread the word about them. Your support in this journey would mean the world to me and countless other refugee entrepreneurs striving to make a positive impact. 

I am forever grateful to organisations like STAR, TERN and Ben & Jerry’s for helping me and many others reach towards our full potential. 

See more about Laila and Gilguzi here.  

Learn about the Refugee Summit hosted by The Conduit here.

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