Refugees share their own stories of flowers and plants that hold a special meaning

Usman Khalid is founder of Haven Coffee, a cafe and social enterprise in Walthamstow, North East London. Himself a refugee from Pakistan, he helps others who have been forced to flee through barista training, providing people with employment skills to begin working in the United Kingdom (UK).  

Usman says that during his time in the UK, he developed a passion for coffee, and wanted to set up a business that provides the local community in Walthamstow with Fairtrade, ethically sourced coffee - one that has a mission to break the false narratives around refugees and that offers them a chance to integrate into their new country.  

Supported by TERN, The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network, who helped him to develop the logo, concept and set up as a business, Usman established Haven in 2019.  

On top of serving the local community and commuters on the way to the nearby station, Haven Coffee specialises in art programmes, with comedy workshops for refugees, leading to a chance to perform amongst high profile names.  

‘Through this, we try to show a different picture of refugees to the audience,’ he told Kate Daudy when she joined him at Haven Coffee. For Refugee Week this year, Usman will be bringing stand up evening Laff Ucchino to Islington’s Union Chapel with refugees performing in the same line up as Nish Kuma and Rosie Jones.  

For The Seeds of Hope, Usman naturally chose coffee, which he says ‘tells the beautiful story of migration’, starting in Ethiopia, spreading across, appreciated and known in all corners of the world. 

Maya Ghazal arrived in the UK from Damascus at the age of 16 under the refugee family reunion scheme. Unable to speak the language, she taught herself English and eventually graduated from university.  At the age of 21, she fulfilled her dream of becoming the first female Syrian refugee pilot when she received her private pilot license. A UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, she is a passionate advocate for refugee inclusion and access to education. 

For The Seeds of Hope project, Maya chose jasmine, the national flower of Syria, which is found throughout her home city of Damascus. 

"Growing up, every corner of the street that I walked around, you always smelled jasmine," she explains. "There was always a flower hanging out of someone’s garden." When she smells the flower in the UK, where she now lives, or sees it blooming, it reminds her “a little more of home".