Refugee living a dream after top college award

Honoured: Syrian who settled in Perth recognised for outstanding work

A Syrian refugee who was given asylum in Scotland has said she is “in a dream” after scooping a top award from Perth College.

Iman Sari fled her war-torn homeland in 2015. She was one of 30 refugees welcomed into Perth and Kinross as part of a nationwide resettlement plan announced by then Prime Minister David Cameron.

The 31-year-old left Syria after her husband was killed. She came to Scotland with her young son, twin twoyear-old girls and her frail mother.

A year after arriving in Scotland, Iman enrolled in an English language course at Perth College.

Now she has been honoured by the college for her outstanding work. She received a Community and Citizen Award, presented to her by multimillionaire businesswoman Ann Gloag at a recent prize giving ceremony. Iman said: “I feel I am in a dream. “This is the first time I have been made happy after so many years. This award is encouraging me to do better next year.”

She plans to study business, before starting her own firm in the Perth area.

Dr Sahar Evans, a Syrian Forensic Toxicology academic who has been helping refugees since their arrival, congratulated Iman.

“Mrs Sari is pleased to be the first Syrian refugee to receive an award from the college,” she said. “When Mrs Sari came to Scotland she was determined to change her life and face all difficulties confronting her and her family.”

Iman thanked her teachers and other college staff, as well as friends and volunteers who helped her “through her difficult arrival and integration”.

She has also thanked the people of Perth for welcoming her and her family.

The first Syrian families were welcomed at Glasgow airport by a delegation from Perth and Kinross Council. The local authority was one of only a handful of councils who had volunteered to help those displaced by civil war as early as March 2014.

The UK Government agreed to accept around 20,000 refugees, of which the Scottish Government would take about 10% (around 2,000).

It’s heartening to celebrate the story of Syrian refugee Iman Sari, who won a top award at her Perthshire college two years after fleeing her war-torn country. Although her husband had been killed and she was responsible for three small children and a frail mother, she managed to start a new life in Scotland, care for her family, and shine at college, where she originally enrolled in an English language course. What a remarkable achievement,

We hope her dreams continue to come true.

Iman Sari with her award at Perth College.