By Zahra, Administrator at our HQ in Bradninch.
Five years ago, many of us arrived in the UK knowing nothing about life in a new country. We were unfamiliar with the rules and systems, and for most of us, even speaking English felt like an enormous challenge. We arrived with uncertainty, but also with hope — and a determination to rebuild our lives.
** Please note: For the safety and privacy of our Afghan staff and their families, we have omitted specific names and identifying details throughout this post. **
Five years later, we look around our Nowzad family and realise just how much has changed.
Our journeys have all been different, but each one is a story of courage, hard work and perseverance.
One of our vets who had been working at our Kabul clinic since graduation achieved his RCVS qualification two years ago and is now working as a veterinary surgeon in a practice in Devon — an incredible achievement and one we are all so proud of.
Another has successfully passed his RCVS theory examinations and is now waiting for the results of his practical examination. We are all hoping for wonderful news!
Many of the men in our team have now achieved their driving licences, and several of the women have too. For those who had never driven before, learning to drive in a completely new country, often in a second language, was a huge challenge — but they persevered and succeeded.
One of our Nowzad family members has achieved another very special milestone: buying a home with a mortgage. A dream that once seemed so far away is now a reality.
And perhaps one of the most beautiful parts of this journey is watching the next generation grow. Our children now speak fluent English, many with wonderfully strong British accents. Some of our teenagers are preparing for or attending college, creating opportunities and building futures of their own.
These achievements may seem like ordinary milestones to some, but for us, they represent so much more.
They represent starting again from the beginning. Learning a new language. Understanding a new culture. Finding our confidence. Working hard. Supporting one another. And having the courage to dream again.
Five years ago, we were simply trying to find our feet in a new country.
Today, we are building careers, buying homes, learning to drive, studying, raising families and creating a future we can be proud of.
And through it all, Nowzad has remained more than just a workplace. It has become a family — a place where we have supported one another, celebrated each other’s successes and grown together.
We may have come from different backgrounds and walked different paths, but together we have learned something very important: A new beginning can become a beautiful new chapter.
Here’s to the first five years — and to everything still to come.