Sofia’s story
Sofia* was the first woman to secure an international job offer through Talent Beyond Boundaries’ refugee labour mobility program. She is now settled in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two young children - but her journey was marked by significant challenges.
Sofia ran a successful boutique bookshop in Homs, Syria. As the war became dangerous, she and her husband decided they had to flee. They agreed that Sofia and the kids would go to Jordan, while her husband would try to get to Europe by boat. He would make his way to Germany and apply for asylum and then family reunion - to bring Sofia and the children to reunite with him in Germany.
But it wasn’t to be. Germany began limiting family reunion places, which meant Sofia’s husband found himself stuck there, waiting for years, trying to scrape together any money he could to send back to his family in Jordan. Sofia was unable to work in Jordan, both because she was residing there illegally and because she had no one to look after the children. She had no savings, no security and no way of reuniting with her husband. The situation was bleak.
Sofia approached Talent Beyond Boundaries with the hope of finding international employment. TBB helped her access extra English language support, and prepared her for job interviews. According to Sofia, this preparation was key because it made her feel supported and gave her the confidence to commit her full efforts to securing a job.
TBB shared Sofia’s CV with EY (Ernst and Young) - one of the pioneering employer partners working with Talent Beyond Boundaries in Australia - and they interviewed her for an Executive Assistant role. Sofia passed each interview stage with flying colours. As a result, EY offered her a job based in Melbourne.
The opportunity to move internationally for work has changed Sofia’s life. Not only because she can live in safely and security, and provide for her family financially - but because TBB helped her to secure a visa which meant that her family could be reunited in Australia. In a joyous scene at Melbourne Airport, Sofia and her children were finally able to embrace their husband and father after almost three years apart.
Sofia’s story goes to show how, with just a little bit of support - and leadership from the private sector - refugee women can transform their lives, resume their careers, and secure safe futures for their families.
*Sofia’s name has been changed to protect her identity. The image used above is a stock photograph.
