Ferroudja was a successful language teacher in Algeria when she made the painful decision to seek asylum in the UK. Ferroudja felt broken by her experiences of trying to resettle in a new country and build a new life where nothing was familiar. Her confidence was shattered but support was to be found in the most unusual of places.
Through the Just Bread project, the Refugee Council works with E5 Bakery in East London to offer baking courses to refugee women. Over 12 sessions, Ferroudja learned how to run a bakery – from learning about hygiene, baking breads and cakes to serving customers.
Now employed by the Bakehouse, Ferroudja’s self-esteem has improved enormously. She not only considers her colleague as friends, but the Bakehouse as ‘home’.
Despite the simplicity of the scheme, Just Bread changed Ferroudja’s life.