8 News How GHA really does change lives


AHMED Ismail, 29, a GHA tenant from Lambhill, had applied for 955 jobs since being granted leave to remain in the UK in October 2015. In July last year, through Wheatley Group’s Changing Lives programme, he landed a full-time job with a GHA environmental team.


I


arrived in Glasgow in 2015 as a refugee from Sudan. I was in danger there. I was hurt and my family was hurt, so I had to leave. I came to Glasgow because I support


Rangers – my whole family does. So when I was asked at Heathrow where I was going, straightaway I said Glasgow. At first it was difficult to understand people. There are a lot of slang words, and people speak very quickly, but I kept practising. But Glasgow people are lovely – they helped me a lot. When I was given leave to remain, I


wanted to start working straightaway. I have always been a hard worker. I


After a few months, I was given a full- time job in the environmental team in Milton. I am outdoors a lot – and part of a great team.


GHA hasn’t just changed my life,


they’ve saved it. GHA has opened so many doors for me and shown me that a way out is possible. They have really helped me a lot. I like working with my colleagues and I


BETTER LIFE: Ahmed Ismail


find it very hard to just sit around. But I struggled to get a chance. Even though I have a lot of experience and qualifications, and work really hard, I couldn’t get an interview. I applied for 955 jobs before I got my chance. My housing officer told me about the Changing Lives programme. I just felt eager every day, and


determined to make the most of the chance I was given.


love the job. I am still so new here, and I don’t know what the future holds for me or what my ambitions are yet. But GHA is a great organisation, and is


very supportive of employees like me. I speak to my family every day. My mother is a teacher, my father is a dentist – and a Rangers fan. They are so proud of me. I miss my home, and I miss my people,


obviously – but there are good people around me here too. They are so nice. I have even fulfilled a lifetime ambition and been to see Rangers at Ibrox. My manager lent me his season ticket. It is just another way he has helped me.


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