Sardar Jalal

Sardar Jalal came to the United Kingdom as an asylum seeker but now runs his own business. This video is from the BBC/OU Meet The Immigrants series

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Sardar Jalal

(Sings in foreign language)

Commentary

Six years ago, pizza delivery man Sardar, from Kurdistan arrived from Calais in the back of a lorry.

Sardar Jalal

From the beginning I didn’t care as long as I’m safe here, that’s fine I don’t need nothing. But then when I continue my life here I realize no actually I need a passport.

Then later, no actually I need indefinite leave to remain to borrow money from bank buy my own business.

Commentary

Now that he has indefinite leave to remain, Sardar and some Kurdish friends have clubbed together to buy a restaurant in Bristol.

Sardar Jalal

I never opened my own business before but I, as far as I know it’s quite hard.

Commentary

For Sardar, deals need to be finalised in a traditional way.

Sardar’s Staff

(Talking in foreign language)

Sardar

Especially in this country yeah because we are foreign we need to look after each other to, that, you know to, to survive in this country because you can not get every single things from the government.

Commentary

Like many immigrant communities, the Kurds help themselves with finance and practical support.

Sardar

I told you a million times this is crap, this is crap, this is crap, everything...

Patrina

He came in as an asylum seeker, you know, and with all the stigma that, that you know, that’s attached to it, it’s certainly been much harder for him you know; he’s had to work hundred times harder than anybody else to prove that, you know, he’s not a layabout; that he’s here to contribute something.

Sardar

Cos there’s more English people in this country it’s very hard for them to have a business cos every single things they do, you have to... they have to pay money. Everywhere they go, money, money, money, money. Then it’s very, very hard for them, you know, to open the business. But for us it’s not like this.

Commentary

Sardar's restuarant is a success.

Sardar

OK, then that’s £7.

Customer

Cheers.

Sardar

Thank you.

Customer

Thank you.

Sardar

Thanks a lot.