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Bassem Alhaj
Bassem came from Syria, is married and has two sons and three daughters. Bassem decided to come to the UK, from a choice of the UK, Canada and America, with his wife and four children in in 2016 to find peace after leaving Syria in 2012, just after the war started. He chose the UK because the weather is not extreme. Bassem’s family moved to Lebanon in 2012 and stayed there until 2014.. But there was no opportunity for his children to be educated in Lebanon, so they missed four years of their education. Since being in the UK Bassem has had a fifth child in Milton Keynes.
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Bassem is an electrician, and was an electrician in Syria for twenty years. Before the war, Syria was a nice place, even greener than here. Bassem is trying to learn English because he wants to be able to speak to clients. He has not been able to work as an electrician because a new regulation has been enforced which means he now has to get a certificate. Bassem has noticed a lot more stress on health and safety in the UK but he thinks that’s a good thing. He listens to both English and Arabic music. His children like Arabic music, but new music, not the classic music he listens to. Bassem thinks it’s easier for his children to live in another culture because they have learnt to speak both English and Arabic.

This project is  an MKIAC project,  in partnership with Living Archive MK