Originally from Syria, Mohamad has made a new start in Scotland after moving over a year and a half ago.
Mohamad became involved with the British Heart Foundation as a volunteer after South Lanarkshire Council Refugee Resettlement Team supported him in applying to work at his local branch. He saw volunteering as a great chance for him to improve his English so that he can “one day pursue his dream of becoming a doctor”.
After his father died from a heart attack three years ago, Mohamad understands all too well the importance of raising funds for research into heart and circulatory diseases.
Since his arrival he has also been able to secure paid work two days a week as a furniture restorer at the store. Despite limited English, Mohamad has become an extremely popular member of the team and is well-known for his hard work at the store.
Mohamad says settling into a new country was a challenging experience at first, but volunteering has helped him make new friends and feel part of his local community.
After winning the British Heart Foundation’s Young Volunteer of the Year award in June, Mohamad is passionate about encouraging others to get involved, so they too can gain valuable “life skills and enjoy the other benefits that come with volunteering at the BHF – not to mention they will be helping the charity to raise vital funds for life saving research.”