BBC Saifullah standing in the bike workshop where he now volunteers. He is wearing a grey hoodie. A refugee who came to the UK from Afghanistan has told how a community bike project helped him find his independence – so much so he has joined the scheme as a volunteer.
Saifullah Ahmadzai arrived in the UK nearly two years ago, after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, and settled in South Yorkshire.
The 23-year-old was offered a bike by the Barnsley Refugee Bike Project, which he uses to attended college and his cricket club.
Mr Ahmadzai said he hoped that by volunteering he could learn new skills and help other refugees, and project founder Alex Simons said Mr Ahmadzai had become an "integral" member of the team.
Mr Ahmadzai told the BBC his journey to the UK took him nearly three years. He walked most of the way before crossing the Channel to the UK.
He lived with other refugees in Calais for six months before making the journey.
"There were 65 people on a 30ft (9m) boat," Mr Ahmadzai said.The excessive weight of passengers caused the boat to capsize, killing 10 of the refugees onboard including two close friends, he said.They spent two hours in the water before being rescued by the UK Coastguard."This was very hard for me. I still have nightmares about this now," he said. A workshop full of bicycles hanging floor to ceiling. Mr Ahmadzai settled in Barnsley, and was told about the local bike workshop by his English teacher.He […]
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