Celebrating Sulafa’s Journey: From Volunteer to Edinburgh City Council Employee

At The Welcoming, we are fortunate to have incredible volunteers like Sulafa, whose dedication and passion have made a lasting impact on both our charity and the local community. Today, we are excited to celebrate Sulafa’s journey as she embarks on a new chapter in her life, having recently secured a role with Edinburgh City Council.

A Journey Rooted in Community

Sulafa was born in Glasgow to Sudanese parents, while her father pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Strathclyde. After returning to Sudan with her family, she completed all her education there, from primary school through university, where she studied psychology and specialised in counselling psychology. Later, Sulafa worked as a reception registrar for UNHCR.

In the early 2000s, she returned to Scotland to join her husband, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Over time, she started a family, became deeply involved in the local community, and developed a passion for baking and cooking. She dreamed of transforming this love for food into a small catering business. While pursuing this goal, Sulafa also began volunteering with The Welcoming, an experience that had a profound and unexpected impact on her journey.

A Welcoming Experience

Sulafa first joined The Welcoming to assist with front-desk duties and support the Community Fridge Project. With her warm and approachable nature, she quickly became a familiar face to everyone who visited. Her responsibilities included helping new members register, signposting them to local services, completing simple administrative tasks, assisting with online forms, and often serving as the in-house Arabic interpreter. Through these experiences, Sulafa gained greater confidence in her abilities, particularly in IT, which eventually led to new career opportunities.

While actively contributing to The Welcoming, Sulafa also sought advice from the Employability team. Initially, her focus was on expanding her catering business. However, as her confidence grew and she recognised her aptitude for office administration, she began to explore new career possibilities in that field.

A New Career Path

It was during this time that Sulafa discovered an administrative job opportunity with Edinburgh City Council, posted in The Welcoming’s Job and Training WhatsApp group. With encouragement from our team, she applied for the role and received helpful interview preparation tips from HR and Admin Manager Sophie, who worked with her to boost her confidence.

Sulafa’s hard work and determination paid off—she successfully landed the position! Now working at Edinburgh City Council, Sulafa is excited about this new chapter in her life and grateful for the support she received along the way.

A Message of Gratitude

Reflecting on her time at The Welcoming, Sulafa shares, “I had a great relationship with all the staff, full of respect and kindness. I always found support and help from them. I gave my best effort, showing attention, organisation, and responsibility.” As she moves forward in her new role, she adds, “Now, I am embarking on a new chapter and looking forward to succeeding in my new workplace. I hold great love for all of you and will stay in touch.”

Looking Ahead

Sulafa’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of community, support, and personal growth. We are incredibly proud of all that she has achieved and wish her nothing but success in her new role.