Courage in Action: From Refugee to Chef Trainer

For Refugee Week 2026, we are celebrating the theme of Courage by sharing the story of our new Chef Trainer, Ismail Almatheab.

Today, Ismail leads hospitality training at Plateful Café, helping refugees and other learners build skills, confidence and pathways into employment. But the journey that brought him here is one of extraordinary resilience, determination and courage.

Growing up in Syria, Ismail discovered his passion for food while working in his family’s bakery, producing traditional Syrian breads, pastries and sweets. Alongside his work, he studied English Literature at Damascus University and built experience in professional kitchens and hotels across the country.

In 2011, everything changed.

As conflict engulfed Syria, Ismail’s future became increasingly uncertain. In 2014, he made the heartbreaking decision to leave his home, family, career and the life he had built behind. Like millions of Syrians, he was forced to seek safety elsewhere.

After arriving in the UK in 2015, Ismail faced the daunting challenge of starting again from nothing.

He had professional skills, experience and ambition, but no UK references, limited English and little understanding of how to navigate a completely new system. Finding work proved incredibly difficult. Despite countless applications and interviews, opportunities were repeatedly out of reach.

Many people would have given up.

Instead, Ismail persevered.

He studied English, attended training courses, travelled across towns and cities for interviews and accepted whatever work he could find. He worked long hours carrying out demanding kitchen tasks while continuing to search for better opportunities. He moved from Stoke-on-Trent to Birmingham, then to Cambridge and eventually London, following every lead that might help him build a future.

Each setback became another reason to keep going.

Over the years, Ismail worked in restaurants across the country, steadily building his experience and reputation. Through determination and hard work, he transformed the uncertainty of his early years in the UK into a successful career in hospitality.

Even after securing professional roles in respected restaurants, Ismail continued investing in himself. He completed Level 2 and Level 3 Diplomas in Culinary Skills and later pursued an Advanced Diploma in Artisan Baking at the prestigious School of Artisan Food.

His commitment to learning reflects a belief that growth never stops, no matter how many obstacles stand in the way.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought fresh challenges, as it did for many hospitality workers. Yet once again, Ismail adapted. During this difficult period, he became involved in community food projects, using his skills to support others and maintain the sense of connection that food creates.

Today, Ismail has come full circle.

As Plateful Café’s first full-time Chef Trainer, he now supports refugees and other learners who are beginning journeys of their own. He understands the challenges they face because he has lived them himself.

Through practical hospitality training, mentoring and encouragement, he helps others develop not only kitchen skills but also confidence, independence and hope for the future.

Ismail’s story is a powerful reminder that courage is not a single act. It is the determination to keep moving forward when the path ahead is uncertain. It is rebuilding your life after loss. It is refusing to give up when doors close. And it is using your experiences to help others succeed.

This Refugee Week, we celebrate Ismail’s courage — and the courage of all refugees who continue to rebuild, contribute and enrich our communities every day.

About Refugee Week

The word courage comes from the Latin cor, meaning “heart.”
Inspired by the lives and experiences of people seeking sanctuary, Refugee Week 2026 invites us to explore the theme of Courage.

For refugees around the world, courage is often a daily necessity. It is the courage to face unknown journeys, learn new languages, navigate unfamiliar systems, or simply to wake up each morning and step into an uncertain world.

At a time when some seek to divide and blame, Refugee Week 2026 calls us to come together and share the courage to welcome, to stand for what we believe in, and to celebrate culture and community – to be joyful, imagine new possibilities, dream, heal, and connect.

Courage isn’t always loud or bold. It can be found in simple acts: opening your door to a neighbour, trying new food, reading a book, or watching a film that changes your view of the world. It can be speaking up, asking for help, sharing your story – or simply having the courage to be yourself.

Through art, stories, and community, we celebrate the courage that lives within us all – and how connection helps it grow.

Join us for Refugee Week 2026, 15–21 June 2026

To see a full list of other events taking place throughout Refugee Week, visit the Refugee Week Website

Refugee Week 2026 marks 75 years since the Refugee Convention – a landmark agreement affirming that those forced to flee deserve protection, dignity, and hope. For 75 years, it has provided the legal foundation that has saved millions of lives.

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