Having qualified as a dentist, I came to the UK right before covid having been sponsored to do my masters. Unfortunately the company who had sponsored me shut down and I lost most of the grant, so I couldn’t continue my masters and had to apply for asylum, as my residency in Egypt was expired and couldn’t go back to Syria.

While living in a hostel, I was introduced to two charities, Building Bridges and RAGU, which support refugees in rebuilding their lives. I took on voluntary roles to improve my English and was later sponsored to undertake a master’s degree. Unfortunately, due to my immigration status at the time, I was unable to continue and instead applied for asylum.

During this period, I volunteered at a private school summer camp and was offered a permanent position. Although I was grateful for the opportunity, my ambition was always to return to dentistry.

I secured a position as a dental nurse and began the process of qualifying as a dentist in the UK. I saved enough to pay for the ORE Part 1 exam myself, but the cost of ORE Part 2 meant it would have taken me a very long time to afford to sit it.

One of the team at RAGU kindly signposted me to the BDA Benevolent Fund. Their support changed everything. When I secured a place for the November sitting, the Fund paid the GDC directly, removing the stress and pressure of handling such a significant payment myself and ensuring everything was processed in time. RAGU also supported me with completing the online application and uploading the required documentation.

Laura was incredible — kind, empathetic and patient — explaining every step of the process to me. The support I received was not only financial but emotional, and that made an enormous difference.

I am delighted to say that I passed the exam and am now awaiting my GDC number so that I can begin a position that has already been offered to me.

I truly could not have achieved this without the support of the BDA Benevolent Fund, and I am profoundly grateful. When I am financially secure, I hope to give something back to this remarkable charity that has helped me rebuild my professional life.