His creativity is an asset

After fleeing his home in northern Afghanistan, Shahrukh arrived in Australia with his family in 2021. A year later, he joined the IKEA Refugee Workforce Inclusion program and secured a permanent role in the Product Recovery and Quality team. Shahrukh is known for his enthusiasm, creativity, and commitment to life-long learning. In the future, he hopes to study graphic design and photography, building on his Bachelor of Computer Science from Afghanistan.

'When I first arrived in Australia, it was hard to find work as I didn’t have local experience and my English language confidence was low. Being able to communicate with others is so important for building a new life, finding work, and continuing your education in another country.'

'I was studying English, but it wasn’t enough because learning in a classroom is different to learning in real life. At IKEA I can practice every day with customers and co-workers, and this has really helped me improve my skills and confidence very quickly.'

'Having permanent work with a stable income has given me financial independence and allowed me and my family to rent a home of our own without relying on other support.'

'My goal is to always be learning and creating, making the most of every opportunity to grow my confidence and share my knowledge. Time is very important and if you miss it, you can’t go back.'

Shahrukh’s manager Andy, believes Shahrukh has settled in seamlessly. 

'Shahrukh’s positive energy is infectious. The whole team enjoys working alongside him. His creativity is an asset in our unique area of the business, and he is always focused on finding the best solutions for our customers.'

Head back to the campaign page to find out how IKEA is partnering with refugees across the world.