As Abdullah reflected on his journey, he shared, “Every time a stranger passes by with a generous smile, it gives me hope—hope that there are still people out there who appreciate diversity.”

When asked about his strongest memory from the years spent away from his homeland, his voice softened. “I can’t forget the day I truly understood what racism meant. That was the day I faced it, and even though many years have passed, that moment is still stuck in my memory.”

Abdullah left Iraq at the age of 15, and now in the UK, he takes on random jobs to support himself and his family back home. His goal is to save enough money to return to Iraq, to reconnect with friends and family, and to live a life rooted in his homeland. Farming is the path he hopes to take, where he can cultivate organic food and truly nourish himself.

In the driver’s seat, Ameen, also originally from Iraq, has been living in the UK for the past eight years. Together, they represent a story of resilience, diversity, and the shared values that bind us all.

“Diversity is about accepting and respecting differences while enjoying the common values that unite us,” Ameen said, as the two of them continued their journey through Yorkshire, England.