Refugees are not a burden. Broken systems are.

We treat integration as a policy problem to be solved with checklists and funding lines. But for the 82,000 people currently waiting for asylum decisions in the UK, integration isn't a government program, it’s a daily struggle for survival and dignity.

In this episode of Builders of the Broken Bazaar, Dr. Tabish Zaman is joined by Severine Kipili, the founder of Bora Shabaa. Severine shares her profound journey from fleeing war and spending seven years in a Zambian refugee camp to becoming a pillar of support in her UK community. She challenges the narrative that refugees are a "burden," reframing them instead as highly skilled individuals, teachers, doctors, and innovators, who are often silenced by the systems meant to protect them.

Together, they discuss the power of informal community spaces, the "healing" found in sewing circles and ESOL classes, and why the most vital part of rebuilding a life isn't just finding a house, it's finding a place to belong.

This is a conversation about the bravery required to start over and the collective strength found when we choose solidarity over statistics. Because in a broken system, the most radical act is refusing to let a neighbor rebuild their life alone

🎙 “Dignity means beyond charity. We don’t just provide services; we empower people to lead, volunteer, and contribute.”

👉 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@buildersofthebrokenbazaar

Host: Dr. Tabish Zaman Guest: Severine Kipili, (Founder of Bora Shabaa). Editor: Liam Gadsby. Research and Impact Officer: Mohammad Alauthman.