‘If it’s offbeat and in Cardiff then it’s online here’
LISTEN To OUR PODCAST
  • Social Life
    Social Life
    Women in cowboy hat at country music event.

    A popular country music night in Cardiff brings fans together to make new friends

    Outside of Cardiff Central train station, showing the Christmas illuminations

    Local Welsh art projected on station as part of a huge Light of Winter trail

    Author and storyteller launches typewriter-for-hire service in Cardiff market

  • Work Life
    Work Life

    Two chefs to open a restaurant after the decline in Wales’ hospitality industry

    Local Rainbow

    How Welsh musicians are using social media to keep the spirit of bilingual music alive

    Picture of monitor on.a film set, showing actors preparing for a scene in the background

    Training project that aims to make screen sector more accessible gets funding boost

  • Active Life
    Active Life

    Local yoga instructor sees a rise in men embracing yoga classes to improve wellbeing

    ‘Men and women are not built the same’: Fighting for female-friendly fitness gear

    Three girls playing netball, laughing and smiling

    Netball participation among adults is growing as women seek a sense of community

  • Public Life
    Public Life
    Everywoman festival background and a set of four chairs with microphones lying on them

    Fibroid advocate takes the stage at Everywoman Festival to raise awareness of this common condition

    AI Generated image of an empty theatre

    The last act? Wales’ arts sector faces an uncertain future in challenging times

    A cluttered wardrobe that could use the help of rental fashion

    Fashion crisis unwrapped: The ‘rental revolution’ for Welsh consumers’ wardrobes

  • Long Reads
    Long Reads

    ‘Men and women are not built the same’: Fighting for female-friendly fitness gear

    AI Generated image of an empty theatre

    The last act? Wales’ arts sector faces an uncertain future in challenging times

    A cluttered wardrobe that could use the help of rental fashion

    Fashion crisis unwrapped: The ‘rental revolution’ for Welsh consumers’ wardrobes

  • Magazine
    Magazine
    queer magazine cover

    The Queer Culture Issue

    Magazine cover showing a rugby pitch

    The Grassroots Issue

    Magazine cover showing Christmas presents wrapped up

    The Mental Health Issue

  • Podcasts
Reading
Cardiff Character: Tarek Samad
ShareTweet

Cardiff Character: Tarek Samad

Mairi Hughes·
No logoNo logo home
·29 November 2018

Helping the homeless onto their feet one latte at a time: Tarek’s Café H eases the homeless into the world of work

“I talk to them, I try to find out why they have ended up where they are now”

Heaps of papers and a few stacked boxes of crisps fill the warm, somewhat cramped office in which Tarek Samad sits comfortably at his desk. He notions towards the monitor to his left and draws attention to one member of staff who can be seen making a sandwich in the café which adjoins his workspace. He is from Vietnam and had previously been a victim of human trafficking. Tarek speaks with an invested tone as he says that he is now learning English and is proving to be a great asset to the café’s team.

Café H, which Tarek spends his days managing, is the offspring of Cardiff based homeless charity Huggard. The café acts as a stepping stone into employment for the homeless by providing them with work experience.

“There are a lot of barriers in front of homeless people, they can’t get references for employment, they’ve been out of work for so long that they can’t get back into that routine,” Tarek explains. “We have service users here who are willing and planning to make a change to their lives.”

Bloom where you are planted

Tarek was approached to run Café H when it opened five years ago. Before this he worked for the refugee council, helping refugees into employment in the UK.

“Refugees come from very troubled areas around the world and by making them feel safe and comfortable, we try to help wipe all of the negative, fearful thoughts that they came with,” Tarek said.

He continues to reach out to those who need a hand up through his work at Café H. He supports those working in the café while they gain skills, before helping them to find employment and vouching for them as valuable employees.

“What gives me the most satisfaction is that we managed to change some people’s lives, they have jobs now. Even if we don’t get them jobs, we make them feel valuable”

Tarek now calls Wales home and lives in Cwmbran with his wife and two children. “I came from a foreign background myself, and it was very tough when I first came to the country,” he elaborated. “I found people who supported me, and I want to do the same when I see someone in the same position.”

Cafe H relies heavily on volunteers

Now more than ever

This year, the Welsh government published data which showed that the homelessness crisis in the country is expanding: the number of households being threatened with homelessness was 14% higher in June 2018 than a year previously.

Tarek said he felt that the issue of homelessness is not being combatted efficiently due to a general lack of understanding.

“The whole of society need to look at it with a very compassionate eye. When you work with the people, you find out a lot of issues that maybe you and I could fall into… you don’t need to be a bad person to fall into it,” he articulated.

Tarek animatedly scribbled a circle on a piece of paper as he explained the vicious cycle of homelessness he has witnessed people become trapped in. He spoke with a clarity which demonstrated a deep-rooted understanding of the issue and a persistent and whole hearted desire to tackle it. “Making them feel there is hope,” he smiled, “simple as that.”

 

Tags
Café ‘H’HomelesshomelessnessHuggard
Mairi Hughes
Related
No logo

‘You find somewhere so comfortable and find friends that make you feel like you belong’

Previous Cardiff Character: Olivia Dickeson
Next Cardiff Character: Julia Brooker
This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts.
Click to show error
Error: No posts available for this Facebook ID

About Us

  • About Alt.Cardiff
  • Contact
  • Magazine
  • Podcasts
  • Top stories from Alt.Cardiff
Copyright: James Taylor
  • Social Life
  • Work Life
  • Active Life
  • Public Life
  • Long Reads
  • Magazine
  • Podcasts
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
food Cardiff charity Art culture
See all results