From Syrian refugee to Yorkshire cheese queen

CAIRO - 13 July 2017: Razan Alsous did not plan her new life in the UK to revolve around cheese. After her husband’s office was the sight of a bomb attack back in Syria, Razan realized she had to make a decision, and fast. She fled her home of Damascus with her husband and three children in 2012, back before the war had fully set in.

With her family, Razan settled with her brother-in-law in Huddersfield, UK, and applied for asylum. Although the asylum process went smoothly, Razan faced a setback in that her pharmaceutical degree was no longer valid in UK. Having come so far, Razan was not about to let this hold her back. While working as a translator, Razan had begun to appreciate the fine taste of Yorkshire’s cow milk, and realized there was a gap in the market for Halloumi cheese, a dish popular in the Levant, Greece, and recently Europe.

Razan got the push she needed after receiving a loan of £2,500 (about $3200), and used that to create ‘Yorkshire Dama Cheese,’ named after the two countries she lived in; Damascus and Yorkshire. By using European milk to create a beloved Middle-Eastern cheese, Razan’s dish symbolizes unity between two cultures.

Yorkshire Dama became a success, winning gold at the World Cheese Awards on 2016, and her newest factory has even been visited by the British Royal Princess Anne. Razan is a shining example of what refugees are capable of contributing to a community when welcomed with open arms.