This painting shares the journeys of Sandah and Arun, two migrant healthcare workers whose lives reflect adaptation, support, and resilience.

Sandah looks outward with hope, her background showing Myanmar’s pyit taing htaung dolls, which always stand upright when knocked down. Like the dolls, she finds balance through hardship. Coming from war-torn Myanmar, she arrived in the UK on an asylum visa and soon lost her partner to conflict. This loss pushed her into a non-clinical role, showing how migrants often face limits, cultural barriers, and racism. Despite grief, she chooses to focus on resilience and on finding beauty even in struggle.

Arun’s story contrasts with hers. He is proud of his role, though small frustrations—like people misspelling or mispronouncing his name—remind him of feeling foreign. He finds comfort in visiting an Asian grocery store, where familiar foods help him feel at home. For Arun, belonging is built through everyday joys and genuine human connections.

This painting tells the story of Maria, a Filipina nurse who moved to the UK in 2001. Her journey meant adapting to a new climate, language, and way of life.

At the center, Maria is shown as a happy and accomplished nurse. Beside her, a figure in a puffer jacket represents the challenge of adjusting to the cold weather—a big change from her tropical homeland.

Language was another hurdle. Clear communication is essential in nursing, yet even simple words sounded different and sometimes caused confusion. Words like saline, route, and schedule were pronounced differently in the UK compared to what Maria knew.

Through watching TV and practicing conversations, Maria gradually mastered British English. Within three years, she became fluent, confident, and proud of the strong connections she built with her patients and colleagues.

This painting tells the story of Abeke, a nurse from Nigeria whose journey to the UK was marked by struggle and support.

Her first culture shock was the cold winter—a symbol of the uncertainty and isolation she felt. Soon after, she faced a major setback: a police clearance certificate she obtained turned out to be fraudulent, jeopardising her nursing registration. She had to step down from her role and work temporarily as a healthcare support worker while appealing her case.

Separated from her family, Abeke felt lonely and devastated. But she wasn’t alone—her matron, manager, and colleagues stood by her, offering emotional and professional support.

In December 2023, she finally received her UK nursing pin. What began with cold and hardship ended with resilience, solidarity, and triumph.

This artwork shares the journeys of Adeni and Meenu, two migrant healthcare workers whose lives show resilience and transformation.

Adeni, a radiographer from Nigeria, moved to the UK in 2018, leaving her young son behind. She worked extra shifts and studied online during commutes, reuniting her family within a year. At her new hospital, she saw that many Black colleagues had left due to workplace divides. Instead of stepping back, she started a food-swap activity—bringing jollof rice and receiving haggis—which helped build bonds and improve team spirit. Over time, she built stability for her family, even buying her own house as a single mother.

Meenu, a GP from India, faced a different challenge. After moving to London, she felt isolated while preparing for exams and adjusting to life without familiar community support. A turning point came when she confidently travelled alone to Heathrow to welcome her family. That moment marked her growth from uncertainty to self-reliance.

Together, Adeni and Meenu’s stories celebrate the courage of migrants who adapt, create community, and discover strength in new places.

This painting shares the experiences of Adeya and Dhakiya, two nurses whose journeys to the UK show both struggle and resilience.

For Adeya, leaving Nigeria meant trading a lively, social life for a more work-focused and lonely one. With her husband still back home, she felt isolated until a colleague offered support and friendship. Through this, she found community and realised the importance of cultural understanding in nursing—valuing empathy, tolerance, and learning from others.

Dhakiya’s path from Kenya was shaped by financial strain and repeated failures in English exams, each one requiring months of saving. When Kenya was later moved from the WHO “green list” to “red list,” her recruitment options shrank. Despite setbacks and rejections, she persisted, eventually securing a job in mental health nursing, where she received a warm welcome.

Her words reflect her spirit: “You have to go out of your way.”

Together, Adeya and Dhakiya’s stories show the perseverance of migrants and the strength found in community.

This painting shows the journeys of three migrant healthcare professionals: Akin, a physiotherapist from Nigeria; Maya, a nurse from India; and Anashe, a GP from Zimbabwe. Their paths are different, but all reflect resilience, adaptation, and leadership in the NHS.

At the centre is Akin, who set aside time each day to support and learn from colleagues. His consistency built trust, boosted his confidence, and led to a quick promotion to Band 7 within three years.

Beside him is Maya, who started her journey in 2012 after finishing her nursing degree in India. She faced many barriers—costly requirements, repeated language exams, and changing policies. After 12 years, she finally received her UK nursing pin and is now a Band 6 Clinical Specialist Nurse, determined to keep growing despite challenges like racism and the absence of familiar support.

In the background, Anashe reflects on her move from Zimbabwe. Adjusting to a faster, more individualistic culture, she learned to adapt her communication style. She describes her journey as a river—always flowing, changing, and sustaining life.

Together, their stories highlight the perseverance and strength of migrants building new lives in the NHS.

This artwork tells the journeys of Chioma and Anvi, two nurses whose lives reflect strength, faith, and resilience.

Chioma, from Nigeria, has lived and worked across four continents. Coming to the UK meant leaving her children behind and relearning her profession, as medicines and practices were different from what she knew. At first, it felt like starting over, but she came to see it as growth—“learning to re-learn” wherever life takes her.

Anvi, from India, became a nurse after losing her father to medical negligence. Her first years in the UK were difficult, with low income and isolation in a small town. A move to a bigger town gave her community, but she later faced her husband’s serious illness while raising their daughter. Despite many challenges, she persevered, and after 18 years finally earned her UK nursing pin.“ I never gave up,” she said, guided by her faith.

In the painting, Anvi is shown among other nurses, symbolising shared struggles and collective strength. Together, their stories reveal the unseen resilience of migrant nurses who dedicate their lives to care.

This artwork tells the stories of Elif and Gondo, two mental health nurses whose journeys to the UK reflect adaptation, identity, and belonging.

Elif, from Turkey, found accents one of her biggest challenges. She had trained herself in British and Irish accents by watching and listening to different media, but at work she encountered accents from all over the world. “Every accent is a new language,” she said. For her, learning to understand different voices became part of learning to connect with people and cultures.

Gondo, from Zimbabwe, noticed cultural differences in other ways. Back home, bus rides were lively and social, but in London they were silent, with no eye contact or conversation. This symbolised for him a wider cultural shift, where connection had to be built differently. He found belonging through singing at Trust events, which made him feel part of his workplace. That same year, he even visited Buckingham Palace for an event and met the King.

Gondo also faced the hard choice of delaying his family’s move to the UK so he could first gain financial stability. While his family remains in Zimbabwe, he continues to support them and hopes for reunion in the future.

Together, Elif and Gondo’s stories show how migrants adapt, find connection, and carry their identities into new environments.

This artwork tells the journeys of Fred and Delilah, two migrant nurses whose experiences reflect adaptation, support, and resilience.

Delilah, shown with a London Underground map, recalls getting lost on the tube with a colleague—a symbol of the confusion she faced living alone abroad for the first time and learning to work in a new healthcare system. Her words capture her experience: “You can’t find your journey on somebody else’s map.”

In the foreground, Fred smiles proudly. He speaks about cultural differences in care, noting, “There’s no heater in Nigeria or the Philippines. People lack that understanding.” He also reflects on the challenges Internationally Educated Nurses face, from navigating unfamiliar systems to answering late-night calls from colleagues. Despite these pressures, Fred sees value in offering steady, personal support to others.

Together, their stories highlight how true community is built not only through big actions but also through everyday kindness and presence.

This painting tells the story of Kiara, an Indian nurse who moved from Dubai to the UK to follow her dream of working in the NHS.

At the center, Kiara stands between symbols of her journey—Dubai on one side, Bristol on the other. She left behind a stable life with her husband, who worked as a bank manager, and her own secure nursing job. “I didn’t want to leave my comfort zone,” she said. “But later, I thought—no, I need to take challenges. Let me achieve my dream.”

With dedication and support from her A&E team, Kiara advanced from Band 5 to Band 6 in just two years. Yet the move wasn’t easy. Life in the UK felt quieter compared to Dubai, and being far from family was difficult. Even communication brought challenges, from learning phrases like “half past four” to understanding new expressions and non-verbal cues with patients.

Kiara’s story reflects her belief in never giving up. By stepping beyond comfort and facing cultural, emotional, and personal challenges, she chose growth—and found transformation.

This painting tells the story of Kwame, an occupational therapist from Ghana, whose journey to the UK has been full of challenges and growth.

Kwame laughs when recalling his arrival. “I was really excited to come in the summer,” he said, “but the moment I got off the plane, I was freezing—it was only 14 degrees!” Coming from Ghana’s heat, the shock was immediate.

Language was another hurdle. Even after listening to the BBC for some time in preparation to his transition, UK accents and fast conversations left him lost. On his first day, he couldn’t follow the handover but was too afraid to admit it. “It was mentally draining,” he recalled. His team supported him with a 9-week language integration class, which made a big difference.

Beyond his clinical role, Kwame joined his trust’s Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion team, helping create safe spaces for people to share experiences. “I believe people go through things silently. They just need someone to listen to them.”

In the painting, he is shown assisting a patient, his expression reflecting humour, humility, and quiet determination.

This painting tells the story of Marin, an internationally educated nurse whose path to the UK was shaped by many twists and challenges.

She first dreamed of becoming a veterinarian in Romania, but after a traumatic experience with her dog, she shifted to accounting. Still, she longed for more meaningful work. Moving to Italy, she unexpectedly found herself in caregiving due to financial pressures.

In her 30s, Marin finally completed nursing studies and moved to the UK. There, she faced the tough reality of high childcare costs. “How will I work when childcare costs more than my entire salary?” she asked. Despite these struggles, she persevered and now works as a clinical practice facilitator.

In the painting, Marin smiles proudly, surrounded by silhouettes of her team, symbolising support. A faint figure of a woman with her dog in the background recalls her early veterinary dreams, tying together her journey from hope to resilience.

This artwork tells the journeys of Melvin and Micah, two internationally educated nurses whose lives reflect perseverance, community, and purpose.

Melvin struggled after graduation, working as a volunteer before getting his first non-clinical role in 2013. When his wife moved to the UK as a nurse, he refreshed his clinical skills and joined her in 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he found strength in the support of community. “In a foreign land, our community becomes our anchor, our strength,” he said.

Micah came to the UK in 2009 through the NHS Overseas Nursing Program. She was rejected six times for a Band 6 role, but each interview taught her something new, and she eventually became a Band 7 nurse. She now helps new nurses settle in, offering pastoral care and small comforts from home. Her personal symbol is a lamp: “Be the light that will guide yourself and others. It can be slow and dim, or bright, depending on your preference.”

Together, their stories show how ambition, sacrifice, and community help migrants grow and thrive.

This painting tells the journeys of Raponcel, Jessica, and Ssiren—three migrant healthcare workers whose lives reflect grief, resilience, and community.

Raponcel, a mammographer from the Philippines, struggled when her mother was diagnosed with cancer in 2021. She wanted to return home but stayed in the UK to meet financial needs. After her mother’s passing in 2023, support from her church and workplace helped her through her grief.

Ssiren, now an advanced clinical practitioner, first came to the UK to visit her sister but decided to work. As the first Filipino radiographer in her hospital, she faced discrimination but proved herself through hard work and kindness. By sharing Filipino culture—like the importance of rice—she built understanding and turned isolation into belonging.

Jessica, a specialist nurse, remembers the struggle of understanding the British accent in her early days. “If the phone rings, I’ll let others pick it up,” she admitted. She focused on patient care, showing how migrant nurses adapt and develop strategies to thrive.

Together, their stories honour the strength of migrants and the power of community support.

This painting tells the story of Ria, an internationally educated nurse and educator. She’s both a nurse and a nurse educator, guiding others in their careers.

Ria’s passion for teaching began in India and continued through her work in Saudi Arabia, where she created training opportunities and earned a rare promotion as deputy manager. She believes: “Don’t wait for fate, opportunities are rare, we must take them.”

After many setbacks, she arrived in the UK in 2020 and returned to teaching. A proud moment came when her former trainer observed one of her sessions and told her, “You’ve done really well.” For Ria, it was a simple but powerful validation of her dedication and resilience.

This painting tells the story of Simi, whose move from Dubai to the UK shows the power of passion, adaptability, and community.

Like many international nurses, she faced language barriers—once she reported to a consultant that the patient is confused and is saying, “raining cats and dogs” to a consultant. At first, Simi felt she had to do everything alone, shaped by her cultural background. Over time, she learned that in the UK, collaboration and seeking support are strengths, especially for patient safety.

Her passion and drive helped her grow quickly. In just seven months, she moved from Band 5 to Band 6, became an Excellence Facilitator, co-founded a network for international staff, and organised a conference for nurses from her home country. She now leads and supports others, saying, “If you face any challenges, come back to me.”

Simi’s story shows how passion and community can turn struggle into growth.

This painting shows the journeys of Adhya and Dhriti, two internationally educated nurses who are now lead in their NHS Trust.

Dhriti, in the background, left India for Saudi Arabia in her early twenties. Living away from family for the first time was difficult and lonely, but the experience taught her adaptability, cross-cultural skills, and resilience.

At the centre is Adhya. One of her first memories in the UK was seeing snow over the Pennines, a joyful moment after leaving India. But her early years were tough—she faced hate and racist graffiti sprayed on her house. Despite the fear tand the event, her manager, the police, and neighbours showed support, with flowers left at her door.

Later, when her father passed away suddenly, her manager told her to fly home immediately and reassured her everything at work would be handled. When she returned, Adhya chose to grieve through work, finding comfort in the care of colleagues.

Her story highlights how small acts of kindness—flowers from neighbours, support from managers, compassion at work—make the biggest difference. For Adhya and Dhriti, migration is more than crossing borders; it’s learning, healing, and finding strength in community.

This painting tells the story of Micah, an internationally educated nurse whose journey shows courage, compassion, and resilience.

She arrived in the UK just before the pandemic and faced illness, homesickness, and the challenge of adapting to a new healthcare system. Living in a quiet retirement town with few cultural resources, she struggled to find familiar food or a sense of belonging. At the same time, she balanced full-time work with studying to become a nurse practitioner.

Despite these hardships, Micah focused on helping others. She built support networks for overseas workers in her hospital, giving international staff spaces to share experiences, support one another, and find strength together.

For Micah, nursing is more than a job—it requires heart. “It takes courage. It takes passion for you to do this,” she said. The painting shows her with a hopeful aura, symbolising her role in creating safe spaces.

Her story reminds us that migrants not only adapt, but also build communities that transform the NHS into a place of belonging.

This painting shows the journeys of Nandini, a GP, and Prisha, a nurse, highlighting growth, humour, and resilience.

Nandini’s path took her from India to Dubai and then to the UK. In India, she worked with HIV patients in rural areas, learning empathy and gratitude. In Dubai, she managed COVID-19 communications, which showed her the power of collective action. In the UK, she embraced the NHS’s principle of universal care: “I don’t have to say no to anybody because I’m supposed to be serving them.” A lighthearted memory—her embarrassment at asking a bus driver about “The Cock Hotel”—became a symbol of how she faces cultural differences with curiosity and humour.

Prisha moved from a busy Indian city to quiet Shrewsbury. At first, she struggled—arriving before strong support systems for international nurses, she faced COVID challenges, delayed exams, housing issues, and loneliness. But with encouragement from her manager, she became a Practice Education Facilitator and created a program to help new international nurses adjust. A tender memory stands out: when she was sick and alone, colleagues brought her food and comfort, reminding her she wasn’t by herself.

Together, their stories reflect how migrants adapt, grow, and find strength through compassion, humour, and community.