Nayran Tabiei, a mother of three young sons, now resides in Tehran, Iran. Separated for 14 long years, when she learns that her father has been found, she courageously goes on an emotional journey full of uncertainty to reunite with her family. Ms. Tabiei fled from Syria in 2012 with her infant daughter, leaving her two sons in the custody of their grandmother in Tehran. She had married an Iranian man prior to making this tough choice. After arriving in Australia as an asylum seeker, she eventually opened a small café called Flavours of Syria. This café helped her celebrate her culinary roots, but it generated jobs and training for so many forcibly displaced people.
The escalating costs of operating her café in Melbourne’s St Kilda forced Ms. Tabiei to make a difficult decision. So she made the heartbreaking decision to shut Flavours of Syria. Today, she is working on developing a low-cost catering business to support herself and continue to work towards her family reunification dream. But no matter what she tried, every effort to bring her sons to Australia had been unsuccessful – until recently.
On a recent day, Ms. Tabiei with barely contained excitement at receiving a call from her sons. Somehow they escaped from Tehran, and now they are in safety. Cold, oppressive fear melted away as a feeling of protection and love engulfed her. I think she was just very eager to hear that they were okay.
“My boy called me, my heart beating – yeah good! They stay in the mountain. They took a room with their friend and when they called I am like ‘Oh thank God, they are alive!’” – Nayran Tabiei
Ms. Tabiei gets emotional when talking about receiving the first call from her sons. That doesn’t help her deal with the emotional crisis of being apart from them. She has appealed to Parliament for help reuniting her family, making clear the urgency of her situation.
“From the day I heard that crisis in Iran I sent all the parliament that I need help. My hearts shaken and I need my children beside me. In this moment we need help. And 14 years I didn’t see them.” – Nayran Tabiei
Ms. Tabiei’s café was known as a loving, joyful space in her neighborhood. She ultimately had to shutter it due to high operational costs. It proved to be a creative incubator for people who themselves have experienced the sort of challenges endured by refugees and asylum seekers.
“It’s hard to pay the rent and the cost so high. Before we had plenty of girls in the kitchen, but now I cannot afford to hire.” – Nayran Tabiei
Yet, the story telling climate for small business in Australia is getting worse by the day. The costs of labor and goods are on the rise, contributing to extreme economic pressures. This tough climate creates enormous hurdles for innovators such as Ms. Tabiei. Industry advocates point out that too many small businesses are drowning in today’s economic pressures.
“It’s the toughest operating environment in recent memory. For a small business with revenue of up to $20 million per year, we are calling for the corporate tax rate to be slashed from 25 per cent to 20 per cent.” – Luke Achterstraat
Establishing her catering business provides Ms. Tabiei with a level of economic security. As she works hard to keep her hope of reuniting with her family one day alive, she faces tremendous obstacles in affording it. While her heart will always be heavy, no amount of joy can replace the years that she didn’t have with her kids.
“I make bad decision. I felt so bad. I cannot believe 14 years gone I didn’t see them and it’s hard for a mum to see them grown up without them beside me.” – Nayran Tabiei
Through everything she’s going through, Ms. Tabiei exudes a sense of pride. She’s inspired more than 15 asylum seekers to open other businesses, thanks to the connections made at her café. She is passionate about sharing her food and culture with the greater Boston community. For her, cooking is not just about feeding– it’s about love and connection.
“Hundreds and hundreds of asylum seekers, I help them open their business and start up. It makes me proud. I’m so happy in Australia and sharing my food and culture.” – Nayran Tabiei
As Ms. Tabiei navigates this complex landscape of personal loss and professional trials, she remains hopeful for a future where she can embrace her sons once more. Her triumph story is about her spirit, passion and enduring hope amid challenges for the future.
