Voci | Words without limits: foreign enterprise and the story of Raiaan Dobosh

Syrian-born entrepreneur Raiaan Dobosh and Anna Bertrand, president of the Paìs Association, talk about the difficulties and opportunities for foreign enterprise through their experience with the S.T.A.R.C.I. project (Support Goal Autonomy: Resilience, Home and Employment) financed by the City of Turin.

In the fourth episode of  VOCI, we look at the growing phenomenon of foreign enterprise in Italy, through a story of immigration from Syria. Raiaan Dobosh, a Syrian-born restaurateur in Turin, and  Anna Bertrand, president of the Paìs Association, talk about the difficulties and satisfactions experienced with the S.T.A.R.C.I. project.

One interview, two voices

Raiaan Dobosh is a Syrian woman who sought asylum in Italy in 2018, and in 2022, thanks to the S.T.A.R.C.I. project, opened the Eria-Cinque Petali Italo-Syrian restaurant in Turin with her family.

Since 2019, the Paìs Association – Percorsi di Accompagnamento e Inclusione Sociale has been involved with projects set up to improve the socio-economic conditions of people at risk of social exclusion in Turin. The S.T.A.R.C.I. project, which we talk about during the interview, is financed by Turin City Council. One of its goals is to provide economic and other forms of support for business start-ups organised by foreigners living in the city.

The stories of Anna and Raiaan tell us a bit more about the strength of the network of associations in Turin, the motivation and enthusiasm of people determined to build a new life for themselves, but also the obstacles banks and other operators put in the way of projects that actually enhance and innovate the city’s business community.

The Voci series

Voci is the Amapola collection of stories, people and words without limits. It was created with the intention of shining a light on important social issues that risk being submerged in the constant stream of daily news. The playlist with all the interviews is available on  YouTube.