Yogi fled Sri Lanka in 2009 due to the political situation there. He was granted asylum in the UK, leaving his wife and new-born daughter behind. Yogi suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as well as long-term physical injuries due to the torture he had endured. He was referred to The Hotel School by an organisation called Freedom from Torture in October 2020.

In early 2021, Yogi was reunited with his wife and daughter after 14 years of being apart - a moment that he will never forget. When Yogi heard about NEMI Teas and our TRAMPOLINE Cafe, he immediately wanted to get involved and quickly became a key part of shaping the food menu after he joined us in March 2021. After 6 months, Yogi fulfilled his dream of working in a hotel and started a full-time position as a Chef de Partie at the Park Plaza Waterloo Hotel.

Yogi has gone from losing everything, including the most important thing in his life - his family, to building a happy life in the UK altogether. We asked Yogi about his experience at TRAMPOLINE Cafe, he said: “Working at TRAMPOLINE Cafe gave me a lot of confidence. It was great to work there from the beginning to influence the food menu and be part of an opening. This experience helped me to get my dream job at the Park Plaza Hotel. It has also motivated me to open my own place one day. TRAMPOLINE Cafe has been an important stop in my journey in settling down in the UK.”

Yogi now has a full-time residency at TRAMPOLINE Cafe, where he serves hungry Londoners Sri Lankan food.