Plymouth refugee hero's community support celebrated by Amazon
An Amazon employee who supports the community in Plymouth has been named as a national winner in the company’s national That’s BENtastic awards.
Silvain Djomo works at the Amazon delivery station in Plymouth and joined the company in 2022. He was nominated for a That’s BENtastic award for his work in the Plymouth community, where he has worked for several years as an integration officer with refugees, and with asylum seekers as an asylum guide.
Now in its third year, That’s BENtastic is an awards campaign run by Amazon’s Black Employee Network (BEN) and recognises and rewards black employees, and those who support the black community, and have had a positive impact on society.
Silvain’s support of his community means he has been crowned as a national That’s BENtastic winner, taking home a prize package worth more than £1,000.
Silvain’s work with over 100 refugees has included help with networking and application writing, as well as the organisation of activities like bowling and swim lessons to promote social inclusion and help refugees integrate into their communities in Plymouth and across the UK.
“My own experience as an asylum seeker gave me the desire to help others in the same situation. When I arrived in Plymouth, I began working with the charity Plymouth Hope. After I completed training with the Office of the Immigration Seeker (OISC), I was given the opportunity to work as integration officer with the charity. I did this for about six months before being transferred to Odils Learning Foundation where I am currently working as integration officer,” Silvain explains.
Silvain gained some experience working with Amazon in 2017 when he arrived as a student from Cameroon.
“For me, Amazon is special. This opportunity as an international student made me feel incredibly valued as an employee. When I finished my studies, however, I became an asylum seeker in the UK. I was placed in Plymouth as a refugee and began working with Amazon again. I appreciate how they work hard to satisfy every customer, as well as their employees. My health and wellbeing have been prioritised, and I am so thankful for that.”
Silvain’s work as integration officer with local charities is what earned him a national award at the That’s BENtastic Awards. Speaking on how it feels to receive this award, Silvian said:
“As someone who was an asylum seeker, I’m grateful to be in a position to now be one of the people helping the black community to grow.
“It is important to me that I make a positive impact with my community and empower the people around me. I am glad Amazon has given me the opportunity to share and celebrate my work through the BENtastic awards and I hope it inspires other people to do the same.”
Ramona Williams, Chair of BEN UK Ops, added: “Silvain is one of the many fantastic BEN ambassadors working at Amazon across the UK and it’s great to recognise his efforts to support the black community inside and outside Amazon with this award. Silvain’s work in the community has a profound impact on many people and he is a much-valued member of the team at Amazon in Plymouth.”
The Black Employee Network (BEN) is an employee resource group, also known as an affinity group, at Amazon open to Black employees and allies. BEN’s mission at Amazon is to recruit, retain, and empower Black employees across the business. BEN UK Ops is a branch of the network specifically for employees in the operational arm of Amazon's business. Through BEN employees have access to resources, networking opportunities and engaging initiatives to support their personal and professional growth.
Amazon has 13 affinity groups which play an important role in bringing Amazon employees together and creating a sense of community globally while encouraging inclusivity and diversity. These groups include the BEN, Glamazon, Asians@Amazon, People with Disabilities and Women@.
To find out more about diversity at Amazon, visit About Amazon.
