About Us

I am Souzan Yousif and I lead Bridgeway Mission with my husband Raied Ajaj. Originally from Iraq, we have been based in Colchester for the past 14 years. Our mission and ministry officially began on 1st August 2018. We are both members of the UK-based Mahabba network and I co-ordinate the Colchester Mahabba group, which primarily supports people living locally, through prayer and social action. I also became a member of Citizens UK in July 2022. 

The role of Bridgeway includes assisting newly arrived migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Eastern regions to integrate with their local host community. We organize regular social events enabling residents to meet and befriend new Middle Eastern and Eastern background families in a welcoming and informal environment. We also provide support in practical ways such as supplying food and clothing donations for those in need and finding opportunities for work experience, which can lead to full-time employment.

Bridgeway Mission is part of the Mahabba network, and we meet regularly to pray for Middle Eastern and Eastern background people in Colchester. We also provide support and services to various local BAME groups and most recently support for families from Afghanistan who have been relocated to Colchester. We are a ministry without barriers, where everyone is somebody, regardless of religion, background, age, ethnicity, nationality and social or economic status. The people we reach out can come together as a family, in an atmosphere filled with love, spirit, truth and power.

The Word of God commanding us to love is the foundation of our mission. We seek to apply this through our every activity. “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4: 7-8

On the 13th of August 2022, the Bridgeway Community Hub was officially opened by Deputy Mayor  Councillor John Jowers and current High Steward of CBC, Bob Russell. Also in attendance was Pam Cox the Borough Councillor and the Borough Councillor Kayleigh Rippingale. 

The community hub will be used to support the middle Eastern and Eastern people to organize different activities such as; teaching IT, setting up English communication skills, and activities for the ladies, men, and children. We will also use the hub for the food pantry to support the families with food.

In an epic act of solidarity and welcome, on 20th August 2022 colors danced throughout the skies as thousands of Afghan kites flew across the UK and Europe marking one year since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban. As the skies welcomed our kites, we welcomed those who arrived here on the 20th of August 2021. 

Bridgeway had a good day enjoying flying kites in the sky with Afghani families in the castle park in Colchester after the children and adults spent time creating their own kites.