In the heart of Nørrebro, 40-year-old Firas runs a car repair shop, which he took over a year ago. In Syria, he worked as a plumber and mechanic, so being a self-employed mechanic in Denmark makes perfect sense to him.

The Importance of work and independence

“It is incredibly important for me to work, as it keeps me going,” he tells us when we visit him at the workshop. “What's even better is that I get to be my own boss. That way, I can set up my day as I like.”

Flexibility is especially important to Firas, as he lives quite far from Copenhagen with his family.

“I am passionate about my work,” he says, adding, “I wouldn’t drive 150 km per day for a job I don’t like.”

Challenges and optimism in Nørrebro

The rent on Nørrebro is expensive, so it’s not easy to make the business profitable. Fortunately, Firas has many loyal customers who support him in the area, so he is optimistic about the future.

Now that his business account is set up with FasterOikos in Copenhagen, Firas can focus on running his business and providing for his family.