During my three years in Istanbul, hiring A Clean Start has been a simple and inexpensive way to take care of my apartment. Let’s face it, as we accumulate more possessions and our schedules become more and more hectic, the task of cleaning and organizing our apartments can become more and more daunting.
Luckily, this socially scrupulous initiative offers house cleaning and organization services at prices most people can afford. In today’s demanding world, this service can be invaluable. What’s more, A Clean Start hires only refugees who arrive in Istanbul with few work opportunities and resources, and many are also members of the LGBT community. So when you hire A Clean Start, you can be sure your money will go to people who need it.
Today, while one of these cleaners, Diaa, a proud father from Aleppo, helped me organize my new apartment, I sat down with Abdulwahed Kabakibou, one of the two cofounders of A Clean Start. As a young refugee from Syria, he understands the imminent need for employment and struggles of everyday living. He told me that now, in an effort to expand the staff and clientele of the organization, they are offering one free cleaning session to anyone who can recruit five new clients.
After the interview ended, Abdulwahed, Diaa and I looked at my newly cleaned and methodically arranged apartment. My belongings had arrived to my new place in large suitcases without any consistent packing system, as the moving process had been quite rushed and chaotic. I glanced around at the rejuvenated floor boards, translucent windows, and now empty suitcases I could finally use for vacations instead of storage. After such an exhausting journey to this new home, I was finally looking forward to many romantic and enjoyable evenings in my new abode.
What services do you offer?
I started it with Alastair, my Scottish co-founder, a year ago. When he came up to me, we talked about what services we should offer people. We started with cleaning services for houses. We found that this was the easiest way to find jobs for people who don’t speak the language and who don’t have an ikamet (residence permit) or kimlik (identification) and can’t work in offices or in regular jobs. Because a lot of places ask for these documents and this status in Istanbul.
We were working with a guy from the Gambia and a couple from Pakistan for the first month. Then Alastair went to the US and came back here and we decided to start it officially. We started a Facebook group with our friends. We started to search for people who needed jobs and couldn’t find them. So we started with cleaning services and we are hoping to provide people with more services, such as ironing, taking out garbage, washing cars, or delivery to houses.
How did you come up with the idea?
We look at this in two ways. Firstly, what service can we give to our community and secondly, what service can we give Istanbul. When Alastair first came up with the idea he talked with a recent refugee couple from Pakistan. The idea is simple, what job can you start with no contacts, professional training, assets or education. If we buy some supplies, train in the techniques and bring out your confidence, then you can develop a small business and become stable and independent. After a few weeks of sending messages and posts around Facebook groups, taking photos of the work and figuring out the finances, we started to take on more clients. Thanks to a few key clients that have been more than wonderful in their support, we regularly work all over the city.
What are your future goals?
When we started, Alastair trained me to run the structure of the organisation and make clear decisions for our future. Our first goal for now is to establish a good reputation, because I want people to think of us as a professional service of refugees. We would like to not only employ more cleaners, but also provide other professional home care services. We are looking to broaden our horizon into painting, handyman repairs, ironing, cleaning linens and other help around the house. This strategy starts with a firm base of clients throughout Istanbul. Yet some days, I find myself dreaming of expanding to Greece or Germany to help refugees in those countries, too.
Do you collaborate with other organizations?
We are not official partners with anyone, but have a supportive community around us. Many of our friends and volunteers spread the word, like our friends at Small Projects Istanbul and Istanbul&I. Some organizations, such as the Aman LGBT shelter, help us find cleaners, while others share our services online. In fact, almost all of our clients come from references from friends. So much so that we offer one free maintenance to anyone who refers five new clients. We encourage anyone to get involved and appreciate posting our services to a larger audience. Our next stage in development is to work with investors to improve our services further.
Is there anything else you would like to share about A Clean Start?
A Clean Start isn’t a company, as much as an idea. Our main goal is to build a community of entrepreneurs to put peace to the past and give them A Clean Start. We don’t expect professional cleaners, just motivated people. It is only through their dedication to personal growth and learning that our company has gained such a reputation. With commitment to honesty, working with our clients’ needs and an optimism for the future we can get through the tough decisions of everyday. Thank you for your interest and support.
To join us or book an appointment, visit our official Facebook page.
