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 This afternoon I was delighted to visit one of our drop-in centres, held at a local church.
Apparently it was a quiet day but it seemed to be a hive of activity with 25 English learners across three classes. Alison, who organises the drop-in showed me round. As soon as I came into the building I saw volunteers Alison and Helen helping asylum seekers and refugees with practical advice and support. I was then shown the main hall where Sue was leading an English class for beginners, assisted by the senior teaching assistant who spoke so inspiringly here. He volunteers in the English class, and translates for others – he speaks five languages, as well as studying international banking and finance at a London University. He told me that he was forced to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban took power, managing to leave with his wife, a trained midwife, and two children, and they now have a new baby. He had been a lecturer and advisor to a bank. We talked about the restrictions in his home country and the trauma of leaving his mother behind. He is so glad to be in the UK where the family feels safe. Hopefully he will be able to gain refugee status and start his new life here. I spoke to a lovely young asylum seeker from Iran who started studying English at the centre as soon as he arrived here three weeks ago. He was making very good progress. Sue later said: ‘I was really struck this week by the determination of the learners and also the progress I can see.’ I also spoke to a young volunteer Beth, who was helping with the English class, having returned from studying and working abroad which she said gave her an insight into what it must be like for those newly arrived here. You can read a full interview with Beth here. In the intermediate class I spoke to volunteer David who has been teaching English at the centre for about a year. David told me he works as a fundraiser for a child cancer charity and loves helping people. He did an ESOL course and dropped his paid work to four days so he can volunteer by teaching English with Herts Welcomes Refugees. David said he likes meeting the learners and has to be flexible in his teaching as the participants change. I also met English teacher Henry who had been running a more advanced conversation group and spoke so inspiringly at the AGM. I then went into the children’s playgroup, staffed brilliantly by Mavis and Camille, with new volunteer Kirsty and a volunteer from the church. The children are entertained while their parents learn English. I also had a lovely chat with Alejandra, from Colombia, one of the young refugee volunteers who kept the playgroup going over the summer where she was an asset to the programme. Alejandra’s younger sister is at school, her mother, a psychologist, was at the intermediate English class and her father, an engineer, is studying computer science online. Alejandra is only 18 and told me about the five months she spent on a church project in her home country working away from home with indigenous families when she was just 17. I am sure she must have learned a huge amount of resilience on this project, and this will have stood her in good stead when seeking sanctuary in the UK. She said she likes to be busy and useful. When she arrived here she took a vocational course and passed her maths GCSE. She is now at college studying for her English GCSE along with art and science at level 2. She would like to continue her studies with Graphic or Interior Design. She attends college four days a week so is free on the fifth day to help with the church playgroup in the mornings and the Herts Welcomes playgroup in the afternoons. Alejandra struck me as incredibly brave and positive and keen to make a new life and contribute. She told me her favourite food in Colombia was bandeja paisa. Fortunately she and her family are in accommodation where they can cook for themselves unlike asylum seekers housed in hotels. In a small meeting room, Kate and Louise were interviewing young single refugees recently given Leave to Remain, recording the hardships of their lives in order to enhance their housing benefit applications. This is emotional work for all involved and is done at the request of the local Council. A member of the local authority housing team was also at the drop-in to complete the paperwork for some young men moving in to local private rented accommodation. Alison was giving out bowls of sweets to the participants in the class. When I left she was comforting a refugee who was crying with stress. Moving on from Home Office accommodation is such a difficult time and I understand the lady is struggling with the emotional stress of wondering when she will be reunited with her husband, as well as the day-to-day practical challenges of building a new life in the UK. The whole afternoon epitomises the love and courage shown by refugees and volunteers alike. With thanks to the church too, for making this such a positive partnership. Helen Singer Comments are closed.
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