Case Studies

Simon’s Story
Simon came to Learn for Life Enterprise after finding out about the centre from his asylum seeker house. Simon quickly progressed from Level 1 to Level 2 and was very keen to take his exams. Simon passed first time, achieving Level 2 in English and Maths Functional Skills. Following on from the course he enrolled on the Discover programme at the University and started attending IELTS classes at Learn for Life. Simon decided to volunteer at Learn for Life as well as two other local organisations to expand his knowledge of life in the UK. Simon enrolled on GCSE courses and achieved C grades in English and Maths in 2016. He has now got his refugee status and is using his new qualifications and experience to find a job.

Endalk’s Story

Endalk arrived in Sheffield in 2018 after seeking asylum from Ethiopia in the hopes of starting a new life. In Ethiopia, Endalk says that ‘there is a lack of learning resources and therefore lack of quality education’ so he took this opportunity that was previously denied to him to build his knowledge in English and Maths and particularly Digital Skills at Learn for Life

Enterprise. While waiting for his refugee status, Endalk endeavoured to focus on his learning while also having a full-time job. With tenacity and determination, he was able to achieve Level 1 and 2 in both English and Maths.

After gaining his refugee status at the end of 2020, with the support of Learn for Life and local organisations, Endalk was encouraged to pursue higher education and began the process of applying to both Universities in Sheffield. During this time, he completed the Discover course and passed a 10-week summer course provided by the University of Sheffield that aims to further improve his English proficiency. As a result of his hard work over the years, his qualifications, and what he has learnt at Learn for Life, he became eligible for an unconditional offer.
Endalk is currently studying Business Management at the University of Sheffield,
hoping that one day after he graduates, he will be able to build a secure life for his family and their future. After his studies, he is open to possible business ventures, especially ones that can connect the UK and Ethiopia together as well as other employment opportunities.

Endalk still works very closely with Learn for Life, opting to volunteer every week and continuing to build on his IT and Digital skills.

Angelica’s Story
Angelica has achieved Masters Level in computing at her university in China. She has been in the UK for a number of years with her working husband but without managing to find employment herself. From doing an employability course at Learn for Life Enterprise her confidence has grown tremendously, she has learnt new vocabulary, made new friends and discovered new ways to find employment.
Angelica has begun doing voluntary work at our centre to enhance her cv and develop her skills. She now has the opportunity to practise English on a day to day basis, assist students in IT classes as well as making many friends. Angelica has now gained the confidence to go on a PTTLS course and is going to begin teaching Japanese at Learn for Life and Chinese at the University.

Yonas’s Story
Yonas began studying at Learn for Life when he arrived in Sheffield seeking asylum from Eritrea. He studied hard and achieved his Level 2 in English and Maths. Whilst waiting for his asylum claim to come through, Yonas took advantage of the opportunity to grow his UK knowledge by volunteering at Learn for Life, attending social outings and attending IELTS classes. Consequently, as soon as he gained his refugee status, Yonas was in the position to find employment. He was successful in getting a full time job as a carer, thus enabling him to afford to rent his own flat.

Marwan’s Story
Marwan left Syria looking for a better life after his business was destroyed by a bomb. Not wanting to get drawn into the fighting and unable to find other work to support his family, Marwan left his wife and children behind to try and forge a new life for them elsewhere.
He explains: “I come to the UK because it is a good country. Democratic. Have freedom and freedom of press, so that’s why I came. Also I am Kurdish, there is no problem because this country is democratic. English people they respect everybody. In Syria, no democracy. No respect. Very dangerous.
Marwan was told about English My Way at Learn For Life Enterprise by the manager of the hostel he lives in with ten other refugees. Marwan has been using his mobile phone and translation apps to help him in everyday life, and his confidence in his own English is growing every day. He’s part of a football team with other refugees, and gets out and about around Sheffield, asking directions when he needs to. His new English skills also helped him with his asylum interview.
“Without knowing English, you can’t do nothing. So I want to learn and speak with everybody,” Marwan says. “Very important to show I can learn, that I can work. That I can be part of country. And I am very pleased they see this, and I have asylum. Very, very good.

Nikol’s Story

Nikol says that attending Learn For Life gave her the start that she needed when she came to the UK. She expressed that she thoroughly enjoyed the experience she gained through the classes and volunteering and that it made her feel more confident in her language skills. It’s because of this growing confidence, that this eventually helped her to achieve her GCSE English. She has also successfully gained employment in various sectors such as fast food chains and customer service, which allowed her to further improve her communication skills.

However, she knew that she wanted to make a difference, so she continued her studies and successfully achieved a Level 3 Diploma in Management. Equipped with her English skills that she learnt from Learn For Life as well as German and Bulgarian skills, she worked as an Immigration Coordinator. After working for nearly three years in her law firm, her dedication and perseverance shone through, and as a result, she was promoted to a senior position.

Nikol says that she always wanted to help people and that she is very thankful to Learn For Life for being a major factor in achieving her goal. She will always remember her time here and the support she received.

Azhar’s Story

Azhar is grateful to Learn For Life for providing her the opportunity to achieve her qualifications in English and Maths. If it weren’t for their continued support and assistance, she feels that she wouldn’t have been able to continue her studies in college and to strive for higher qualifications, particularly in the education and teaching sector.

Azhar has persevered in her studies and with passion and hard work, achieved Level 3 in teaching and learning from NCFE’s Council for Awards in Care, Health and Education as well as successfully completing TQUK’s Level 2 in special needs and disability. Because of this, she was able to start a career as a teaching assistant and hopes to one day be a teacher in a more permanent role.

Azhar expresses her gratitude to Learn For Life and how they contributed to where she is now today, expressing that she feels lucky to have been able to study here.

 

Voice Box Cafe Case Studies

Ummulbanin’s Story
Ummulbanin has never worked before and was a student in Afghanistan before coming to the UK. She had little knowledge about democracy, and had not participated before attending the class. She says, “I knew something but not much. When I came to the class I learned about the systems and rules in the UK.”
Ummulbanin found out about the Voicebox Cafes from her English teacher telling her about it in their class. “All the women were invited to come.”
She says she wanted to take part: “I wanted to go and be with other women to share easily and help each other. Our teacher helps us to say what we want. We talk about our lives, before we came here.” In the class she learnt about how women were treated in other countries around the world and how it was different from the UK. She said she learnt lots of new things about the UK which she could use for herself in the future. She also learnt how she could, “Keep good things and get rid of the bad things” (memories).
The first time Ummulbanin came to the class she felt she could share opinions about things with other women in a safe space. She could learn from other students as well as the teacher. “We can take advice from other students and apply them in our own lives. I felt very happy after the first class because I love to speak about everything and share my ideas and hear other people’s ideas.”
Ummulbanin said she learnt difficult things about other women’s stories and experiences. She learnt new vocabulary around politics and said, “We feel stronger when we learn about the world and what’s happening in the country where we live. We need to know what is happening, about the rules etc.”
As a result of taking part Ummulbanin has tried to speak more with other people that she meets. She tries to learn more vocabulary and listens to the radio more frequently to learn about the UK. “I chose this country and I want to know more about how it works.”
Ummulbanin says she enjoyed being free and able to talk about everything she wanted. It was a good opportunity to be more social with other women. She said that, “Some women can’t speak in front of men. In the women’s class every woman can speak up and share.”
Ummulbanin says she feels a lot more confident now. “If I speak with lots of people, I feel more confident. I don’t worry about making small mistakes. My teacher encourages us to speak freely and communicate more openly. I feel happy to know more about the place where I live”
She has used her new knowledge and skills in her everyday life. “We need English to solve problems.” She wasn’t born in the UK and says, “I need more conversation skills to be able to get around and interact with people.”
“It’s (Voicebox cafes) a good thing for every woman to share their ideas without any worries, without any stress.”

Lina’s Story
Lina is from Yemen and is currently working in Food Production. Before attending the class Lina says she didn’t speak about democracy or politics. She knew very little about democracy. However, from attending the Voicebox cafes, she says she has learnt about it and tries to speak about politics outside of the class. She says, “I love democracy. Now I watch the news and understand what they are saying.”
Lina found out about the class because her husband had studied at Learn for Life before and got a lot out of the English classes. She says, “This school has helped us a lot to improve our English.” She says her teacher invited her to the Voicebox Café when she was in the English class and told her it would be especially for women.
She says she wanted to take part because, “Sometimes women need to be together without men. Women feel more confident to talk about any topic. They feel less afraid to discuss the things they want to discuss and have more freedom.”
Lina says she felt the Voicebox Cafes were an interesting experience: “We shared opinions about topics that were important to us. After class I felt good and so happy really. We could really explain our opinions together. My conversation skills really improved. Language, pronunciation and confidence.”
In the Voicebox Cafes Lina learnt about politics and democracy. She says, “It is really important to vote and make a decision and share my opinions, like Brexit. I have freedom to choose. The vote is secret, no one has to know what I decided.” She says she also learnt about health and religion and more about Christianity in the UK.
After attending and learning about new thingsshe says, “I searched for information about Christianity on the internet to compare Islam and Christianity” Lina says she tries to lead a healthy lifestyle after learning more about Health in one of the sessions. After discussing politics in the UK Lina says, “Now I read the news or watch the news on TV. I know more about what is happening in the UK; before I didn’t care about this.”
Lina says she really enjoys talking about religion and learning about different religions and this has made her interested in learning more.
Before attending the VoiceboxCafes Lina says, “Before I couldn’t even take a bus alone. Now I can do everything for myself, buy things in the shop, speak to teachers, fill in forms. I have independence I can walk in the street alone. Write articles. I feel more confident and can speak about politics. Before I thought politics was bad, but now I don’t.”
Lina says, “I talk with my husband and friends about politics and discuss what I have read in the news. Every day I develop a new opinion about a topic.”
“The Voicebox Cafes were a different and interesting experience and now I want more women’s classes with Gill. She really understands the students, even if I use the wrong words. She is helpful and supports me. Now I have more confidence”