Albert Mbaki
Albert came to Scotland in 2003 with his baby daughter to escape the unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
He felt well-received in Scotland, but admits that English communication was a big obstacle in the beginning. Since learning to speak English he has found it easier to integrate into a community and make friends.
Albert was unable to work for three years after he came to Scotland while he was going through immigration control. After this initial period, and before starting studying at the University of Strathclyde, he worked as a freelance interpreter for the immigration courts, hospitals, job centres, etc.
Albert spent five years at university in the DRC and, having graduated with a degree in Maths and Teaching, he taught senior classes in a DRC secondary school for ten years. He is currently studying towards an honours degree at the University of Strathclyde. Because of his previous qualification from the DRC, Albert was able to enter the honours degree programme at level 3. This qualification should take another two years to complete at levels 3 and 4.
Albert’s daughter, now six years old, is enjoying life in Scotland and has made friends at school. Reflecting on the differences in culture between Europe and Africa, Albert commented that without the strong support of his extended family around him it is difficult to juggle full-time study with caring for his daughter. Similarly, time constraints and his role as carer mean that he cannot work at the moment and is struggling financially.
Despite these difficulties, Albert is determined to complete his degree and is considering investigating part-time or distance learning study options. Albert plans to make Scotland his home, qualify as a teacher in the UK and offer distance support to school children in the DRC.
Alda McPhail
Alda came from Croatia to Scotland fifteen years ago. The family had friends here and Alda wanted to improve her English, which she had been studying for eight years in her home country – since before she went to primary school. She made several trips to Scotland and married in 1994. Soon after, she started looking for work and she worked for some years in the salmon hatcheries and factory of a fish farming business.
After her little boy was born, she changed to a job closer by with Loch Fyne Oyster Ltd (Cairndow) where she now works as a waitress in the restaurant. She contacted Argyll College and did a course in Information Technology Applications, which then led to another, Business Accounting and Marketing (SCQF level 7).
She would like to move on to another SCQF level 7 course, Using Software Applications, but it’ll depend on how she can fit it in with work and family. She is hoping, on the strength of her qualifications, to get a better position in the firm she is working in at the moment: her present job, because of its flexibility, has helped her to undertake her present studies. College staff have been instrumental in supporting her with help and advice, and she has been able to finance her studies, at least in part, with ILA Scotland awards.
Alice
Alice came to the UK from Georgia in 1998 seeking asylum. On receiving indefinite leave to remain she worked as a care assistant for elderly people with mental health difficulties; an experience that inspired her to want to study for a degree in Social Sciences. Alice had some experience of university-level study in Georgia, but felt it would be beneficial to take an access course in order to gain an introduction to Social Sciences and to help her achieve a place at a UK university.
Alice decided to study an access course at Newbattle Abbey College (Scotland’s only adult education residential college) and she is currently working towards an Arts and Social Science Award. The small class groups and supportive teaching environment have enabled Alice to build up her knowledge of the subject quickly and provided her with confidence in her ability to succeed at university. She also feels the course has provided her with an introduction to Scottish culture and education as well as an opportunity to improve her English skills.
Alice has been guaranteed a place at the University of Edinburgh to study Social Sciences, Ecology and Languages, provided she successfully completes the access course.
Amir Aryanmanesh
Amir came to Scotland in 2003 from Iran as an asylum seeker, having completed three and a half years of a Civil Engineering degree at the University of Tehran. Amir wanted to complete his degree in Scotland so he enrolled for ESOL classes at Anniesland College to enable him to apply for a place at university.
The ESOL staff at the college informed Amir about the Bridges Programmes (a work shadowing scheme for refugees and asylum seekers) that could help him with relevant work experience and provide a further opportunity to improve his English skills in a technical context. The Bridges Programmes organised a placement with Glasgow City Council working on the Kingston Bridge project.
Due to Amir's previous educational experience, improved English Language skills and work placement, Glasgow Caledonian University offered him an unconditional place to do a fourth year in Environmental Civil Engineering. As he still had asylum seeker status, he was charges a full overseas rate for course fees.
Amir has nearly finished his course in Environmental Civil Engineering and will be looking for work in this field. In the future, having gained some work experience, Amir would like to return to studying to do a masters course in Structural Engineering.
Christophe Paus
Christophe came to Scotland in 1998 from France, with the intention of improving his English. He immediately fell in love with the country and started work in bars and restaurants. He soon became interested in going to university but knew that he would need to update his qualifications (he had a French baccalaureate) in order to gain access.
Christophe heard that it was possible get a place at university by going through the Scottish Wider Access Programme (SWAP) and completing a one-year access course at Stevenson College Edinburgh in Humanities and Languages. Christophe found the course really beneficial, not only in terms of the essential study skills needed for university, but also in terms of personal development, improving his English skills and meeting other like-minded people. He received lots of encouragement and support from the course tutors and his fellow classmates, which he believes were crucial to his success on the course.
On completion of the access course at Stevenson College, Christophe was accepted at the University of Stirling to study a BA in French and Spanish. After graduating in June 2006 with a 2.1, Christophe wanted to do a Masters in French or Spanish but financial pressures changed his mind. He is currently undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in Education, to teach French and Spanish in Scottish secondary schools. He hopes to become a qualified teacher and believes he has finally found his career.
Christophe says that 'going through college and university made me a much more confident person and I believe that education is the key to a better life. In the near future, I would like to carry on studying part-time for a doctorate in education while being a teacher.'
Darush Morad
Darush is from Iran. He came to the UK in 2003 as an asylum seeker and he now has refugee status. Darush had previously completed a BA (Hons) degree in Art at a higher education institute in Tehran. When he arrived in Glasgow he wanted to improve his English language skills in order to help him to progress a career in the Arts. Darush studied English for eight months at community classes whilst waiting for a place on an ESOL course at Anniesland College.
Whilst studying English, Darush had been very active in working on his art. He was involved with the group 'Artists in Exile' and exhibited his work at 10 exhibitions in Glasgow and Edinburgh and sold several of his pieces.
Darush is now working in a hairdressing salon and has had a complete career change: he is in the second year of a hairdressing course at Clydebank College and is hoping to go on to do a third year.
Franck Veauvy
After gaining a French baccalaureate at the Lycée Dupuy de Lôme in Brittany, France, Franck arrived in Scotland in 1991 to work in the salmon industry in Fort William. Franck had previously worked as a tennis coach, a French tutor and a factory worker, but decided he wanted to become a teacher and, therefore, he needed a degree to fulfil this ambition.
Franck graduated as a BA in Child and Youth Studies with the UHI, at Inverness College, in 2007. He has since embarked on a teacher training programme at Aberdeen University and hopes to become a probationary teacher next year.
Gabriel Lengironi
Gabriel Lengironi is from Burundi and was educated as a nurse in Kenya . He arrived in Scotland in 2003 seeking asylum. Gabriel wanted to gain registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to enable him to work in the NHS in Scotland; this led him to contact the Glasgow Overseas Professionals into Practice (GOPiP) project for advice and support.
The project helped Gabriel with his application to the NMC and provided him with a work shadow placement to help improve his English language skills, update his nursing skills and enable him to engage with other hospital staff and patients.
GOPiP work closely with Anniesland College and arranged formal ESOL support for Gabriel in order to prepare him for the language examinations he needed to take. GOPiP also provided personal support and encouragement to Gabriel whilst he underwent the process of applying for refugee status, which he has now been granted.
Gabriel's previous experience and education was not recognised as comparable by the NMC and he has been required to retrain as a nurse. The GOPiP project supported his application for an undergraduate nurse programme and he gained a place at Glasgow Caledonian University.
He is currently working as a volunteer for Skills Scotland, which he is finding very rewarding as it is a voluntary agency that supports people in similar circumstances to himself. Alongside his voluntary work, Gabriel is nearing the end of studying for his Diploma in Women’s Health Studies at Glasgow Caledonian University.
Looking to the future, he hopes to continue studying to attain an MSc in the subject area of Gender Studies/Women’s Health.
Grzegorz Boesche
Grzegorz was born and educated in Poland, where he qualified both as a chef and as a technician of public health and nutrition. After a spell in the Army, he went to Wloclawek University and obtained a degree in Social Work. He really enjoys working with people and his ambition is to become a social worker.
Grzegorz left Poland in 2005 because he felt there were better opportunities to find work in Scotland. He is currently working as a commis chef at the Highland Hotel in Strathpeffer and doing volunteer work for the Red Cross in their charity shop in Dingwall. The Red Cross also employ him as a relief community support worker in Inverness.
Grzegorz is hoping to fulfil his ambition of becoming a social worker but is aware that he needs to improve his English language skills. Since arriving in Scotland, he has been supported by the Adult Basic Education Centre in Dingwall and also by the British Red Cross. Grzegorz is attending an English language skills course in Inverness College, paid for by the ILA Scotland scheme.
Kasia (Katarzyna) Sikora
Kasia came to Scotland in the summer of 2005 while she was waiting for a response to her application to the University of Lublin, Poland.
Kasia was always keen to improve her English language skills and earn some money to help her with her university studies. She has worked mainly in the catering business, which provided many opportunities for her to improve her spoken English.
Kasia loves Scotland and, because her university in Poland was unable to offer her the course she wanted, she decided to stay here to continue her education. In September 2006 she enrolled in a full-time, one-year ESOL course at Glasgow Metropolitan College, obtaining an A-grade certificate in Upper Intermediate English. At the same time, she attended a part-time course at the Central College of Commerce, where she obtained a Higher English qualification.
Having gained confidence and improved her English language skills, Kasia applied to Strathclyde University for a Joint Honours Degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Kasia’s acceptance was conditional on her passing the Strathclyde Summer School in Chemistry and Maths.
Kasia successfully passed the summer school requirements and also obtained grade 5 in her IELTS exam. She was offered an unconditional place at Strathclyde University, and duly accepted. Because she is a European citizen, her fees are paid for by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).
Kasia is now studying for the first year of her degree and is enjoying it enormously.
Kasia’s career aim is to obtain a good degree and find employment with an international pharmaceutical company; she already studied German and is now studying Spanish, which she hopes will be a further asset in finding the right job in her chosen field.
Katarzyna Boesche
Katarzyna was born and educated in Poland. She has a qualification in public health and nutrition, but found it difficult to find employment in Poland and decided to continue her education. She took a Masters degree in Polish Philology at the Nicolaus Copernicus University. Whilst studying she gained some teaching practice in primary and secondary schools.
Katarzyna left Poland in 2005 because it was difficult to find work. She felt Scotland offered her more opportunities to work as a teacher. She is currently negotiating with the General Teaching Council for Scotland to have her Polish qualifications recognised.
Since being in Scotland, Katarzyna has been doing volunteer work as a childcare playworker and as a classroom assistant in Dingwall. She also works as a waitress in a local hotel.
Katarzyna received language support from the Adult Basic Education Centre in Dingwall and is currently attending an English language skills course in Inverness College, paid for through the ILA Scotland scheme. She is aware that command of the English language is crucial to fulfil her ambition to teach children in Scotland.
Kishor Dangol
Kishor Dangol came from Nepal where he worked as a freelance photographic journalist and artist. He has lived in Kirkcaldy for the past eight years. He attends regular English language classes with Fife Council's ESOL service and in 2007 he graduated from Adam Smith College with an HNC in Graphic Design. Kishor was also been able to enhance his photographic skills through evening classes and has put on five exhibitions of his work.
As a board member with the Nepal-Scotland Association, he is responsible for the design, editing and publishing of the association's quarterly magazine.
Kishor hopes that his HNC will give him improved job prospects and a better quality of life here and he is now hoping to continue his studies by completing an HND in Graphic Design and Communications.
Lila
Lila came to Scotland from Burundi in 2002 seeking asylum. Lila had to leave school at the age of 15 and didn't have any educational qualifications when she arrived here. But she did have an interest in pursuing a career in medicine as she had received some basic medical training from Médecins Sans Frontières whilst living in a refugee camp.
On arriving in Scotland , Lila wanted to improve her English language skills so she attended ESOL classes at Cardonald College. Once Lila's language skills had improved she successfully took the Cambridge Preliminary English exam. Lila feels that the help and support she received from the ESOL lecturers really helped her to focus on what she wanted and gaining the ESOL qualification has enabled her to progress to further study. She has already achieved a National Qualification in Health Care. Lila originally wanted to study for a degree in nursing, but she still has asylum seeker status and is liable for her course fees at the full overseas rate, which she cannot afford.
Lila was advised by one of her teachers that, until she obtained her indefinite stay status, it would be good to broaden her educational background and also to keep herself busy, so she is now studying for her Highers in Chemistry, Biology and Maths at Stow College. Lila is now considering a career in either pharmacy or medicine.
In addition, Lila is also doing volunteer work for Priesthill Volunteers and Disabled People Project, working mainly with adults with special needs and work shadowing in Stobhill Hospital.
Lydia Zimunya
Lydia fled Zimbabwe in 2002 and came to Scotland. Lydia had worked as a home economics teacher in Zimbabwe and was desperate to be able to resume the career that she loved. From a meeting with the Scottish Refugee Council , Lydia learned that she could convert her previous qualifications to enable her to become registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and therefore be eligible to teach.
The Scottish Refugee Council put Lydia in touch with an organisation called Refugees into Teaching in Scotland (RITeS), who provide support and assistance to enable refugee teachers find work in Scottish schools. They advised Lydia that she could convert her qualifications from Zimbabwe by studying some extra courses and learning about the Scottish curriculum and education system.
In conjunction with the Bridges Programmes , RITeS helped Lydia to secure a number of placements in schools in the West of Scotland to build up her knowledge and experience of Scottish education. They also helped her to find a place at Queen Margaret University College. Lydia has now received the standard for full registration from the GTCS and in September 2006 she secured a full-time, permanent post in the Home Economics Department at Greenwood Academy in Irvine. She is thoroughly enjoying all aspects of her job and says that wonderful to be able to return to the job that she was trained for.
Maryam Habibollahi
Maryam came to Scotland from Iran in 1994 to be with her husband. Initially, Maryam found the move very daunting; she was away from friends and family and she didn't know any English.
Maryam soon discovered that a local community centre ran English classes and she spent two years learning the language and finding out about Scottish culture and society. As her confidence in her language skills increased, she found employment at a local McDonald's restaurant. Maryam was pleased to have a job but wanted to improve her English skills in order to progress to a job more suitable to her skills and experience.
Maryam looked into English courses at college and decided to take the English for Vocational Training course at Stevenson College Edinburgh. Her English improved immensely and she soon progressed to another course in Medical Administration, which was exactly what she was looking for. As a result of studying this course, Maryam secured a job as a medical receptionist at the doctors' surgery where she completed her work placement as part of the course. Maryam enjoyed every minute of her time at Stevenson College and she feels that she owes a lot of her achievement to the encouragement and support of the tutors.
Because of her experience, Maryam has been inspired to become a teacher and recently applied for the PGDE course, which is still being considered. In the meantime she is investigating the possibility of becoming a classroom assistant.
Murat Gullen
Murat is from Turkey and has a Physics Engineering Bachelor's Degree from Ankara University. He taught physics as a primary and secondary school teacher in Turkey for three years. He left Turkey in 2001 and lived in England for three years before moving to Edinburgh because he felt Scotland offered good educational opportunities.
Murat initially went to Jewel & Esk Valley College to study an English as a Foreign Language course. After that he started a MSc Software Technology for the Web course at Napier University, where he finished the taught part of the course but was unable to complete the dissertation element because of family commitments. During this time, Refugees into Teaching in Scotland (RITeS) helped Murat to get into teaching and he worked at the Inlingua Language Centre teaching Turkish language. Since January 2007 he has been working as a supply teacher for the Edinburgh Council Children and Families Department.
Murat feels that the courses he has done have really helped him to improve his confidence in English language skills and computing knowledge. He would like to stay in Edinburgh and continue teaching and developing his existing skills.
Phacharee Troup
Phacharee, who is originally from Thailand, came to live in Aberdeen in 2000 to be with family and because she wanted a change of direction. Prior to coming to Scotland, Phacharee worked for the Thai Government as an analyst in the City Planning Department. Whilst there she studied with a distance learning institution and gained a Bachelor Degree in Economics.
On arriving in Scotland, Phacharee did not speak English very well and found getting a job difficult. She eventually got a job at the local hospital and became interested in qualifying as a nurse. She was advised by The Robert Gordon University to go to Aberdeen College first to learn English, where her writing and reading skills could be improved, and last year, Phacharee successfully completed her EFL and ECDL courses there.
Phacharee is now a first year student nurse at The Robert Gordon University.
Raul Väljak
Raul was born and educated in Estonia. After high school, he moved on to higher education and obtained a degree in Advanced Computer Science at the University of Tartu.
Raul came to Scotland in June 2002, initially only for three months, to work as a fruit picker on various farms. He decided he wanted to study in Scotland and settle here. Raul started his studies with a general English skills course but also found he could learn the language very quickly through his everyday contact with people.
In 2004, Raul took an Open University course, 'Introduction to Humanities' and found it really interesting. As he lives on the Isle of Lewis he really enjoyed this type of distance learning study and was also greatly reassured that attending higher education in a foreign country was not an impossible achievement.
Studying with The Open University motivated Raul to try full-time education and he is now doing a degree course in Business Management at Lews Castle College, Stornoway.
Rubina Imran
Rubina was born in Pakistan and moved to Fife in 2001. She is married with four young children. When she started ESOL classes, her English was limited. Classes were arranged to fit round her family responsibilities.
As well as the group classes, Rubina was linked to a volunteer tutor who could give her individual help and further practice in the aspects of the language that she found difficult. When her language skills improved, Rubina began to think about future work with children.
Staff at her local community-based ESOL classes in Fife assisted Rubina with her own search for a childcare course. This included support with the completion of the application forms and interview skills. Rubina was subsequently offered a place at Elmwood College on an HNC in Childcare.
Sarah de Rees
Sarah was born and brought up in Belgium and her first language is Flemish. Sarah attained a diploma as a Special Youth Care/Support worker at the Sancta Mariainstituut Leuven. Sarah then went on to do a degree in Social Work. But as she failed the first year she sought employment instead, first as a retail assistant, then as a support worker with children with physical and learning disabilities, which she enjoyed immensely.
In 2001 Sarah visited Scotland, initially for a holiday, and after three months she moved to Edinburgh where she found a job as a care assistant in a home for adults with learning disabilities.
Sarah then took a succession of jobs: a support worker with adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues; a tour guide in Culross; and she also worked for Historic Scotland in Dunstaffnage Castle, which further stimulated her interest in Scottish history, prompting her to do some courses in this subject.
Sarah took a distant learning module on Scottish history with Perth College to find out if she could cope with studying in English. Then she decided to take a degree in Cultural Studies of the Highlands and Islands at the UHI Millennium Institute because it meant she could stay in the North of Scotland and continue to move around the region for work if she wanted to.
Sarah says: 'Starting my degree course was one of the best things I have ever done. I have acquired more confidence in my abilities, as well as a good deal of important skills. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) is paying for my fees, which is essential to allow me to pursue my studies and I am very grateful for their support.'
Sarah is now in her honours year and studied for one semester at the University of Iceland as an Erasmus exchange student. She plans to finish her degree as a part-time student, graduating in January 2009. Sarah is not sure what she will do when she finishes her degree but hopes, if the opportunity arises, that she could start working as a museum curator or as an archivist during her part-time studies. Sarah is currently doing voluntary work in the Elgin museum to gain experience in her chosen field.
Veronique Boum
Veronique Boum is from Cameroon and came to the UK as an asylum seeker in 2002. Veronique had previously worked as a secretary for a number of private companies and had gained an HND equivalent in Administration in Cameroon. After arriving in Glasgow, Veronique started English classes at Langside College and subsequently passed a National Certificate in computing. Veronique then obtained an HNC in Business Administration at Langside College. She is currently funding herself to study a degree with The Open University in Economic Behavioural Analysis. In addition to her studies, Veronique has recently commenced volunteering work for the West of Scotland Race Equality Council as an Administration Assistant.
Wafia Chellal
Wafia left Algeria in October 2002 with her husband and two children after political turmoil threatened her family’s security. Wafia’s family first lived in London and were transferred to Glasgow when they applied for asylum.
It took five years for Wafia’s family to obtain refugee status in the UK, during which time she was unable to work or study.
Wafia had completed two years of a five-year child psychology degree in Algeria, but the situation in the country forced her to interrupt her studies. She went on to study at the Algerian Institute of Education for one year, obtaining a qualification in education. Wafia worked as a primary school teacher in Algeria from 1993 to 2002.
As an Arabic-French speaker, Wafia had difficulties with communicating in English when she first arrived in Scotland. She enrolled in ESOL courses at Langside College, studied for two years and obtained her Cambridge First Certificate in English.
In 2007 Wafia also completed an Open University Openings course, ‘Understanding Health’, which helped her to enhance her written and spoken English.
Wafia now volunteers as an Arabic teacher in Glasgow, but she plans to continue studying so that she can obtain a degree and retrain as a teacher in the UK with the help of RITeS (Refugees into Teaching in Scotland).
Zhila Dadollahi
Zhila came to Britain from Iran seven years ago. She arrived in Brighton with her husband and stayed there for three years. They then moved to Glasgow, where they are currently living.
Both Zhila and her husband obtained qualifications in food technology in their native country; there, Zhila worked in the control laboratory of a food factory. Now she would like to be able to find a similar job in Glasgow.
In August 2007 she started an HND course in Food Technology at Glasgow Metropolitan College. She had decided not to pursue recognition of her previous qualifications because she is fully aware that, having qualified more than ten years ago, she would greatly benefit from a fresh start.
Studying is her passion and she is enjoying the course enormously. However, she is also aware that her level of academic English is not sufficient: she did an ESOL course at Glasgow Metropolitan, achieving a level equivalent to Intermediate 2, but the course has no certification. Her English language skill is sufficient for the study she is tackling at the moment, and she is looking forward to obtaining her HND, which would allow her to get a job and improve the family’s financial situation.
However, Zhila is also planning to take a further ESOL course that would bring her English language to the level required to study her subject at a higher level. Ideally, she would like to study a Masters course in Food Technology at Glasgow University.
Zyher Shala
When Zyher Shala came to Scotland from Kosovo, her dream was to study psychology at degree level. However, she could barely speak any English and she didn’t have the necessary qualifications.
Whilst taking English classes at a local community centre, Zyher found out about an access course at Stirling University and, with her tutor’s encouragement, she applied for the course.
The supportive learning environment helped Zyher to improve her English language skills and to become more confident.
Encouraged by her success on the access course, Zyher enrolled on a psychology course with The Open University. Zyher achieved her dream and graduated with an honours degree in psychology. She was accepted onto a Masters course in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Edinburgh University in May 2007 and has one more year to go. After she completes her course she would like to use her qualification to work with offenders in prison.
Zyher feels that the experience has benefited her enormously: ‘Since graduating, I have been promoted and have much more responsibility. I would not have achieved this without my degree.’
Zyher admits that the experience was challenging: ‘I found the language difficult at first and I was close to giving up at times, but I received so much support and encouragement. To anyone else considering higher education, I would say that if I can do it, anyone can.’