RSN News: Back To School!
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For better or for worse, students are returning to school. This means hundreds of young refugees are continuing their journeys and enrolling at different colleges, universities and vocational courses.
In this month's edition of RSN News:
Mariama's story
Face to face mentoring returns
Higher education training opportunities
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As the new academic year begins, we've been speaking to young refugees about their progress. We asked Mariama if she'd like to share how she's been getting on. She sent us this:
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Hello 👋 My name is Mariama and I am 21 years old. I came to the United Kingdom sin 2016. I have been through lots of difficulties about living, education and my immigration status. RSN has been working really hard to support me and my sisters. I can’t thank them enough for that.
I’m working with Stefie for the mentoring program, she helps me with assessments and homework that the college gives me and she’s very helpful. I’m doing Public Services level 2 and I passed for level 3 and I’m doing level 1 English and Maths. Sometimes having lots of working without any one to help you is very stressful. You just gonna think about to give up but if there is someone to support you, you will have courage to make your dream come true.
Lara and Yive help for the housing and my papers. If there’s any problem for the housing or home office they always support me by emailing them to know what’s going on and they work everything out.
Education is really important to me because when you study you can get what ever you want in your life/ When you study you will improve your knowledge, way of living as well as social and economic status through life. It helps me to improve my confidence level. I want to be a police officer when I finish college and go to university.
I just want to let you know how much I appreciate the positive influence you’ve had on my life . Thank you for your concern and useful advice. You inspired me during my difficult time when I needed words of encouragement. You don’t even know how much your help meant to me. I’ll always be grateful to RSN ☺️
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Unfortunately, many young refugees have fallen even further behind in their studies during lockdown. Without access to the technology they need for online learning, and without the support networks from families and safe accomodation, Covid-19 has posed difficult and painful challenges. During this time, online mentoring has been a lifeline. As one young person mentioned to RSN during lockdown, 'You know - that mentor is not just a mentor. When you see someone like that and they help you, that's priceless'.
It's not the same virtually so, as schools and colleges start to open their doors again, we're starting to shift back to in person work on a case-by-case basis. As always, the partnership needs to be right. Another young person shared that she was keen to meet again in person 'because I like [my mentor] and I am comfortable with her, she can really help me and makes me excited about the next lesson. She has helped me a lot."
Covid has entrenched educational disadvantage and we are determined to put things right. This week our team is working hard to help young people navigate complex enrollment processes and challenge unfair results, which has lead to some young people being asked to repeat the year.
It hasn't been easy - every situation is different and every young person is at a different stage in their journey. Some have taken end of year exams and are enrolling in new colleges and universities, others have yet more hurdles to overcome.
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Are you an education practitioner looking to help refugees access, remain and progress in education? After our wonderful intern Salma lead our higher education team in virtually training staff at Oxford Brookes University, we are expanding our provision and inviting practitioners to book on to our next sessions on 7th October 2020 and 16th November 2020. Click this link for more details.
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Did you know?
RSN has been awarded the BMCF Charity of the Year Award by our womderful supporters at the Betty Messenger Foundation. We are incredibly grateful to be working with the Betty Messenger Foundation and are humbled to have been recognised as a charity which is promoting their vision.
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