Finding Confidence in a New Home: Julia’s Story
In July we spoke to South Essex Homes resident, Julia, who at the time had been living in the UK for 11 months. She moved here with her husband and their five-year-old daughter after her family lost everything due to the war in Sudan and had no choice but to leave.
When she arrived in the UK, Julia was signposted to the support available to her and knew straight away that she was going to take this opportunity. She enrolled at college to learn English and began her course in September. As well as this, she joined Welcome to the UK, where she attends conversation classes that help build her confidence in speaking English.
She also takes part in cooking classes, which help her understand ingredients and shopping in the UK, as well as yoga sessions. Although she was scared and shy when she first arrived, Julia said that the support she has been given has helped her confidence grow.
The friendly staff at the classes she attends, and the Temporary Accommodation where she lives, have made a real difference to her. She has made friends along the way and speaks warmly about her kind neighbours, who she can relate to through shared experiences. Her daughter also enjoys playing with other children in the lounge space at the temporary accommodation. Julia says, "It is nice to feel welcome.".
Julia admits that she felt nervous the first time she attended each class. However, as time passed and her confidence grew, she was glad that she had pushed herself and became determined to challenge herself further.
A few months into her English-learning journey, she was encouraged to speak with a wider range of people and different accents to better her understanding of spoken English. With this goal in mind, she found the courage to volunteer at a Salvation Army charity shop. She has since been trained to work on the till and manage donations. The role gives her a chance to speak to many different people every day. While some customers speak very quickly and she occasionally needs help, Julia sees this as an important part of the learning process.
She also volunteers as a teaching assistant with Welcome to the UK. Not only does this benefit the wider community, but it also allows her to practise her communication. Julia feels she can relate to other learners because she remembers how she felt when she first started. This volunteering has led to even more opportunities. She has helped at community events, including leading her own workshop for International Women's Day, where she taught others how to make jewellery, "I love anything handmade," she explained.
Julia’s positive outlook has played a huge role in her progress. She said to us, "Positive people see everything as a positive and negative people see everything as a negative." As you may have guessed, Julia describes herself as a positive person and emphasised the belief that every opportunity is worth taking.
Despite the challenges they faced, Julia is grateful that her family is together and safe under the same roof, even if it is only one room. She sees this chapter of her life as a new opportunity for her family and believes that God has a plan for them. Because of this, she tries to make the most of every opportunity she is given. She also laughs when talking about her daughter, who is thriving in her new environment, "She is learning quicker than me!" Since writing this article, Julia’s daughter has been awarded a Pupil of the Year award at school for her ‘kindness and warmth’ towards her friends and her positive approach to learning.
Looking ahead, Julia hopes to complete her English studies before pursuing business studies. In Sudan, she worked in sales and would like to become a sales representative again in the future. She is also keen to continue helping her local community wherever she can.
When asked what advice she would give to someone in a similar situation, her message is simple: "Don't be afraid, go out, speak to people." Julia acknowledges that trying new things can be daunting but believes it is important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and that without trying, it is impossible to learn.
Reflecting on her experiences so far, Julia describes the UK as a good, safe and friendly place for her family, full of kind people who have helped her feel at home.