We are proud of you, Farida!
Hi, I’m Farida Latif. In August 2023, I reached out to JET to enquire about volunteering opportunities. Armed with BA Hons Guidance and Counselling, a recognised QCF level 6 qualification by the Career Development Institute (CDI), I saw volunteering with JET’s employability support service as an ideal way to gain valuable experience. Having been out of the workforce since 2012 due to mental health challenges, I sought to rebuild my confidence.
Successfully securing a volunteer trainee adviser role at JET, I joined the volunteering mentoring program to work towards my goal of re-entering employment.
The support from my mentor and colleagues, coupled with active engagement with JET clients, significantly boosted my confidence and self-esteem.
This experience played a vital role in securing a position at JET in 2024. Reflecting on my journey, I am grateful for the positive impact volunteering with JET had on my personal and professional development, helping me achieve my goal of returning to employment.
Determination, education and perseverance can take you a long way - the story of Lina Karad
Mrs. Lina Karad's journey to success in the UK is truly inspiring. Her story exemplifies the importance of perseverance and seizing opportunities to achieve one's goals, especially for newcomers to the UK. Let's highlight the key points of her remarkable journey:
January 2023: Mrs. Lina Karad arrived in the UK with a spouse visa, bringing with her a valuable B.Sc. degree in Architecture Engineering from Syria. She also has over a decade of architecture experience, gained in Syria and Saudi Arabia.
Lina became a JET (Job Entry Targeted Support) client for the National Career Service and Newcastle Fund projects in February 2023. These programs aim to assist individuals in finding employment and improving their career prospects.
Mojtaba, one of the JET advisers, recognised Lina's potential and referred her to JET's National Career Service to polish her CV and enhance her job search skills.
Lina actively participated in the weekly job search sessions offered by JET and also attended one session English class for her functional skills exam. Mojtaba encouraged her to be more flexible for office jobs in the UK and think critically and realistically about the job market. Moreover, following a JET team advice, her qualifications were evaluated through the NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre) process, which ensured her educational credentials are recognised in the UK.
After two months Mojtaba was informed of a job opportunity at YHN, for an Employability Assistant in YHN. They completed the job application form, and she was invited to interview but she failed the interview. However, Lina remained determined to succeed and continued to improve her skills and knowledge.
After that, the JET team further motivated her and referred her to a business admin and employability skills course at Newcastle College.
This proved beneficial in her job search. Lina learnt a lot about UK qualifications and skills by attending a Business Admin course at Newcastle College, conducted by YHN (Your Homes Newcastle).
On 12th July 2023, when she completed her course, another opportunity came from YHN and it was finally her time to shine. With her advisor’s support, Lina applied for a Business Admin job role this time at YHN, and thanks to her dedication, she was invited for an interview. To prepare for the interview, Lina actively participated in two interview practice sessions with Mojtaba. This demonstrated her commitment to securing the position.
The diligent work paid off, and Lina impressed the interviewers, ultimately securing the Business Admin job at YHN. Throughout her journey, Lina received unwavering support from the JET team, who provide her with essential resources and guidance.
It is interesting to know that:
She completed level 1 functional skills math and English and is currently studying level 2 online math and English at CECOS College in the UK.
Lina's journey reminds us that persistence and determination are key factors in success in a new country. With the right support and resources, newcomers can overcome challenges and forge a path to a bright and promising future. JET's commitment to empowering individuals like Lina showcases the impact of such programs on helping individuals establish themselves in foreign society. This will enable them to contribute positively to their newly established workplace.
Semen has started designing his own future!
Meet Mr. Semen, originally from Russia, who embarked on an incredible journey of personal and professional growth after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Internet Marketing from Moscow Open Institute. In 2021, he took a bold step and moved to Newcastle, England along with his wife and daughter, seeking new opportunities and experiences.
Upon arriving in Newcastle, Mr Semen was determined to enhance his English language skills and boost his confidence. He discovered JET (Jobs, Education, and Training), which offered ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) classes. Mr Semen wasted no time and joined the programme, showing great dedication to improving his language proficiency.
Recognizing the importance of giving back, Mr Semen engaged in voluntary work at the Newcastle Volunteer Centre. This not only allowed him to gain valuable experience but also demonstrated his commitment to contributing positively to his new home. This achievement not only removed some barriers, such as the lack of UK work experience and employment gaps on his CV, but also showcased his determination to succeed here.
Under the guidance of JET's national career service team, Mr. Semen’s talents and potential were recognised.
They worked closely with him to create an impressive CV, highlighting his academic achievements and skills acquired during his degree. JET's team not only provided valuable advice on navigating the UK's employment system but also linked him with potential employers, setting him on the path to success.
One such opportunity was with a renowned company named Product Global LTD, known for its innovative Mud Daddy brand. Mr Semen was excited to interview for a customer service job role with possible progression into digital marketing in Newcastle, thanks to JET's invaluable support and guidance.
With the insights and key points provided by JET's team, Mr Semen walked into his job interview with confidence and determination. His hard work, combined with JET's support, paid off, as he impressed the panel and secured the position at Product Global LTD.
Mr Semen’s inspiring story serves as a reminder that it is never too late to pursue your dreams. By having a clear plan, staying motivated, and being disciplined and consistent, he has shown that with the right support and determination, one can overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
Mr Semen’s journey with JET is a testament to the power of education, support, and resilience. His success in securing a customer service role at Product Global LTD is a source of pride not only for him and his family but also for the JET that supported him on this remarkable journey. It is stories like these that remind us all that with perseverance and a positive outlook, anything is possible, and dreams can become reality.
"And then I found my way!"
I am Irene and just like other Hong Kongers we did not expect to leave everything we built, we owned, we cherished and move to a whole new country. As we didn't have any connections, friends or network here in the UK, it was quite hard for us to start all over again, in the beginning.
Luckily a church mate told us to register for the English class by JET, after that our life in Newcastle completely changed. On the test day, Roxani invited me to be a volunteer in her class when we just first met. She definitely has a good eye for seeing people who have potential and giving them opportunities. It is my first
volunteer job and I learn a lot from working with Roxani.
From time to time Roxani invited us to different activities so we could practice our English and meet with locals.
The activity I enjoyed most is the Art session. It was a campaign hosted by Newcastle University and JET. In the campaign we know more about the history of Newcastle by visiting different landmarks in Newcastle e.g. Wall town, The Sill, Hancock Museum and Newcastle university art gallery.
In the meantime, I also needed a job to sustain my life. So Roxani invited me to the CV writing session and I had a meeting with the job advisor Rahaf. As I have the Pilates instructor certificate they introduced me to the Riverside Women Charity and I am
immediately getting the volunteer job there as a Pilates instructor. It is a golden opportunity for me to get more teaching experience and build my career portfolio.
It is the just beginning of my life here in Newcastle and I am so grateful that I got to know JET. They make my adoption to a new country a lot easier, I am not just hanging around the house all day. I have a vision of my future now. With their help I started to find my career path and I know I will achieve my goal eventually.
‘Success is getting what you want, and happiness is wanting what you get’
Mrs Hiba Attar has been living with her husband and three children in Newcastle since February 2021. She has a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Biochemistry from the University of Aleppo, Syria and before relocating to the UK, she was a skin care specialist in Saudi Arabia for eight years.
In October 2021, Mrs Attar joined the Wise Steps programme at JET, and her Job Coach
Mr Mojtaba Raeisi worked hard with her to pave a pathway and future in the UK worthy of her qualifications and appetite for work.
Mojtaba referred her to JET’s ESOL team for English and IELTS practise. She also registered in Gateshead ollege for Level 2 ESOL. She was working actively towards perfecting her English and she also attended the JET’s customer focus group meetings twice, where she shared with us her thoughts, worries and aspirations, representing in a way many refugee women who have to daily deal with similar issues.
Her Job Coach suggested working for the NHS or a GP, due to her previous experience. Even though Hiba is a determined woman, her fear of what the future might bring, and her lack of confidence were creating barriers and made her decision to dare to dream, a difficult one to make. Those barriers though were gradually removed by her one-to-one sessions at JET.
Mojtaba inspired Hiba to concentrate on courses in the NHS and medicine field and according to this plan she continued trying to develop and updated her academic and practical knowledge in the UK.
She completed the courses below, in both Newcastle and Gateshead:
Level 2 functional skills English NCFE
Level 2 functional skills Math NCFE
Level 2 Diploma in Infection Control
Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care
NHS Academy Training in Newcastle College with job interview guarantee.
After completing her NHS academy training, she realised that success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrificing and most of all, love for what you are doing or learning hto do. So, while taking into consideration her Job Coach’s advice, she applied for a Health Care Assistant role in Newcastle RVI. She passed her job interview with flying colours a week after and she received her work’s shirt and uniform from Smart Work and she started her permanent job at Newcastle RVI on the 12th of September 2022.
But her journey towards success did not end there. Hiba is a great believer in luck, and she finds that the harder she works the more she has of it! She now is more open to dream big and that is evident by her master’s degree application, which was also successful. Hiba will be studying Microbiology this year too, at Northumbria University. We couldn’t be more proud of her and we are looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for her.
The best way to lift yourself up is by trying to lift up others, and this is something that we at JET are most proud of succeeding in doing.
Orlando, the ever-smiling gentleman from El Salvador
Orlando and his family moved to the UK in the midst of the pandemic. Moving to a new country is always challenging but it is even more so when you do not speak the language and the circumstances do not allow you to socialise, learn or even pick up some basic things. In July 2021, Orlando was invited at JET for an initial assessment. He came along with his daughter, who acted as his interpreter. His inability to speak English and the consequential isolation had impacted his confidence and was slowly changing the person he was when he came from El Salvador. As if that was not enough, he was in bad physical health and was unable to cope with his routine appointments with his GP. His physical health and well-being were at stake.
The very next day after his assessment, he started attending ESOL classes at JET where his life started changing again. He step by step started learning how to communicate in this new environment, and he even started making friends. JET provided him with additional ESOL support while he was having classes at the Westgate college. He liked participating in role-plays, discussions and grammar lessons. He was also eager to participate in the integration activities JET provides, where he got even more involved and engaged with the local community.
He has spent a day gardening at The Comfrey Project, he participated in quick cooking competitions, recreational trips and conversation clubs. He also attended a Cancer awareness workshop with Healthworks and First-aid training with the British Red cross.
Now, a year later, with a lot more information and support, he feels he has become again a member of a community, he has built his confidence to speak English and does not hesitate to ask questions when he struggles to understand. He does not like missing even a single session at JET and he is loved by all staff and classmates. And most importantly, he can now not only attend his GP appointments on his own, without an interpreter, but also his appointments at the Job Centre. We couldn’t be prouder of Orlando and every week he keeps on surprising us with his progress! We are now looking forward to seeing him spreading his wings in the UK and his new life!
When opportunities meet preparedness
Andrew is originally from Nigeria, he is an Italian Citizen and he came to England in 2019 with his family searching for a better life. He was confused and desperately needed support to obtain a job to improve his family’s life.
He approached JET in November 2019 asking for support towards finding a job as well as information about how to apply for child benefit. His job coach at JET linked him with relevant services for child benefit and set up an action plan to start a journey towards building up his confidence, improving his employability skills and knowledge.
His job coach referred him to a National Career Service adviser at JET to get help and make a CV, registered him for IT training run by Your Homes Newcastle at JET and also helped him obtain his Provisional Driving Licence.
When the pandemic started, Andrew found himself living in a jobless household with three underage children, so needed support in finding a suitable job and providing a better life for his family. His job coach had been in touch with him regularly and provided him with support such as receiving help from the food bank. Andrew had the right mind set and determination to carry on with learning and building up his skills and knowledge despite the restrictions during the pandemic. His job coach encouraged him to attend and complete the following online courses:
2021 – Gateshead College
Fareshare NE / Gateshead college Food / Logistics Warehouse
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Lean Organisation Management Technique
NCFE Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Warehouse and Storage
Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Manufacturing
2021- Security Industry Authority LICENCE
Door Supervisor Certificate
2020- OFQUAL
NCFE CACHE Level 2 certificate in” Understanding Common Childhood Illness”
NCFE CACHE Level1 Award in Alcohol Awareness
NCFE CACHE Level1 Award in Mental Health Awareness
NCFE CACHE Level1 Award in Stress Awareness
2020 - Newcastle College
Introduction to Emergency First Aid
Andrew also had obtained following qualifications in 2019
Level 2 certificate in Customer Service from Highfield Qualification
Level 1 Certificate in personal Development for Employability ( RQF) from Highfield Qualification
Level 1 Award in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care from Newcastle College.
After the lockdowns his Job Coach arranged several face-to-face sessions with Andrew to help him with job search and going through the application process for suitable jobs in Newcastle as well as preparing him for the job interviews. Eventually, all their efforts led him to an apprenticeship opportunity with Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) in Palatine Beds factory for a production line vacancy. His job coach helped him complete his job application form he was accepted for a job interview. YHN and JET have been collaborating on an employment routeway programme, called ELSE – ESOL Learner to Salary Earner. Andrew and couple of other clients took part in that programme with one goal in mind, to get the opportunity to work at one of the placements.
Andrew participated in the ELSE for Warehouse & Production line jobs, plus intensive job interview practice session at JET. JET also arranged with YHN to provide the opportunity for a group of clients to visit the Platine Beds factory and become familiar with the work environment, while preparing themselves for the job interview. Andrew felt very positive and confident for the interview and successfully passed in August 2021 and was offered the job. Andrew is happy at his job and still maintains contact with JET, updating us of his accomplishments.
We at JET believe success is where the opportunities meet the preparedness. Andrew with his commitment throughout the long process of learning and his strong “CAN DO” attitude is the living proof!
Amer Rostami and a dream that is finally coming true.
Amer Rostami is a certified Nurse since he graduated from the Kurdish University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2012. He came to the UK just three years ago after been forced to leave his country and claim asylum in the UK. He was granted refugee status two years ago.
In August 2019, Mr. Rostami joined the Wise Steps programme at JET and since then, he has actively worked hard to develop his personal and career skills as well as, his English. He had a clear plan for his future and his goal was to get registered as a Nurse and be able to work in that field as soon as possible. Amer’s advisor at JET realized how serious and motivated he was to take his first steps into work and he searched a lot to find a good programme, which could support Mr. Rostami and make his dream come true. He then discovered the RefuAid programme, which seemed perfect for Amer’s needs, but unfortunately, it was not possible to register him as he did not live within the area they support. They did, however, put him on the list for possible future support.
Thanks to the Wise Steps program at JET, Amer was given a chance by his advisor to attend the RRF workshop to update his knowledge on his chosen career path, NHS policies, culture, health and social care in the UK. Then, he was referred to Donna Parker from the WST Employer Engagement Team to gain some volunteering experience and knowledge in Adult Nursing while practicing his spoken English with people from various backgrounds, along with receiving job search support.
Mr. Rostami is very ambitious, a good listener and an intelligent individual. He very fast absorbed his advisor’s advice and began to put more pressure on himself to develop his English proficiency skills as much as he could. With JET’s support, he attended a three months IELTS training at the International Language Centre funded by the Training Fund Spot Purchase from the Wise Group. Moreover, he also worked very hard on the OET material provided by his advisor at JET and had a very good OET exam trial.
November 2020 was a very fruitful month for Mr. Rostami as RefuAid contacted him again to see if he was interested in joining the RefuAid NHS Program for Nurses. Amer was so happy, he accepted the offer right away and then attended a four-week assessment course for Nurses which led him to becoming eligible for a paid placement on an NHS top-up degree at John Moore’s University. While on that placement, he will be working as a nurse at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH).
Mr. Rostami has also received his DBS check and will gladly start his career as a Health Care Assistant on the 26th of April 2021.
Finding a passion is an easy task but pursuing it and succeeding in it is a lifelong commitment.
Mr Tarokh Tourani was referred by the Job Centre to JET, and our Wise Steps (WS) advisor Mojtaba Raeisi registered him on Wise Steps in 02/12/2019. Tarokh is originally from Iran and one of the most talented clients JET has ever seen.
Tarokh expressed his dream of being a pilot, his interest in flight engineering and aviation careers and his advisor guided him towards English and Math assessments and arranged an appointment for him with Newcastle college. Before the Covid19 public lockdown begun in the UK, his advisor contacted Launch Group and Tarokh attended and completed an Exploring the Aviation Industry Training in Newcastle airport. The client was so proactive and determined and his advisor kept on trying to keep his interest and determination alive. He also referred him to JET’s National Career Service team to create a CV. When Tarokh was facing some problems in his place of living, Mojtaba registered him on the TyneAndWearHome website for council houses and he started biding on council properties within a month, hoping for a better living situation. Moreover, JET helped him complete his DVLA provision driving licence (L Card) too.
Tarokh strongly believes that “Strength does not come from physical capacity, it comes from indomitable will”.
Even during the pandemic, and the various lockdowns, he continued trying to better himself and attended and completed remotely the online courses, below:
1- Level 1 Retail and Customer Service
2- Level 2 Conflict Management
3- Level 2 Customer Service
4- Entry 3 and Level 1 IT Skills
5- Level 2 Personal Training and Fitness Instructor
JET also gave him a portable device (laptop) with data, which was provided by Newcastle City Council and which he used to attend English Functional Skill Level 2 and GCSE Maths and other online courses. As a newcomer to the UK, JET has helped him create a positive mindset about different careers and the one-to-one meetings he attended helped improve his confidence and ambition.
He was also greatly benefitted by Wise Steps’ financial support to help pay for courses and travel. His advisor taught him how to do job search, using different websites, and he started applying for jobs in fitness and customer service on Indeed and more job websites.
When JET received news on vacancies at NE1 4TV, Mojtaba share them with Tarokh, and explained to him that NE1 4TV is an organisation which is the perfect place for someone to start a career as a TV professional, since they are casting artists for the TV, films and stage, commercials, corporate and music videos etc.
He finally introduced Tarokh to them and arranged a Skype and phone job interview for him, which led to Tarokh accepting a job offer as a Production Assistant, working 25 hours a week.
We at JET believe that great things are achieved, by a series of small things brought together and we couldn’t be happier than when seeing Tarokh’s “CAN DO” attitude producing such lovely results. He still knows who he is and his dream of being a pilot is still in his heart and all of us at JET are looking forward to seeing him succeeding in it, because we know he can.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
The story of Malgorzata
Summer 2017 – new city, new perspective they said. But not for me.
I could not find my way there. I like the city, it is not too big. I like the accent, still need to learn.
Few moths later I was still looking for my way. I stop believing in myself. I found online JET. I did decide that it is not for me. I did not believe that any organisation could help.
Spring 2019, pandemic has just started. It was like a wakeup call for me. I had realized that if I do not fight for myself nobody will do it for me.
One year later- first email to JET. I have found ELSE project as a great opportunity for me.
September 2020- first English class in real classroom. The Teacher is amazing, with a lot of energy and willingness to help. My English Teacher like an angel led me to my work coach.
January 2021- first zoom meeting with Wise Steps advisor/work coach. The advisor is very friendly, welcoming, professional with common goal-oriented personality, motivating and guiding me forward in my own pace. My work coach was listening to me and showed me direction. Always had time for me and taught me practical things for example how to write personal statement in job applications.
Spring 2021- success - first job in administration.
This is my haven for now. I have found myself in this reality and have bigger plans and new goals to achieve.
I have started to dream again. I have started to smile more. I have started to live again. I still have time for personal development, hobbies, and family. Work gives me joy, allows me to develop and gives me perspective. If not my work coach from JET, I would not be where I am now. If not the English teacher I would not be where I am now. If not me and my courage to go out of my comfort zone, I would not be where I am. I have learned that if one door closes, another opens. Do not say ‘no’ to any opportunity. Try it first and then judge whether this way is good for you or not.
Thank you to all the people I have met on my way to employment. Thank you for believing in me when I lost it. Thank you for pushing me forward when I did not feel like it. I have just opened another chapter in my life, and it has been so colourful, bright, and exciting. Thanks JET I have started to do what was necessary, then what was possible and suddenly I am doing what seemed impossible.
The most important is the first step and later to trust people which you meet during your journey.
JET clients entering a digitally inclusive era
The outbreak of Coronavirus and the subsequent lockdowns have accelerated the shift to adopting digital technology in more and more parts of our lives.
Our ability to work from home, search for a job, stay connected with family or friends, take part in volunteering, shop for groceries and other essential items, attend healthcare appointments, access financial support and banking services, and even keep physically active has been becoming dependent on our ability to get online.
In the current situation, and more specifically when thinking about our clients and their needs, it is now more important than ever to ensure that everyone can benefit from internet provision. Many activities, information and services have moved exclusively online without offering offline alternatives or with offline alternatives being limited or restricted. This has placed those without digital access at even greater risk of disadvantage than before the pandemic outbreak.
JET has been actively focused on supporting our clients with their IT needs wherever possible, ensuring they are able to navigate the internet and use online technologies and devices.
Knowing that there were clients who were digitally and socially excluded, which meant that they were not able to access critical online services, find up-to-date and accurate information, and access health advice and services and buy essentials online, was something we took very seriously from the very first moment.
JET decided that action needed to be taken, and applied for more than 60 IT devices, from Newcastle City Council (some with data), tablets from Good Things Foundation, Vodafone, and Wavelength.
After we received the devices, our coaches worked tirelessly to deliver these devices directly to our clients, always following the government’s guidelines. Finally, as part of our Christmas Hampers initiative, we provided some of the families with much needed data, so they could stay “connected” even during the holidays.
Here are some of their own words:
“Great thanks Mr. Khalid, you are an amazing person and always there to help. I really thank you from the bottom of my heart.” - Fardin Gholami
“This tablet will enable me and my daughter to have access to online learning opportunities and connect with the outside world during this hard time and progress in the future.”
“Very thankful for the tablet as enabled me and my kids to use it for our English learning and other learning opportunities.”
“The laptop is best thing for me to attending different online course due to pandemic.” - Tarokh from Iran
" This would be very useful to start improve my IT skills."
“I am very happy with JET for everything they have done for me and I am learning a lot in English using the tablet. I know that one day I will reach to the level I want to be, so thank JET for this opportunity. “Rosangela
“Big thanks to JET and Newcastle City Council for providing me with this laptop, I really needed that as was struggling to carry on with my ESOL classes, but now I joined my Google Classroom which is very useful and my English skills are improving now so I am not wasting the time anymore, thanks again. “ Mohamad Alsbeinati
“I registered with JET one year ago (Wise Steps) project, since then I got a lot of support / help and I joined JET ESOL classes which are very useful, helped me to improve my English skills, JET also provided me a Chromebook through Newcastle City Council, I would like to thanks them as I also started to join google classroom online in my college as well and I have a plan to use the Chromebook to improve my IT skills. “ Anas Alrajab
We aspire to continue getting support from old and new initiatives that provide devices, connectivity and skills support as our clients' responses have shown that the provision of IT equipment has been a much-needed service in helping them overcome their barriers to digital inclusion.
The magic of Christmas gift-giving.
Every year, as we approach Christmas, a great vibe always surrounds JET’s staff and volunteers. Despite the pandemic, JET was determined to continue its tradition of preparing festive hampers, full of goodies and joy, for our clients and their families. We might not get the chance to do it every year, but when we do, we always get great pleasure from it.
You can imagine the difficulty of matching and wrapping hundreds of presents whilst making sure we were following the government's health and safety guidelines! Staff and volunteers devoted their spare time to the task of creating Christmas packs and then experienced the joy of going out in bubbles delivering them across the city, in person, to surprise families and most of all, their children.
Of course, all of this would not be possible without the Spirit of Christmas appeal, which funded this project, along with our partners InKind Direct and Fareshare, who provided us with much needed treats for all the families. We would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts!
The project supported over 40 families and 77 individuals, including children.
Our clients were undoubtedly very pleased with their gifts and here are some of their own words:
A single mom of three kids and a survivor of domestic violence stated: “JET is my family now and I don't feel alone and depressed in Newcastle anymore”.
A family after our team delivered their gift bag to them, said: " Thank you very much for the beautiful Christmas gifts, the children are very cheered and happy of their unexpected presents, may god give you the best rewards."
A 74 year old single client who lives on her own said: " I wish all the best for everyone who has contributed in making me feel not alone at this time. "
"JET is a lovely organisation and I really appreciate the joy and happiness your gifts had on my disabled child ", said an other one of our clients.
“My two kids were so glad and could not wait to see their gifts inside the house. Many thanks for JET and for both of you Khalid” The kids said: “We were looking for such gifts that they delivered to us, thanks Mum”.
Our volunteers, who are all part of the same bubble, were also very happy to play a part in these special moments, as the pandemic made visiting their own families impossible.
All in all, we were all touched by the magical Spirit of Christmas and we could not be happier than when we saw the smiles of the people our efforts helped.
Silver linings during the Pandemic
Laura Martin Ruiz came from Spain to the UK four years ago for work. After living in the country for a while she decided that this was the place she wanted to call home and she started planning her future. The first step she wanted to take was to study at the University. Once she got accepted, there was only one requirement standing in the way of her starting to realise her dream. She had to have an IELTS certificate, showing her English level. Laura got busy right away and started taking IELTS classes. But, unfortunately, that was before the UK was put under lockdown and all her classes came to a halt.
She was then introduced to JET and our High Level English class, by a friend and she wouldn’t miss a chance like that. JET’s High Level Classes were an ESOL for All initiative that JET came up with, in order to support people improve their English, while making safety a priority. All the classes were taught online and they were not financed in any way. They were running from April 2020 until July 2020.
“Laura did not miss a single class and she was one of the most enthusiastic students”, says her tutor, Roxani Antoniadou. The pictures below were part of her presentation on “The place in the world that I want to visit the most”.
In the end of July 2020, Laura took the IELTS exam and she passed with flying colours!!!
This is what Laura says about her experience with JET: “(…) I didn't have any specific expectations when starting the classes, but surprisingly, I saw myself enjoying every moment. Everything was useful, every word, every sentence, every structure Roxani taught me with patience and consistency. All of it was building a better understanding and also and most important, the confidence I needed to express myself in a better and different way than I used to.
I found myself discovering new ways to acquire a higher level of English, in a funny and productive way.
After all those classes, I decided to take the IELTS exam, I finally felt ready. My scores at the end were way higher than I was expecting. So, I could get easily into Durham University. (…) My experience with Jet and in this case Roxani Antoniadou as a teacher was impeccable, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve their English skills in a short period of time.”
Now, she is getting ready to start studying at Durham University and she is definitely more than ready to start living the rest of her life! All of us from JET are wishing her the best of luck!
The gift of volunteering
Jude Omar Pillate is from the Philippines and has been a part of JET's ESOL team since September 2019. He has been working as a volunteer, alongside JET's ESOL Coordinator and Tutor Roxani Antoniadou, on an English for Integration Project and has been a great source of support and positive energy.
Here is what he had to say about his time with JET:
"To wake up everyday with a joyful heart and a peaceful mind is the greatest gift I continue to receive. Tuesday is next-level busy but the most exciting day of all! This is the time that I wake up earlier than usual and prepare for my volunteer work for JET through Action Foundation. I help deliver simple English integration classes with refugees, asylum seekers and even immigrants.
I thought volunteering for JET was a piece of cake since back in my home country I taught communication and literature. Then I realized teaching the basics was never an easy job that even the smallest details like discussion pace and simplifying the instructions given were vital in the learners’ cognitive success. My visits had a greater impact on me and on my perspectives than I could ever imagine. "
Offering your services as a volunteer is a difficult task but it is always rewarding. Offering your services as a volunteer in a foreign country can be even more challenging.
But Jude has proven to us that a strong will to help, a positive attitude and the right opportunity can make the most challenging of tasks, enjoyable! In Jude's words: "Indeed, JET is more than a charitable foundation. It’s a community that helps create a positive space and outlook for everyone. It is a home where one can feel the sense of inclusion and belongingness by talking to people knowing them more than their names and developing camaraderie which is gratifying. It’s a place where one can truly find their mission by going out to simply help and be selfless.
It is where I found my joyful heart and peaceful mind. "
A great thank you to Jude and all those who choose to volunteer and help those in need!
Something small can mean so much!
Staying at home is not easy for everyone. Some people have their families with them or
have internet and various devices and can communicate with their loved ones so they do
not feel alone. But some struggle to have even that. Manal Hasballa was one of these
people, but not anymore! She reached out to JET and her advisor, Rahaf Iskandarani,
explaining her need for means that will allow her to stay on top of her studies along with
maintaining contact with the outside world, while following the government’s orders to
stay home and stay safe.
Doing the best we can with what we have!
“Anything is possible as long as I believe in my dreams and strive to make them true,” says Omer Salama.
Muhammad Salama Omar came to the UK in 2016 dreaming about a successful life ahead. One of the biggest challenges he had to work on was his language skills. Unable to speak and understand English, he lacked confidence and found it hard to get by but his determination to better himself led him to JET. He wanted to improve his English, increase his confidence through language skills, and look for a job. So he got registered with Wise Steps by his advisor, Mojtaba Raeisi, who right away referred him to the Wise Steps ESOL classes.
Mohamed Osman – Victories of hard work.
Mohamed Osman is a twenty-two-year-old Sudanese refugee, who lives now in Gateshead, UK. He has recently managed to pass the Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety in Catering on his first try.
His motivation, desire and hard work, which was supported by the bilingual tutoring provided by JET’s advisor Khalid Mahmoud in Arabic and English, were the catalysts that enabled him to pass the test with such a good score.
Mohamed has not only been working continuously with his advisor Khalid but has also been attending JET’s Wise Steps ESOL classes and was generally benefitted by the Wise Steps programme.
“(…) Many thanks to the Wise Steps project provided by JET, the ESOL learning by Hina Fiaz, the one-to-one bilingual tutoring and encouragement provided by Khalid,” he says.
Mohamed has passed his exam with flying colours but his road will not stop there. Even amidst these terrible times of the COVID-19 pandemic, he keeps on working on bettering himself and his skills.
“There are many young refugees living in the area, and really need some bilingual help to achieve learning new skills and building their confidence, so that they can be able to look for jobs. My friend Radouan is one of them, and he has been motivated by both Khalid and me to benefit as much as possible from all the distant learning opportunities, during the lockdown” he added.
Mohamed is a strong and determined young man that not only works hard to achieve his goals but also has inside him the ethos that we at JET deeply abide to. Helping people find their way in the UK is our goal and Mohamed has now been both the recipient and an indirect provider of that and we are sure that he has many more victories waiting for him in his future!
Alexandra Bilbija – The artist
Alexandra is an extremely motivated person and artist that came from Croatia to the UK almost two years ago. She came to JET looking for a job and looking for ways to advertise and sell her art in the Northeast! Mojtaba Raeisi had a meeting with her and advised her to register as a Wise Steps client. She accepted and her journey with JET began.
Mojtaba has been working with her, trying to find opportunities for Alexandra to have an exhibition and share her art with the world, while also trying to find a job for her so she can make a more stable living. His plan was to introduce her to some art galleries but in the meantime, the Corona virus started threatening the UK. It looked like everything would go into a standstill. But they did not give up. They are still on top of things and they are trying to find ways for her to have an online event.
Their work did not stop there. Alexandra came to all the meetings that her advisor planned and was persistent and vigilant in her jobsearch.
Mojtaba brought her in contact with the Asian Business Connection and also with an other artist, who gave her more ideas, such as cushion painting and creating artistic face masks. Moreover, he made sure that JET provided her with one of the old IT room computers so she could find ways to sell her art online. Also, on JET’s last working day before the Corona lockdown, JET provided Alexandra with a much needed food voucher. Her big, thanking smile speaks volumes!
“Alexandra has now gained more confidence and is more motivated. She is painting more, having peace of mind and many new ideas”, says Mojtaba, as he is in constant contact with her via phone calls, texts and FB messenger, making sure she receives the support she needs.
But as mentioned above, selling her art was not their only plan. Mojtaba supported Alexandra into getting a job and some days ago, she received her first paycheque as a part time personal assistant. Alexandra is a very strong woman who was and is fighting for a better life and she did her best to get this job. She is pleased that she managed to get it and she is motivated to keep working hard.
Alexandra has never worked as a self-employed artist but has sold her artwork in many creative ways. Now, being a self-employed artist is a dream of hers, a dream that JET is actively helping her to make come true!
The road to success can be difficult, exactly like the road towards employment and we do see examples of this statement every day. But, JET is here, active and continuously supporting people into finding their way in the UK, even during the most challenging of times.
Sourse and copyright of pictures: http://www.alexbilbija.com/
I believe I can, so I will.
This was Soodabeh's attitude when she arrived in the UK and she has proved to herself and everyone else that she indeed, rightfully believed it.
Soodabeh was a nursery teacher and manager in her home country, Iran. She was running her own business there, she was successful and she knows thanks to that how to be around children and their parents.
When she came to the UK though she had to go through the same situations as any person that moves to a new country goes through. Her English was limited, she did not have a job and she did not know anyone else other than her husband and daughter that moved with her.
But she did not back down.
She came to JET and met her advisor, Mojtaba Raeisi, who started supporting both her and her daughter towards learning English and then, towards employability.
He referred them to JET’s Women’s Integration Group and they both started attending in order to meet people and work on their English. During the Christmas crafts’ session month - which was offered to the group by the Baltic’s communities’ project - the project’s manager, Annie Bedford, got a chance to observe Soodabeh and see how creative and capable she is when it came to crafts. They had a chat and Annie got an amazing idea.
Soodabeh could join Annie’s team and support the artists that the Baltic hosts on their community family days’ events.
Annie then talked to Soodabeh's teacher, Roxani Antoniadou, and asked her whether Soodabeh could work in the UK. Roxani on the spot called Soodabeh's manager, Mojtaba and asked him. His answer was positive, she had right to work and... the rest is history.
The pictures show Soodabeh and her Christmas creations and then the first Baltic Family Day event she assisted at, where she gave her best self and smile to numerous children and parents that decided to spend their spring half-term at the Baltic.
Soodabeh's story is an example of how commitment and positive attitude can work miracles. And yes, the next Soodabeh, could be you!!!!
