Impact Stories Archives - Dundee International Women’s Centre

Impact Story: How Samina overcame depression and found a job she loves

10 July 2018 by diwc-admin Leave a Comment

Finding it a struggle to get back into the workplace after having her children, Samina found the answer in DIWC’s employability course and has never looked back. Read her story below.

Starting a family and being a stay-at-home mum

As a mother of 3 children, Samina did not have many opportunities to come out of her house and do things just for herself.

She was married at the young age of 18 and had to secure employment to be able to bring her husband to the UK to join her. Two years after her marriage, she fell pregnant with her first son and had to quit her job.

After she had her second son, she managed to secure part-time employment, which she again decided to leave in planning for her third child.

The third pregnancy wasn’t a straightforward one and nor was the delivery. These events, and the fact that she was home with the children, mostly by herself, led to the first symptoms of depression and OCD.

Samina lived with depression for 8 long years and kept it to herself. It was only after her daughter started school that she realized that she was not coping well, and finally decided to do something about it. She really wanted to come out of her house and do things just for herself.

Finding a solution at the centre

Samina found out about DIWC’s Open Days and decided to come and see if there would be anything for her. She thought about going into employment but did not know where to start after so many years of not working. However, in that short visit, she managed to find an employability course which she liked and signed up for it.

She started the course a few weeks later. To begin with, she felt undecided and lacked confidence to speak in the group. She felt shy and found it hard to contribute in class. However, it didn’t take her long to realise that “everyone was in the same boat” and she was able to open up and express her opinions without hesitation.

Samina said: “I felt so comfortable and for the first time in my life I felt like being part of something”.

Samina completed 5 weeks of the employability course and was able to create her CV and fill out numerous application forms. She didn’t even have to take up the placement, as she soon gained employment following a successful application and interview.

Samina truly believes that she would not be anywhere close to finding a job if it was not for the help of DIWC, her tutors, and the other women who all believed in her and encouraged her to do more.

The GREAT employability course wasn’t just learning: “it was like a wee family coming in here!”

Looking to the future

Samina totally enjoys her work. When she’s there, she often wonders if she is in a dream, as she never felt it could happen to her. She is now a confident woman who believes in her skills and strengths.

“The centre gave me my life back”, she admits, as she managed to overcome her OCD with a daily routine of getting ready to come out of her house and do something that means so much to her. “I feel so free and relaxed.”

Through her determination and hard work, Samina achieved her goals and became a role model for her family who are really proud of her achievements.

Impact Story: How Joanne re-built her life in Dundee after 14 years in Yemen

2 July 2018 by diwc-admin Leave a Comment

Having been uprooted from her home in Yemen, Joanne then found the strength and support at DIWC to continue with her career and is now teaching English to women from the Middle East. Read her story here…

Leaving my home and friends behind

The event that triggered my journey with DIWC happened at the end of January 2015, when I was evacuated from Yemen, the country where I had been living and working for over 14 years.

I had been an ESOL teacher in the capital, Sana’a, in the north of the country. I had a job I loved, a home I was very happy in, with a great landlord, and a very good and close circle of friends, both local and international.

Yemen is a very poor country and, although life was not the easiest, with daily (sometimes lengthy) power cuts and water shortages, I considered myself very fortunate and had not even considered what else I may do or where else I may go. This was home.

The political situation was becoming more difficult and dangerous by October/November of 2014. The institute I was working in had a branch in Aden, in the south of the country; because it was considered safer, I was transferred there temporarily.

I went there with the bare minimum of clothes and personal belongings. As it was thought the move would only be for a very short time, I kept my house in Sana’a. Over the next 2-3 months, however, the situation only got worse and resulted in the decision being made to evacuate me, and the other foreign teachers, at the end of January 2015.

Coming to the UK to find a safe place to live

As I did not have a home in Dundee of my own, I stayed with my mother. I was not too concerned at this point, as I came to Scotland with the assurance that the political situation would ‘blow over’. However, that was not to be.

As time went on. it became clear that returning to Yemen would not be an option. I began looking at my options: either find a job here or return overseas to work somewhere. At this point, I had to have local friends clear out my home and distribute my belongings to wherever there was a need.

I could not have anything shipped, as all the seaports and airports were closed (embargoed) and the roads were too dangerous for transportation. This was an extremely painful decision, as I would lose all my personal possessions, including family photographs. But, more than that, it was the fact I was closing the door. I had to accept that I was not going back.

Settling into life here and overcoming sad times

As I settled back into life in Dundee, I began to think about what I wanted to do. I started looking for work. The problem was that I had been out of the job market here in the UK for so long and my skills/training were out of date.

Even though I had years of experience, I was finding it very difficult to get any responses to applications. My self-esteem was at an all-time low. I had absolutely no confidence whatsoever and that showed in my applications, as well as my demeanour.

It got to September 2015 and I had been back in Dundee for about 8 months. I had continued to live with my mother, whose health was in decline. I had been out one day with a friend for some coffee when I came home – my mother looked awful.

She asked me to make her some soup. I did that, and she came to the kitchen to eat it. She ate very little and got up to go back through to the living room. She sat down in her chair. After a few seconds, I came through and sat down beside her. She slumped forward in her chair and she was gone.

I did not realise at the time how traumatised I was; I carried on with every-day life. I have two sisters and a brother. My mother’s house was her own and in accordance with her wishes, it was to be sold and the proceeds shared equally between us.

It took a few months for all her affairs to be settled but, in the end, the house sold within a week of being put on the market. I found myself looking for another place to live. This was not an easy task. I did not find a place until a week before the new owners’ entry date.

To sum up, within a few months I had lost two homes and my mother.

Turning to volunteering to help me through the tough times

It was at some point around this time that I thought about volunteering. I had heard of DIWC but did not know where they were based now. I searched the Internet and found their website. I applied online but did not hear anything.

One day a friend, Janie, suggested I go into the centre and talk to someone. I did and spoke to Vicky, a very lively, caring and enthusiastic Volunteer Co-ordinator. I completed an application and started volunteering there in November 2015.

I have helped in ESOL classes, as well as open days etc. Being around the women from so many nationalities and backgrounds has been a huge encouragement; hearing their stories and sharing their lives has been such an inspiration to me.

I came as a volunteer, but I have gained much more than I have given. I can truly say that I have found a second home and regained some of my confidence through the help and encouragement of the women and staff who come to the centre.

Finding employment with the help and support of the centre

As I live alone with no one else to depend on, a job was a priority for me. I really love volunteering at the centre, but it does not pay the bills! At the Centre, I was able to complete a GREAT course, which gave me help and advice in making job applications, and an eight-week job placement, which built up my confidence and updated some of my administration skills.

Two months ago, I found a job working with a group of women from the Middle East, teaching them English. It seems like it was tailor-made for me. As it is only for twenty hours a week, I would like to continue volunteering at the centre, doing what I can to support the work they do there.

The biggest lesson I have learned is not to take anything for granted. We cannot prepare for the completely unexpected events in life, but we are responsible for our reaction to them. Take each day as it comes and try to make something positive out of it.

Also try to see the best in people. We do not know what circumstances they are in that may be affecting their behaviour. I have also learned a great deal about how strong and resilient women can be as they help and encourage each other.

Impact Story: How Kristiana achieved her ambitions with the support of DIWC

10 May 2018 by diwc-admin Leave a Comment

Kristiana shares her story of how, with the support of DIWC, she was able to achieve her goals of improving her English and making a better life for herself and her son.

Feeling part of a community

Kristiana is from Varna in Bulgaria and came to Scotland to make a better life for her son. Back home, she worked as a Stock Control Worker at a shop.

She came to DIWC for several reasons – she wanted to learn new skills, meet new friends and feel part of a community. She also said that she would like to learn new skills and volunteer.

Pursuing dreams and making friends

In particular, she wanted to be in an English-speaking environment, to improve her communication skills. Fortunately, having our flexible childcare services at DIWC meant that she could bring her son with her and be confident he would be well looked after while she pursued her dreams.

After attending the centre for a few weeks, Kristiana quickly made new friends and felt a real sense of belonging. Kristiana was very determined and achieved her European Computer Driving Licence qualification in just 10 months (typically this could take 15-18 months).

DIWC staff were so impressed by how hard she worked, even coming in over the Summer holidays to study. When she got her certificate, she told Diaré: “It is done and I am so happy. I remember my first day in the centre one year ago, I didn’t speak, I was so scared. Thank you for being my teacher”.

Finding confidence through volunteering

At the same time, she looked for volunteering opportunities in Dundee. She worked on the front desk at DIWC but she wanted an even bigger challenge, so staff at the Centre referred her to the British Heart Foundation, where she was offered the post of Volunteer Merchandiser. Her motivation to give back to the community while developing her own skills, is such that she is now volunteering at Discovery Credit Union and holds a position as IT support at the Central Library.

Now, Kristiana is much more confident in herself and very happy that she is so busy. She feels more useful and helpful to her family and her Bulgarian community. She inspires others by explaining that believing in ourselves enables us to achieve our dreams.

Kristiana said recently that: “DIWC is still helping me. Since I have been coming to the centre, they have been supporting me, helping, advising and giving me new opportunities.” Her long-term goal is to maybe, one day, become a Project Worker at DIWC.

Impact Story: How two sisters from Nairobi beat the odds

10 October 2017 by diwc-admin Leave a Comment

Shani is from Nairobi, Kenya. She moved to Dundee in 1995 with her parents, brother and sister, Dalila, who has multiple physical disabilities. Her parents both later returned to Kenya, leaving Shani as Dalila’s main carer.

Dalila has been coming to the Centre for many years, having been referred by her social worker. She is an enthusiastic learner in the art class. She made friends within the group and got to know a lot of the staff, gaining confidence as time went on. Shani started coming to an employability course but always seemed less willing to talk.

A chance to tell their story

Then DIWC started Chit Chat, a new, informal group for women to get together and talk. The staff facilitator said:

“I had seen Shani and Dalila around the Centre before, we would say hello in passing. I noticed that Dalila always seemed happy and ready to chat, but Shani looked sad and quiet. She usually looked down, didn’t make eye contact and only spoke when I spoke first. When both sisters signed up for Chit Chat, I was really happy.

We had a hot drink and a slice of cake and I asked the group to introduce themselves and tell us whether they felt that DIWC was giving them what they need. One learner said ‘yes, definitely’, while the sisters both stayed quiet, looking at each other. I noticed their body language looked very agitated.

I reassured them that if there is anything at all they wanted to discuss, whether in the group or one-to-one, I was happy to take the time to listen and would do my best to support them. They said they’d just like to talk and the other learner there was happy with that, so they told their story.”

The sisters started to talk about the challenges they faced throughout their lives. Shani said that growing up in Kenya had been incredibly tough because they were poor and attitudes towards Dalila’s disabilities were very negative. Their mother had to fight hard to get her what treatment and help she could.

Finding inner strength

Then their Dad moved to UK to see if there were better job prospects, bringing his family to Dundee in July 1995. At school, they faced barriers because of their race, culture, clothing and difficulty speaking English. Shani and Dalila found it hard to fit in the community.

The challenges were intense, we didn’t have any friends or family in Dundee, so there was no support.

Tragedy struck in 2015, when their mother became ill and passed away and then, at the beginning of 2017, their father died too. This left the family in tatters, with the three siblings left to manage together. Because they were all over 18, they were classed as adult and independent.

Shani and Dalila had to grow up quickly and learn to deal with the outside world. While Dalila got quite a lot of support through social services because of her disabilities, Shani never asked for help.

Shani had always looked out for her sister and brother, taking responsibility for caring which means that she ignored her own emotional needs. Once she expressed this, the staff member asked if she would like to find out about the help available to her. A bit of research found the Penumbra Dundee Carer Centre and contact was made.

Creating hope for the future

Now DIWC and Penumbra are working in partnership to support the sisters to build a social and support network. Shani and Dalila both come along to Chit Chat and other classes at DIWC, and Penumbra offer to keep Dalila company while Shani takes time out for herself to go to the gym and study for the childcare qualification which she has started at the Centre. She says:

I needed help. Nobody had ever asked about me before.

Names in this story have been changed to protect the people’s identity.

Impact Story: How Balgeis created a better life for her daughters

3 October 2017 by diwc-admin 3 Comments

Starting again in a foreign country that speaks an unfamiliar language is tough. Doing so as the mother of five young girls is even tougher. That’s the challenge Balgeis faced. Her husband, Salim, was starting a PHd. at the University of Dundee which meant uprooting the family from their home in Benghazi, Libya.

Fear of the unknown

Balgeis was excited, but understandably apprehensive. A classic case of fear of the unknown. She’d experienced Europe while visiting with her father on business trips, but she’d never been to Scotland. For Balgeis, this was an opportunity to give her daughters the best possible start in life – an opportunity to have an education that will set them up for the future.

Balgeis heard about Dundee International Women’s Centre (DIWC) through a friend of her husband’s.

I was told that DIWC was very good and that I’d get the chance to learn and meet new people at the centre. It was more than I expected. I felt very welcome.

Determination to learn

Speaking to Balgeis today, it’s hard to imagine that seven years ago, she spoke no English. She grew up in Libya at a time when relations between the West and her homeland were at an all-time low. All reference to the West was cut out of the Libyan school curriculum, including learning English. English books were burned as the US and the UK tightened sanctions as a result of the Lockerbie tragedy.

The politics and conflict cost a complete generation the opportunity to develop their English speaking skills. Taking the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course was the crucial first step on her journey. It was hard, but she was a determined student.

With her new found English skills, Balgeis embraced the opportunities. She enrolled in a number of different classes. She got creative with art, got practical skills in sewing class and she learned new cooking and baking skills.

Although, it’s fair to say that, when it comes to culinary skills, Balgeis is as much a teacher as she is a student. She’s shared with the women of DIWC the wonders of traditional Libyan and north African cooking.

Motivation to help people

It’s a sign of Balgeis’s character that she wasn’t satisfied with her English skills. She wanted to take them to the next level. Taking the English for Life class gave Balgeis the opportunity to improve her English skills by building on her ESOL qualification.

It also gave her the opportunity to help more people, which is such a core part of what motivates her. She demonstrated this, when after two years as a user of the Centre, she asked if she could become a volunteer at DIWC.

As a volunteer Balgeis has helped women, just like her, find their feet in Dundee. Women, who, due to circumstances beyond their control, have found themselves alone and isolated in a country whose language they can’t understand, let alone speak. She helps these women settle in the city by sharing advice based on her own experiences.

Her English speaking skills have developed so well that she now acts as translator for many Arabic speaking women. And it’s not just translating from English to Arabic, by virtue of her Syrian mother, she’s ideally placed to help translate from Syrian Arabic to other variants of Arabic. She’s used this to help a number of Syrian refugees access the services they need to settle in the area.

That might mean helping them understand letters from the council, schools, utility companies or doctors. It can even be helping them understand and select the right mobile phone tariff – something that’s challenging enough for people that speak English.

A pillar of the community

She’s become a prominent figure in the Arab community, and that extends beyond Dundee. Each Saturday morning she travels to Edinburgh as a volunteer to teach English and maths to children and young adults.

All the while, she encourages them to retain their Arabic speaking skills. Balgies is passionate about this point. For her, learning English and embracing the culture of the country you live in is important, but it shouldn’t be at the cost of their own heritage.

For the young especially, having both English and Arabic language skills gives them something that Balgeis and many of her generation didn’t have – choice. If they want to return to the country of their birth, they need to have command of Arabic.

Inspiring confidence in women

Balgeis is an inspirational woman with a warm and welcoming personality. She’s given so much to the Arab community since arriving here for the very first time. Balgeis’s focus now and for the future is to simply help more people in any way she can. She thrives on it. It’s her mission. And, we’re delighted that she remains committed to DIWC. She adds so much to what we at the centre.

We asked Balgeis what her experience at DIWC has given to her. She paused and thought about it for a long time, and then, she summed it up in one word – “confidence”. And, that confidence is something she wants more women to enjoy, especially her 5 daughters.