Sharing experiences and empowering each other

A group of women who met through a Cardiff University summer school initiative say it has opened new doors to higher education.

The friends have completed the Aspire Summer School, which aims to show refugees what opportunities there are for their development at the University.

They were among 33 participants at the celebration ceremony, following eight days of lectures in areas covering careers in healthcare, English language lessons, project management, social research and advice on how to start your own business.

Onyinye Tete, who came to the UK from Nigeria with her three children, will now enrol on a Pathway to Social Science. She said: “When I came to Wales I didn’t know what to do. Where do I start from. But since the courses at Cardiff University, it has been as if everything about me has come alive all over again.

Mum of two, Akeila Bermudez came to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago. After completing the Aspire programme, she is now looking to pursue a pathway to Politics and International Relations.

“Upon arriving in the UK, I didn't know what direction I was going to take,” she said. “Dealing with the asylum seeking process left me mentally drained and isolated. Getting the opportunity to study at Cardiff University was life changing.

“I first started with a community course studying careers in the legal sector. After being invited to an open day and meeting all the lecturers it  led me to Aspire Summer School. Attending all of the courses, meeting new friends, and getting all the information that I needed really made me feel secure and confident in my ability to study here at Cardiff University.

“This experience has really helped me as someone seeking sanctuary in Cardiff. It has given me a sense of belonging and a sense of pride in who I am and what I would like to do in the future. Aspire Summer School has made my dreams of graduating more of a reality because of the people, the information, and the opportunities that this school has given me.”

Fatoumata Kaba, from Guinea, West Africa, who is looking forward to studying a pathway to Social Science, said: “My journey hasn’t been easy. Being able to come here has really helped me. I have made friendships, learnt new things. I’m feeling excited for graduation -  I can’t wait to wear my gown. You start from small and you go high, step by step.”

Storay, who came to the UK from Afghanistan with her husband and two children, left a high-profile job in the United Nations to seek sanctuary in Cardiff. She now plans to access a Pathway to Law.

She said: “Since coming here I’ve had to start from scratch and establish a new life. I got my BA in Afghanistan, but I couldn’t bring any documentation to prove this. All universities there are now closed to girls.

The Aspire Summer School is a collaboration between Widening Participation, Lifelong Learning and English Language Programmes at Cardiff University. It was held at the recently opened English Language Programmes and Lifelong Learning building at 50/51 Park Place.

To find out more about the Aspire Summer School, contact: outreach@cardiff.ac.uk