Since September 2011, the Yemeni Community Association (YCA) has been supporting refugees at Burngreave Vestry Hall.
The Vestry Hall was designed to be a learning centre but several providers moved out in 2011. Now the centre is focused on learning again. The English classes are available to those who have refugee status and range from very beginners to entry level 3.
YCA tutor, Yasmeen Iqbal, explained,
“The classes are free for refugees. People have come from all over the world such as Eritrea, Sudan, Iran, Ethiopia, Congo and Nepal. Many people can’t go back or are not allowed back and need to make a life in this country. People don’t want to rely on interpreters and want to get jobs and be independent. Learning English will help them have a good life here.”
Members of the class shared their thoughts on learning English and why it was important to them.
“I want to learn English because I am improving my speaking.”
Lal Tamang
“I want to learn English so that I can help my family and children and other people.”
Nirmal Sharma
“I want to learn English so that I can become a great man in future.”
Sancha Tamang
“I want to learn English because it is very important for me and I need to communicate with everybody.”
Hadasi Negasi
“In my future I want to learn high level education and I want to be a >nurse.I want to learn English so that I can communicate with people and >can help myself.”
Gano Kadir
“I want to learn English so that I can communicate with people such as my friend the doctor at the GP surgery. I want to learn English because I >want to study for College.”
Joma Mohammed
If you have refugee status and need ESOL classes contact Nasreen Iqbal at the YCA on 256 0933.