The project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
This case study features one of Switch onto Employment’s previous participants, who has been successful in winning a province-wide learning award.
Participant's story
The participant is a young woman who moved to Northern Ireland from abroad and whose first language is not English. Since her arrival she has undertaken a range of training courses and achieved several qualifications including Essential Skills Literacy, Level 1 Communication, Application of Number, Vocational Skills, Community Independence and Level 2 Application of Number at a local college, with support from Switch onto Employment. The participant is now working towards Level 2 Communication at college and is also doing an interpreter course. She has achieved all this through tenacity, self-confidence and endurance, she is an ambassador for her people and is a wonderful young woman.
Speaking about her experience of learning in Northern Ireland and her award success, the participant says:
“It was good, but it was a little bit hard, because English is not my first language. It was hard with Covid as we had to learn online and I struggled to find the motivation to do online classes, but Start360 helped me to have confidence and supported me with everything I needed. I want to thank the Switch onto Employment team for giving me the chance to learn and to get my Level 1s. I was very happy to win (the award), it really meant a lot for me. It gave me even more confidence and has made me so happy."
The future
Looking to the future, she explains:
“My next step is going to college to do a diploma, and hopefully university after that. For my future I want to be a nurse, but I change my mind all the time, so I don’t know yet."
The participant also acknowledged the support she has received:
“I want to thank my boyfriend, he was very supportive with every single thing I was doing, and to Start360 and Give and Take (an ESF project run by Include Youth) for helping me get my qualifications. Thank you all for your support!”
Hard work
Project staff tell us they are proud of what this former participant has achieved while she was with them at Switch onto Employment and after she left, stating that she has worked hard to gain everything she has accomplished and really deserved to win the award. The project was excited to nominate her and has high hopes of a very bright future for her.