Mirela came to the UK from Albania 4 years ago and has been preparing to get back to work when her child starts full time school in September. In the meantime she has been an active participant on the GRoW Programme and has just started a part time job cleaning.
Mirela said “I was volunteering at Yiewsley Childrens Centre when I was offered the opportunity to join the GRoW Programme. I was put in touch with Saeema who worked with me throughout the programme, helping to build my confidence and introducing me to the GRoW events where I could meet other ladies in the same position as me.
I was volunteering at the Childrens Centre until it closed down due to the coronavirus but GRoW continued to support me throughout lockdown, inviting me to their weekly Coffee Mornings and letting me know about new training courses I could do. I checked the GRoW Jobs Bulletins every week to keep me up to date with the types of jobs that were available and the sort of training I might need to do to get my skills up to speed.
My background is in teaching having spent 17 years working with children who are deaf and also 10 years as a Geography teacher in Albania. I really do want to use these skills in the UK and ideally get a job working in a school or doing something similar where I can educate children. When I first came to GRoW it was with the intention of moving into paid work but as my child was still under 3 I have been looking more to improve my skills through training and also to find part time work for now.
Saeema has been so helpful and advised me of training I could do for free. Since joining GRoW I have done an Employability course at Hayes Campus and an ESOL course at Uxbridge College. I am doing an ICT course at Hayes Campus at the moment which I am finding very useful. I have not used computers in a long time so it has been really good to refresh myself.
I have recently started a Cleaning job in the evenings but I am looking for a job offering more hours in September when my child goes to school full time.
GRow have been so supportive of me, especially Saeema who is such a kind person and so helpful. She has helped me during those times when I was feeling stressed and she told me I could call her and was always there for me. I am very thankful to GRoW and all they have done for me.”