Welcome to your monthly Resettlement Project update for November. Read on for the latest local news and events.

The Volunteers’ Stories: Sarab, Naeem and Inna.

Sarab, her son Naeem and Inna all share a passion for volunteering. I met them at the Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association and they shared some remarkable insights into why they volunteered.

Sarab introduced herself by explaining that she had been volunteering in the region for 6 years already. I asked her why she did it.‘I want to help people. The local people here helped me a lot. They helped me deliver the message about my son in Ukraine.’

I was a bit puzzled by the reference to Ukraine. Sarab and her son are Syrians. I asked what the connection was. Naeem picked up his own extraordinary story. Sarab, her husband and Naeem had left Syria for Lebanon in 2013. At an early age, Naeem had wanted to study medicine and he chose to leave Lebanon for university on the Sudan during 2016. The timing didn’t work out well. Sudan was plunged into political turmoil during 2018 and it became more difficult to study and live in the country. During 2021, Naeem looked at those countries that would allow him to study medicine and chose Ukraine as the place he could resume his studies. Sarab and her husband had meanwhile moved to the UK and settled in Dumfries and Galloway.

Naeem’s plans were once again thrown into confusion by conflict. This time it was the Russian invasion. In February 2022, Naeem and some friends began a long 85km walk through the snow to reach the Polish border. The temperatures hovered around -15 degrees centigrade. Naeem recounted his story very thoughtfully and without obvious anxiety. I sat and wondered at the resilience of a young man who has seen 3 major conflicts in a decade.

Naeem crossed into Poland and was subsequently moved to Germany, where he remained for 2 months. In Dumfries, his mother and father gained support from the MOOL charity and many local supporters, as they searched for a way to bring their only son to Dumfries. Their efforts were rewarded with a family reunion and the first time Naeem had spent time with his parents for 4 years. ‘It was hard’ Naeem admits, but he found Dumfries ‘safe and secure.’

Now Sarab and Naeem’s desire to say thankyou made a lot of sense and Sarab added that volunteering for her meant the chance to ‘integrate into the community… and to open up opportunities.’ Sarab grabbed those opportunities with both hands and now acts as a teacher of ESOL to beginners (English for Speakers of other Languages). She plans to take further qualifications and progress her skills.

Inna listened to Sarab and Naeem’s stories with interest. I asked her about her volunteering story. ‘I like to help!’ she smiled and nodded. Inna had arrived in Edinburgh from Ukraine with her daughter and like many others, she stayed at the hub there until she had the chance to come to Dumfries and Galloway. Sadly, her husband could not come with her, which made life difficult.

Inna stayed with a host family for 1 year and used the time to ‘speak together and learn English’. While living there, she discovered DGMA in Dumfries and came along as ‘it is a place where many Ukrainians go.’ Helping at DGMA allowed Inna a chance to relax in her own language and have lots of fun time with her daughter and other Ukrainians. The experience has helped her too. She is now a cook in a primary school and also volunteers as a learning assistant in classrooms. She explained that she likes to communicate with people in the English language when she gets the chance.

The one thing that stands out about all three volunteers at DGMA is the benefits that they have gained from helping out and all reflect on how volunteering has helped them. I am glad that Sarab, Naeem and Inna have all regained their bearings.

Remembrance.

Members of the New Scots community paid their respects to the dead of conflicts past and present at ceremonies across the region on Sunday 10 November. 

Some New Scots helped lay wreaths at ceremonies in Upper Nithsdale, Lockerbie, Annan, Dumfries and Castle Douglas. We thank them for their contribution to this year’s events.

Yuliia’s Volunteering Story: ‘Volunteering gives me a lot of happiness’.

Yuliia (on the left in the picture) is certainly busy for a young person. She volunteers every week and helps with the Annan Harbour Action Group with their fund-raising activities. When she is not volunteering, she is drawing, writing stories or playing acoustic guitar. She studies hard as well. It’s even more remarkable as she is only 15.

Yuliia came to Scotland with her family 2 ½ years ago and they settled in Annan after some difficult early weeks. Yuliia’s mum, Olena, works for the Annan Harbour Action Group and so volunteering started off as a way ‘to help mum’. Soon, Yuliia worked out that volunteering was good in other ways. She reflected that ‘It’s like a kind of workplace, you are learning the skills for the future’. She is very clear in her mind that the experiences gained while volunteering will help her find a good job. I asked her what skills she might learn. ‘Social skills. It gives me confidence. It gives team leadership skills.’

 The volunteering activities that Yuliia does are varied. She helps with the regular market stall that the Harbour Project holds in Annan and that includes the physical work of assembling and dismantling the metal market stall structures. However, she also gets involved with craft activities with children. Yuliia said ‘I get a lot of happiness from volunteering. I like to see the children happy.’ She explained that the activities include making little puzzles and sticking them together. The recent Pumpkin Patch event was busy. The Treasure Hunt proved to be particularly popular.

Yuliia plans to remain in the UK and possibly follow a career in journalism after going to university. She is in no doubt that volunteering will help her achieve her future aims. ‘I need to push myself’ she explained with a smile. For now, The Annan Harbour Action Group benefits from her quiet determination.

Hate Hurts

Scotland takes hate crime seriously and anyone experiencing abuse because of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, transgender identity or variations of sexual characteristics are protected by law. 

There are many ways to report hate crime and you do not need to go to a Police station to do so. 

Albina and Maryna are crafting a new future.

Neither Albina not Maryna knew each other in Kiev, although they lived just a short distance from each other. One was a successful lawyer while the other was an interior designer.

They eventually met in Dumfries while attending a welcome party at the Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association (DGMA). They soon developed a connection, especially as both had young children. The two women both needed to find some work and both thought about the life experience they were bringing with them from Ukraine. Albina explained that they were keen to use their interest in crafts to make a living.

The decision began a difficult process for them. Maryna described the lack of suitable workspaces in Dumfries that the pair could rent and it was not easy understanding the legalities of setting up a business. Luckily, they got help from Jayne Murdoch, Women’s Enterprise Coach at South of Scotland Enterprise, who talked them through a lot of the complexity.

Albina and Maryna call their new venture, Craft Space, and they have found a business base in the High Street, Dumfries. Their workshop proves to be a treasure of hand made items ranging from Christmas gifts to decorative items made from epoxy. Maryna explained that they have no staff, so visitors need to contact the pair by Facebook or Instagram to order things or visit the showroom. Albina and Maryna are very proud of the fact that one of their items has already sold to someone 200 miles away and that their craftwork is bringing joy to someone’s home.

Yen at DGMA has provided a lot of help to Albina and Maryna and has allowed them to host craft masterclasses in the premises. The masterclasses are open to anyone and all kinds of people have already attended one of the classes.

I asked them about the challenges ahead and I get a very straightforward answer. ‘We are Ukrainians, we have to believe that anything is possible.’ Somehow, I have no doubt Albina and Maryna will craft a big success story.

Icons on Ammo Boxes exhibition.

The Lockerbie Friends of Ukraine is hosting an exhibition of Icons on Ammo Boxes at the Ukrainian POW Chapel and Heritage Barrack, Hallmuir, Lockerbie. 

The art work was created by Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko. The pair salvage the wooden lids of ammunition boxes from the eastern front in Ukraine. Then, with egg tempera—and, in some cases, coloured pencils—Atlantova and Klymenko transform these panels into icons of Christ and the saints. Everyone is welcome and entry is by donations on the door. The Ukrainian POW Chapel can be found at Hallmuir Camp, DG11 1BN. 

December 31 is getting closer…

All physical Biometric Residence Permit cards will expire on 31 December 2024 and they will be replaced by eVisas. An eVisa is an online record of an individual’s right to stay in the UK. Since 6 August 2024, all BRP cardholders can set up an eVisa.

The Scottish Refugee Council has an eVisa page explains what an eVisa is, who can access it, how to set it up, and potential issues with eVisas. The Scottish Refugee Council has a lot of helpful information that can be used by New Scots.

You can also talk to your resettlement worker for help and advice with the eVisa application. 

For more information, follow the link to the Scottish Refugee advice pages

Tudor Ballet Offers Lessons In Dumfries.

Mary and her bubbly daughter Rose met me at Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association (DGMA) in Dumfries. She very quickly told me that she was happy to be in living in Scotland. ‘I have lots of friends here!’ she smiled.

I asked her about her life before Dumfries. Mary was a professional ballet dancer and toured the world from the age of 15. She spent a month in China and went to many other places. ‘But I want to run my own life.’ She explains, when I ask her about her new venture as a ballet teacher. Her time in the ballet world sounded quite intense. Mary explained that she wants to give something back now to help other people. Besides, since arrival in the UK she has had a baby. Baby Rose smiled cheerfully as she played with the children’s toys.

Mary lives in Dumfries and is lucky on two counts. Firstly, her mum has connections with Scotland and secondly one of those connections was Mary’s sponsor. The sponsor has provided a flat in Dumfries and Mary only needs to pay the electricity and gas. This helps Mary a lot as her business is only just getting going with a small number of clients. She also does some work as a model in Dumfries to help out.

However, Mary’s passion is history and the history of costume. I asked her what her ambition might be if she stayed in the UK. She quickly answered. She wants to stay in Scotland and her ambition is a shop that deals with historic costume. She explained that she loves history and cultural things from the past.

Mary is hopeful that her dance business, Tudor Ballet, will really get going and she is grateful to Yen at DGMA for providing space for these to happen. She also offers online tuition too. Children can start as young as 4 years of age.

The Volunteer’s Story: Ivan

Ivan was very proud to show me his volunteering certificate. He has been volunteering at the Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association for over 2 years.

He modestly described his work as putting things out in the shop and doing some cleaning. However, the importance of the work for Ivan and his wife is a lot greater. ‘It is very difficult for us to be alone’ he explained. ‘We are used to working.’

Ivan arrived in Dumfries after experiencing 6 months under Russian occupation. His home had been within 200 metres of the border before the invasion. His wife had been a nurse until recently, while his daughter was about to build a career as a vet. Then his district was bombed…

Ivan explained how lucky he was that his family managed to escape the warzone eventually and they arrived in Dumfries. He still has moments when he cries at night when he remembers his friends that were left behind. ‘People are very kind here’ he said and he was a little emotional as he spoke. The family found their way to DGMA as many Ukrainians go there to socialise, celebrate Ukrainian festivals and enjoy the chance to speak their own language. Ivan found the opportunity to volunteer was good for his wellbeing.

I asked him about life outside DGMA. How did he find things? Ivan brightened and was keen to share pictures of his pastime. He works in taxidermy and has been exhibiting in the Guild of British Taxidermists championships. He also produces amazing wood carvings. He has presented one or two of them to The Bridge for display in their classrooms. He can also turn his hand to producing things in lino.

Hope is one thing that Ivan has a lot of. I asked him if would stay in Scotland now. ‘We will stay. We have no home to go to in Ukraine. I am grateful to the people of Scotland.’ His grandson has revealed that he wants to be a doctor and Ivan’s wife is settled too.

We parted with a handshake and I admired the resilience of this man and his family and their desire to help others at DGMA.

The Volunteers’ Stories: Margaret and Claire.

Margaret was very clear what the benefits of volunteering are for her. ‘It makes you feel better. It’s good for your mental health and you get to meet people from different countries.’

I spoke with Margaret during a busy day at MOOL (Massive Outpouring Of Love) in Dumfries. As we spoke, many young men and women were around us, enjoying tea and cake and the chance to chat in a safe space. Margaret explained that she had been helping the charity since 2019 and had now met lots ‘of people from war zones.’

I asked her what made volunteering with people from these circumstances so important. She reflected for a moment as some cheerful young guys played table football in the middle of the room. Margaret had been born overseas and worked in healthcare. Caring came naturally to her and she recognised what it was like to be an outsider in a different country.

Margaret now comes to MOOL on Friday mornings to be a friendly face on their busiest day. She volunteers in other settings too. Gardening is clearly one of her enthusiasms as she described some of the work she has done with a group that create allotments and gardens in unused plots of land around the area. She is hoping to introduce a gardening activity at MOOL too. ‘It provides a sense of purpose… it emphasises the importance of acknowledgement.. I would tell anyone to give volunteering a go.’

Claire has now come over and joined us. I had seen her moving around the visitors making sure that they had everything they needed and speaking with familiar faces. I asked her how long she had been volunteering. Claire had begun only in May this year but was clear she saw ‘enormous value in working with those seeking refuge.’

Claire explained that she helps on most Fridays in MOOL’s depot. I asked her if she learnt skills from volunteering in this environment that could transfer into her workspace. ‘I have taken skills into my employment, but I also hope I can transfer skills I’ve learned in my employment  into this environment too.’

MOOL support a lot of resettled and displaced people in both social and practical ways, including reading groups to practice English and a safe space to meet socially. Claire used a previous work connection to organise  and guidance session for MOOL visitors.  At the same time, she also assists with organising donations, handing out essentials such as toiletries and being a friendly face. Claire accepts the variety of her volunteer role with a smile.

I asked her about the challenges that go with this work. ‘Sensitivity.. recognising that people have their own story of how they came to be in Dumfries.’

I have to take my leave of Margaret and Claire but promise to come back another day and see more of what goes on at MOOL. The young men on the table football were celebrating a goal with whoops and laughter. It might be a scene played out in any UK social club. There is no doubt that these volunteers are making inroads into helping MOOL’s visitors make sense of their new lives.

Lyudmyla has beautiful ambitions for her salon.

I was amazed how many pieces of equipment Lyudmyla had crammed into her salon space at Dumfries and Galloway Multicultural Association. It seemed to have everything you could possibly need to run a beauty business.

I asked Lyudmyla how long it had taken and she explained that she had received a lot of help from Yen at DGMA. The forms needed for small business grants were complicated, but Lyudmyla knew what she wanted to achieve. ‘One day, I will have a big salon again’, she explained.

The date of her arrival in Scotland is clear in her memory: 15 July 2022. She had run her own large salon in Ukraine and employed 4 people, but now she found herself in a new country and trying to work out what to do. ‘We had a wonderful life in Ukraine. We had everything. We came here not because of poverty, but because of war. We had to save our lives and the lives of our children.’ Lyudmyla decided that she ‘wanted to help other people… depending on the situation.’ She also wanted to use her beauty skills.

Lyudmyla started to volunteer at DGMA in the old Debenhams building in Dumfries. It wasn’t long before she saw the possibility of setting up a new business that provided beauty treatments for Ukrainians in the first instance. ‘Thank you, Yen, who helped me with a room for the salon.’ She explained that she wanted to improve her language skills first before offering anything to the wider community. She has also started studying for the required certificates that are needed to work in this field in the UK, through online courses.

I asked her what sorts of things she can offer. A friend translated some of the more technical words to me. Lyudmyla can provide facials, massages, nails and lots of other things too. She has also begun to work in Glasgow one day a week. Lyudmyla does not enjoy the travel there and back, but she had 6 clients in one day in Glasgow. Her numbers are smaller in Dumfries.

My final question is what things she has found hardest about coming to Dumfries and what things have been the best. She has no doubts about her answer. The hardest thing for her is leaving her daughter in Ukraine. The best things for her are the wonderful new friends she has made in Scotland and the support she has had from so many people. ‘But I thank the universe and I thank all the good people who have helped me adapt here. I am glad I can provide services to our girls who want to be beautiful always.’

Somehow, I just know that Lyudmyla will one day have her large salon again.

Do You Have Any News To Share?

If you have any news or events you want to share with the Resettlement Newsletter, then get in touch with some details and we will be in touch. 

Email us at ResettlementProject@dumgal.gov.uk

The next Resettlement Newsletter will be published on 23 December 2024.