Platform 51

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Categories: education and skills
Wednesday, 30 November 2011
From refugee to graduate

Hazvinei makes the grade and qualifies as social worker

When Hazvinei (not her real name) arrived in the UK as an asylum seeker six years ago she was lonely, afraid and deeply traumatised by the horrors she'd suffered at home in Zimbabwe. With the help and support of staff at Platform 51 Doncaster she was granted refugee status. She volunteered at our women's centre teaching other women IT. Once she was able to work in the UK, we employed her at our women's centre as an administrator and she went to university in Sheffield. She graduated last week and is now registered as a social worker. We are so proud of her.

"I owe it all to you" Hazvinei says. "Graduation came 27 years late but I could use my life experience and all transferable skills to learn successfully."

She continues: "I received so much support from Platform 51 in so many ways, during my three years of study, I cannot put a value to. Sometimes just coming here and seeing you all made a massive difference especially when the going was tough (with assignments, exams and placements) it made it a lot lighter and I felt compelled to plod on and not let you down. Platform 51 is just marvellous. Please keep up the fantastic work and friendship because people like me cherish it so much. Thank you very much."

More about Hazvinei here.