Refugee Women's Association

Refugee Women's Association

Refugee Women's Association (RWA) provides services to women who are refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in London. Services include advice and guidance on education, training, mentoring and employment. RWA is the first registered charity in Britain to work with, and for, refugee women only. The aim of RWA's work is to empower women throughout the challenging process of integration.

EASI developing good practice with Refugee Women's Association:

As part of the EASI DP, Refugee Women's Association is delivering English language training using the Accelerated Technique. The curriculum incorporates skills for life and covers listening, understanding, speaking, reading and writing, grammar, and vocabulary. The course content includes topics like: ourselves and you; me and us; family; diagnostic assessment/health and welfare; health and medicine; formal and informal letter writing; environment; getting about in the UK; education; communication; art/history; examination practice and study tours.

Language skills facilitate the integration and orientation of asylum seekers into the host society. Most asylum seekers are unable to maintain, or develop, new or existing, skills through employment due to Home Office work restrictions. The chance to engage in English language training or other purposeful activities is crucial.

In view of recent changes in the Learning and Skills Council's funding - removing automatic fee remission for English for Speakers of Other Languages learning - EASI with Refugee Women Association has produced:

• A briefing paper on ESOL and Further Education Funding changes 2007/08 announced by the Learning and Skills Council.
• Course materials for the Accelerated English course which incorporate recent changes in the legislation.
• A good practice guide on volunteering.

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EASI learns with Refugee Women's Association:

• Asylum seekers are keen to learn English language and use skills and acquire new ones, to become a part of society.
• The asylum process, especially the dispersal policy, can prevent asylum seekers from learning English.
• English language skills are crucial to the success of refugee integration.

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EASI Recommends:

• English language should be taught the way people learn their mother tongue.
• Using varying methodologies (such as embedded, e-learning and accelerated learning techniques) which enable people to learn at their pace.
• Asylum seekers should have access to English language training from the day of arrival.
• The setting up of services in areas where asylum seekers are dispersed that will adequately provide for their needs and enhance their integration on receiving a positive decision.
• More collaborative work between the voluntary sector and FE colleges.

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Useful Contacts:

For further information about this work please contact Simin Azimi

Address:
Room 18
The Print House
18 Ashwin House
London
E8 3DL

Telephone: 020 792 32412 Top

Useful links:

Volunteering England http://www.volunteering.org.uk/

Islington Volunteer Centre http://www.islingtonvolunteer.org.uk/

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