Meet our learner - Olga

With help and support from Learn Devon, Ukrainian refugee, Olga has rebuilt her life in North Devon.

Having arrived from Ukraine in July 2022, Olga and her 8-year-old daughter soon found themselves living in Ilfracombe, Devon. Olga had very little English but with the help of her UK sponsor, Fiona, she soon learned the basics. Olga recalls many hours with Fiona at the kitchen table going through the basics of the English. Dyslexia has been an added challenge but Olga is not one to give up. She persevered by attending basic English classes run by the local charity, Sunrise, and took every opportunity to practice her English.

Once Olga’s English had reached a certain level, she enrolled on one of Learn Devon’s English for speakers of other languages (ESOL) courses. Since then, she has achieved qualifications in Entry 2 in Writing and Entry 3 in Reading. With the ongoing support of her Learn Devon ESOL tutor, Belinda, Olga is hoping to gain her Entry 3 Speaking and Listening qualification in 2025.

“I am happy” she says, “Because I have a second life. I really want to learn more because I am growing here while I learn this language. I am getting to know more people and my business is expanding.”

Olga is now focussed on what she wants to do with her life and knows that English is the key to unlocking the future. A professional photographer by trade, Olga was keen to continue her work in the UK. With help from the local Job Centre and Learn Devon, she has gone from strength to strength. “I live in the moment, I’m a photographer” she says. “I help people to see and not just look, that is my passion, and with better English I can do this through my job.”

Alongside her language courses, Olga has been working on her new business with help support provider, Seetec. She has also been successful in securing a grant from ‘She started it’ to support female founded start-ups. Olga now attends Award in Enterprise, one of Learn Devon’s Skills and Development courses which aims to develop basic business skills.

When asked how Learn Devon has helped her, she responds, “It has helped me grow, to learn the English language and the language of art. I find new people, I feel safe and believe in myself more than I did before. My opportunities are better. When I know English, I have a job, I have my dream job here now, growing my business day by day, now that my English is growing.”

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