Syrian Refugee Gets Career Help To Settle in Scotland
Besan Al Adawi (18) left war torn Syria and arrived in Scotland in late 2019, months prior to the Covid pandemic which caused further major disruption to her education.
She attended Inverclyde Academy and worked with Larry Hansen, Careers Adviser at Skills Development Scotland in Greenock , to look at career options in her new home country.
Besan was interested in a STEM career, and ideally one with a strong science element. Although initially interested in lab work, she explored the many different pathways into her chosen career and identified further education as her preferred route.
Larry said: “Having experienced disrupted learning and relocating to a country which does not speak her first language, Besan has showed incredible resilience and such a positive attitude. This carried into her career engagements with SDS.
“Although Besan had some ideas about a career in science when we first met, through guidance and developing her career management skills, she went on to develop a stronger understanding of other STEM related opportunities and the pathways into related careers.”
The help I received from SDS was so valuable, and really opened my eyes to the many and varied STEM opportunities that I did not know existed.
Besan Al Adawi
Besan commenced the Applied Science with ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) course at West College Scotland in August 2022.
She said: “The help I received from SDS was so valuable, and really opened my eyes to the many and varied STEM opportunities that I did not know existed. With the great support provided by Larry, I was able to research and successfully apply for my current college course which I’m really enjoying. If it wasn’t for him and SDS I don’t think I would be pursuing my dream career.”
*Unfortunately, since writing this case study West Scotland College decided to stop the Applied Science course, but Besan continues to study ESOL with them.