In a session in April 2024 Xenia participants wrote their own case studies to share how Xenia had impacted on their lives
Below are they texts they wrote together.
Saba’s story
I came to the UK in 2007 because of the political situation in Eritrea. Coming here saved my life. It was strange not knowing the system. I was blind when I was new in the UK. I didn’t know anything and I lived in a bad flat which was damp and had no heating. I went to college to learn some English and get advice. The Red Cross helped me with my accommodation. I volunteered with them for 3 years giving homeless people breakfast. I trained as a carer. I worked for 5 years with a good employer. When COVID came I lost my job and things became difficult. A friend told me about Xenia and I started coming last summer. The majority of women at Xenia are helpful and supportive. I enjoyed the walking and yoga sessions. It is good to tell my story.
Dorothy’s Story
I heard about Xenia from a friend. I felt so excited to have a place to go every Saturday. My reason for coming to Xenia is to learn from the stories shared by other women, to socialise and to stay away from loneliness. The first time I came to Xenia I felt welcome. I started coming after COVID and I come every week. I enjoyed the sessions on sharing stories, walking, visiting museums and gardens, cooking together and learning new skills. I made new friends at Xenia from different cultures. My life in the UK has been a little bit bumpy, because it is not what I expected. Before coming to the UK I had heard stories that everyone is rich and you will have everything you need. In reality it is not all green pastures. I have struggled a lot. I like it here because people from all over the world live here. I speak English, Luo and Swahili. Xenia has changed me in that I am more confident.
Yeasmin’s Story
Sometimes I feel happy in the UK, sometimes it’s boring. I miss my family in Bangladesh. My husband is really supportive and drops me off at Xenia on Saturday mornings. He knows it helps me to improve my life. Xenia is an amazing group and a supportive community. I meet lovely people in a friendly environment and it keeps my mind free from stress. I want to go on more outings with Xenia and see nature and have adventures. I would also like to volunteer at Xenia to help with childcare support.
Askale’s Story
I heard about Xenia from a friend. I came to Xenia to improve my English and meet people from different cultures. I am from Eritrea and I speak Tigrinya. I also speak a little English. I enjoy going to parks, museums, cooking, sharing ideas and learning at Xenia. I like having conversations and the different activities at Xenia. I have made friends from different cultures and I am happy with that. Xenia has helped to boost my confidence speaking English when I meet new people.
Kalkidan’s Story
I’ve been coming to Xenia for 3 months. I found out about it from a social prescriber at my GP. At my first visit I enjoyed meeting so many people that I decided to attend every Saturday. I speak Amharic as I come from Ethiopia. I came to the UK 8 months ago because of the civil war in my country. I came alone and I have no other family here. I am studying English at a community centre but I love coming to Xenia to improve my confidence speaking English and in making friendships. I feel happy because I learn something new everytime I come to Xenia. In Ethiopia I had a mini-market. Maybe I could do something similar here one day, or maybe I’ll end up doing something completely different - who knows?
Emine’s Story
I came to the UK from Turkey five years ago and five years ago I met Ioanna from Xenia at a Akwaaba social group. She invited me to Xenia. I liked my first visit very much because it was friendly, so I decided to come regularly. I joined free English classes at the library, but I enjoyed speaking English at Xenia because it improved my English. I am a life coach but I mainly work with people from the Turkish community. I would like to work with more English speakers. Xenia has made me feel good. It has improved my energy. It is a special place. I like coming on Saturday mornings. I hope in the future Xenia can run a mid week session too.
82% of our participants say they feel more confident and independent.
81% of our participants say they feel more physically and mentally healthier
86% of our English learning participants say they feel more confident speaking English
94% of our participants say they enjoy exploring London together
Data from Xenia participants survey December 2023
Commendation at the Integration Awards 2021:
“The strength of Xenia’s model lies in a genuine commitment to mutual learning and sharing, and being led by the needs and interests of the women in the group. The project responded swiftly to Covid-19 to ensure their workshops could continue throughout lockdowns as well as offering additional sessions with a creative and practical focus to prevent social isolation of its members. The online workshops have been curated carefully to maintain the safe and inclusive space of the in-person workshops. Judges commend Xenia’s aim to share their approach and practice with other communities and hope to see groups in different parts of the UK adopt a similar model."
British Academy Report 2017 on best practice to promote integration:
“Xenia’s (organisers have) become custodians of a tremendous amount of knowledge, resources and insight into what it takes to facilitate a successful intercultural inter‐generation group for migrant women that promotes language learning and two‐way social integration.”
Recognition
Xenia was one of eight case studies of best practice in the British Academy’s 2017 report on ‘Local actions to promote social integration’, which called on Xenia to share its model. The report identifies the 'transferable learning' that Xenia holds, having 'become custodians of a tremendous amount of knowledge, resources and insight into what it takes to facilitate a successful intercultural inter‐generation group for migrant women that promotes language learning and two‐way social integration.'
We’ve also been featured as an example of good practice in The Cares Family/Nesta pamphlet ‘Finding connection in a Disconnected Age’. We are asked to write about what makes the Xenia model work – such as for Collaborate CIC, for their series on A Collaborative Society. And The Council of Europe's database of good practice also had a feature on Xenia. Xenia was invited to present at the 2018 North-South Centre’s conference on Migrant, Refugee and Asylum-seeking Women and Girls as an example of best practice in integration.
In 2021 Xenia was commended at the Integration Awards for Connection Communities.
Testimonial from Hope Not Hate
“On behalf of HOPE not hate I have the real honour to work with Xenia. You don’t get much more HOPEful than the community engagement that takes place as part of the outcome of Xenia’s work with women who are helped with their English skills and the women that help them.
The community that has this cohesive cooperation taking place is fortunate to be able to benefit from the growth that is enabled by this project. We need more Xenia;
National Xenia?”
Dawn Livingston, London Community Organiser for HOPE Not Hate
Testimonial from Refugee Action
What Xenia aims to do is extremely important. Women can be particularly disadvantaged for a range of reasons, including lack of access to childcare for ESOL classes. This can lead them to be socially isolated, unable to integrate effectively and rebuild their lives.
Xenia’s ability to bring women together in a safe, informal and creative space to develop their English skills and to meet other members of their community, including access to childcare, is hugely welcome.”
Mariam Kemple Hardy, Head of Campaigns at Refugee Action (#LetRefugeesLearn)
Testimonial from Migrants Rights Network
“Xenia’s success has been down to a strong belief in making language learning accessible for all women, many whom are often excluded from mainstream ESOL classes, so they can build their confidence and take part in their local community.
The learning method used by Xenia not only helps women learn English but also helps everyone involved to break down barriers by making friends and understanding of different cultures, practices and norms”
Sofia Roupakia, Project Manager Migrants’ Rights Network