As an Economics school student from China I was wondering how could I use my knowledge to volunteer with Scottish Refugee Council. Truthfully before volunteering with the Financial Literacy Project, I didn’t really know how to start a conversation about money with refugees and asylum seekers. Although money is something we all have to consider, it’s often difficult to talk about – especially when considering the more challenging aspects of learning how to manage it, juggle bills and other day-to-day considerations.
Empowering refugees to understand money management
My supervisor and the project coordinator CarolAnne offered some reassurance; she explained that the course is really about building financial capability rather than anything in a textbook. It’s about giving practical support to people so they can move forward with their lives without the stress of money worries, while gaining a valuable understanding of how to plan for both day-to-day expenses and the foreseeable future.
The project offers a series of free workshops that explore various issues such as setting up a bank account, borrowing money, managing your bills and even launching your own business.
To ensure it is accessible to a wide variety of people, it is held at different locations across the city, often with crèche provision. The courses are delivered in English, which provides a chance for some participants to improve their communication skills on a subject that is very relevant to everyday life.
Support provided in a welcoming, informal environment
I’ve now assisted in several workshops and I have seen how people develop their confidence as well as their skills and knowledge that will help them move forward with their new life in Scotland. The confidence people gain about managing their money is important, especially for people who are relatively new in the country. And despite the different backgrounds, countries and cultures, I feel a real sense of connection with the participants and also within the group – we are all experiencing changes and learning how to adapt to life in a new culture.
I particularly enjoy getting feedback from the people who attend the workshop and hearing their views firsthand. Meriem, who attended the most recent course, found the course to be informative. She liked the way the session was delivered in a simple and clear way, especially by comparison to her experience with other courses that used complicated language. Another participant Wali enjoyed socialising after the course; and Muna said she was much more confident in managing her money. Sekou, encouragingly, hoped for us to cover more subjects in the future.
Learning together and from one another
And for me? At the beginning I felt it was a bit difficult to communicate with refugees as I am from a completely different background – and I didn’t fully understand where people had come from. As time passed during the workshops we all discussed issues together, learned from each other and relationships started to develop.
Also volunteering with Scottish Refugee Council gave me a purpose other than my studies; it helped me develop my confidence in both language and culture, and to learn about the workplace in Scotland, which makes me feel part of the community.
Attend an upcoming free workshop in August
Well, I can’t wait for the next workshops that start 8 August and will run throughout the month.
Hope to see you there!
Find out more about our upcoming free manage your money workshops.
