I first met Ksineniia at the Ukrainian Refugee event in October 2022, where we discussed her professional goals and what support can be offered to her from an employment and soft skills perspective. She was registered onto the Connecting Communities provision and she has been supported continuously throughout via IAG, 1-1s, remote/face-to-face workshops and telephone/email contact. When Ksieniia was feeling where when feeling demotivated, we would speak and build up her confidence and resilience.
Ksieniia has provided the following feedback:
I am writing to express my gratitude to Roy and Connecting Communities for the incredible support and guidance you have provided me during my time with the program. I arrived in London in July due to the war in Ukraine, holding a Bachelor's degree in International Economic Relations and a Master's degree in International Management. My professional experience spanned media and PR agencies, and I used to be a professional tennis player and had a 5-year coaching experience.
When I learned about the opportunity to join Connecting Communities offered to Ukrainian refugees, I did it, as I was eager to get any help that could facilitate my integration into the British community. From the moment I joined the program, Roy played an important role in my journey. His dedication and commitment to our mentoring sessions were truly inspirational. The face-to-face meetings were filled with valuable insights and advice, and I found the remote lectures to be exceptionally useful in improving my language skills and overall confidence in English communication. I deeply appreciate that he always provided me with opportunities to present my thoughts and ideas, which further boosted my self-assurance.
The workshops Roy conducted were amazing. The passion and enthusiasm he brought to each session showed that he genuinely cared about our progress and success. The workshops helped me rediscover my transferable skills, boost my CV and that of a friend, making them more attractive to potential employers. Additionally, I have gained confidence in utilizing LinkedIn as a powerful tool to expand my professional network and showcase my abilities.
Roy has been sharing various opportunities with me, including job openings and networking events, with the intention of helping me settle down and feel satisfied. Roy always sends us different opportunities in Lambeth, so I’ve chosen 3 courses from the lists, and he registered me for them. It's an amazing story to share, as the first two courses focused on children's and young people's mental health and autism, and they were conducted online. But the true journey commenced with the third course—video production. This course took me out of my comfort zone, as it involved working directly with technology and cameras. Interestingly, since my childhood, I had a fear of technology and cameras, but I had always nurtured a desire to try my hand at photography using professional equipment, and my family keep telling me I am good at framing (so did our cool tutors, I received many complimentary words). So, the video production course took us to Roots and Shoots college, where we had the opportunity to shoot footage for their promotional video. I cannot express how passionate I felt during this experience. Thanks to the knowledge I had gained from the previous courses, I was able to understand the concept and approach the task with confidence and a smart perspective. It was on that day of filming autistic children attending their classes that I experienced one of the happiest moments of my life.
Most of the parts featuring the autistic children that made it into the final promotional video were the ones I had worked on. Now I am looking forward to getting a camera.
Furthermore, I am currently pursuing my studies in Digital Finance at Loughborough University London. As part of my academic journey, I am engaged in writing a dissertation focused on a Virtual Reality (VR) game. Remarkably, Roy has generously agreed to participate in an interview for my research, adding valuable insights to my work. Looking forward to it.
In the face of certain barriers, Roy was trying to reach out to me. My mental health and my anxiety around phone calls, there was a potential risk of me missing important information, yet I am sure that I have received all the necessary information and guidance.
The progress I have made under Roy's mentorship has been transformative. With his guidance, I have acquired valuable skills that have not only expanded my knowledge but also boosted my confidence significantly. The continuous process of self-improvement has been instrumental in building my self-assurance, enabling me to take on new challenges with a positive mindset. Recognising the worth of my work and contributions strengthens my sense of accomplishment and protects me from depressive symptoms. One of the key factors that have contributed to my progress is the supportive and encouraging atmosphere provided by Connecting Communities and Roy, and a crucial aspect of this journey has been the opportunity to connect with cute and knowledgeable individuals, moreover, the program allowed me to engage in activities aligned with my interests.
I am hoping to get back to professional tennis career after I’ve finished my studies next year, and to obtain LTA Level 3 qualification, to combine my university background and work experience with my passion for tennis and sports to create opportunities for athletes and help people in the UK be more active. Also, I am excited to explore the realms of video production and photography further.
I am deeply grateful for the time and effort your team invested in my growth.