It is the case of right place and right time for 35-year-old Gholam.
After leaving his native Afghanistan and spending time in other countries such as Greece, he has finally found a place that he can call home.
When arriving in England, Gholam admits that he couldn’t speak a word of English, it wasn’t until he worked with our tutor, Helen, on the English Speaking for Other Languages course at Stockton Riverside College that his confidence began to improve.
Gholam said: “In the past couple of years I have had a lot of tragedy in my family after losing my father. The course really saved me and gave me something positive to focus on.”
As a former tailor in Afghanistan, Gholam is skilled in areas including textiles, gardening and cooking. He currently volunteers as a cook at his local church and also spends his time making food and drink for the homeless.
Helen, our ESOL tutor at Stockton Riverside College, said: “Gholam has a heart of gold, he is always thinking of ways he can help others. He is constantly progressing in his studies and looking for new opportunities to learn. He will be an amazing asset to any business.”