Samsom’s story: I feel happy. I feel proud.

Coming to Centrepoint

Samsom, 18, came to the UK in 2023 as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child, after he had to leave his home country of Eritrea. His journey to the UK led him through Ethiopia, where he stayed in a refugee camp and then to Libya, Italy and France, where he spent weeks rough sleeping before moving onto the next country. After spending time in France, he made his way to the UK by boat – something he had been envisioning throughout his whole journey. 

“I wanted to learn English and the UK for children is good and that’s why I came from Africa to here. I passed everything, bad things, because in Libya and at sea – between Libya and Italy I was homeless and I didn’t have nothing or a home. I stayed there two weeks and I came to France for one week and then I came to the UK”.

“This is all in the past and it’s my purpose to come to England for study and for my future – my future is clear and purposeful future now".

He was initially placed with a foster family, who he developed a strong bond with, but as this was only a temporary housing option for him, he was moved into a Centrepoint accommodation when he turned 16. After moving from outside of London to within Central London, he has been getting used to his new surroundings after having lived there for almost a year. 

With the support of his key work team, Samsom settled in very quickly to his accommodation and has been taking huge steps towards independent living. With the support of his foster family, he had been able to grow his independent skills and so when he came to Centrepoint, he was ready to develop these further and push himself to see what he might be able to do.

“I cook for myself, and I go shopping myself and sometimes I go to the dentist by myself. So, I think I’m going to be a little bit more independent”.

His support team were also able to help him get the medical care that he needed, as he struggled to see out of his right eye before an operation meant that he was able to regain his vision.

“They helped me to check my health. Before I couldn’t see out of my right eye, and they helped me to get an operation, and I had surgery”.

Student of the Year Award

Throughout all of Samsom’s journey to the UK, his main drive was to get a good education – recognising how important that would be to help him reach the next stage of his life. He remembers that when he arrived in the UK, he didn’t speak a word of English but now is on his way to becoming fluent – something that he has worked incredibly hard at to ensure that we can take on every opportunity that comes his way.

Samsom has been going to college since he arrived in the UK, and when he moved to Centrepoint, he was enrolled at a local college to get his qualifications in Maths and English. He’s been settling in well to college and enjoying the challenges that come with learning another language, especially as he begins to develop his skills even further.

After completing level 1 this year, he is excited to begin the next stage of the course – recognising the positive impact of being able to communicate effectively for his future.

“So, my next level will include some writing and some grammar and if I did well, I can jump into the next level. It’s confusing yeah but if you don’t have it, you will be limited”.

After finishing his first year, the college ran an annual award to celebrate the hard work of the students and their achievements for the year. To recognise all of his dedication and accomplishments over the academic terms, Samsom was given the Student of the Year Award. 

“It was for hard work and attendance and discipline as well. Like being a good student and everything”.

For Samsom winning the award was something he felt incredibly proud of and has also been a huge motivating factor for him to strive to do even better next year. Having people recognise his hard work has been a really positive experience.

“I feel happy, and it’s been really good for me. It’s motivating you know. I will do more next year than I did this year. It’s good”.

“It’s a big motivator for me and I said to my key worker, I give you a promise that I will do my very best”.

For Samsom, having spent a year studying ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) he has recognised the importance of being able to communicate at a good level to be able to achieve his goals and take on different roles.

“I think if you speak English, you can take on any occupation. You can follow your dreams, and I will be a professional.” 

“When you speak better English or you have good writing and your English is better, you can take on another occupation, change your mind and come and go”. 

Centrepoint Educational Excellence Award Winner

Alongside winning his award from college, Samsom also was nominated by his key worker and won the Educational Excellence Award at the annual Centrepoint Awards. The event, which was hosted in October in Central London, aims to celebrate and recognise the achievements of young people supported by Centrepoint.

He was recognised by his key worker, Amie, who wanted to commend Samsom on everything he has achieved through his unwavering dedication to his education. “Samsom has gone from strength to strength since arriving at Centrepoint. He has put a huge focus on his education and recognises the importance of forming a solid educational background, setting the standard for other young people around him.”

Amie has nothing but glowing commendations for Samsom recognising the positive impact that he has not only for the other young people he interacts with but also with his support team. “Samsom lives the Centrepoint values through and through, not only is he an inspiration to other young people, but he also inspires staff every day with his motivation – we are incredibly proud of his recent Student of the Year achievement competing against the entire college”.

When he found out he had won the award, Samsom couldn’t believe that he had been recognised again for his academic endeavours, but it gave him a fire and a boost to keep on going.

“I can’t believe it – two awards! It’s like I can’t believe that I might have power, and I might have something inside me. I feel proud, I feel happy.”

Searching for the right job

Samson has recently been working with Jobs and Education Advisor, Hannah, to find potential roles he could take on, when he’s not at college. “Hannah has been helping me. I want to start work this summer because I have college as well.”

They were looking for roles in barbering to begin with, however, he needed to get more experience and a certificate to be able to do the role. However, this hasn’t demotivated him and he’s been looking for the different ways he might be able to do what he is interested in and the steps he will need to take to reach them.

“I’m not perfect but I’m good at barbering – I’ve got some skills with it. Some places I had an interview for they wanted a certificate and more experience. I asked them last year at college when I started to see if I could do my barber course. But they said I need my first year of English and I needed to improve with that and then I could take on the course. Also, some barbers ask for GCSEs so it’s not easy, you know”. 

“Hannah’s been looking for other roles and occupations. You know, maybe being a waiter or something. I will find another way and I will keep on studying”.

Alongside looking at part time roles that Samsom can take on during holidays and around college, he has been drawn to a career in woodwork after seeing a friend build furniture when he lived in Ethiopia. He learnt from him what he had to do to take on this role and he saw what he was able to do, which started a long-term interest in the profession.

“I like woodwork because when I lived in Ethiopia, my friend worked in woodwork. He said everyday what it takes to do his occupation, and I think that’s why I want to do it”.

Reflecting on his experiences

After having lived with Centrepoint for almost a year, Samsom has seen the impact that living with Centrepoint has provide him, as he begins to take his steps towards young adult life. Through growing his independent skills, to being recognised for his academic achievements, he sees the potential doors that these might open for him as he takes his next steps.  

“It’s been a great hope for me, because when I’m going to be 18, I have to be independent”.

Thinking back on his experiences and what he learnt he recognises his own position as a student as someone who should be learning from others and is open to the advice that that others can gives him. However, he’s clear that from his own experiences and what he’s modelling in his life, what his advice would be for others.

“I’m a student so I’m open to advice someone will give me but just follow your dream. That’s my advice”.

“If you start with a small step, I think it might be easy. When I came to the UK, I can’t speak one sentence in English but look now I can speak. It’s not natural but I started with one step. Take responsibility for yourself and follow your dreams – that’s my advice”,

We are very proud of everything that Samsom has been able to achieve at college and beyond and are excited for him to take his next steps soon!