Rebuilding confidence after difficult journeys

Most of the time migration is planned, but sometimes it can be a necessity rather than a choice. Even in these circumstances, people carry their dreams, passions and skills with them, sometimes while enduring the most strenuous and challenging journeys. 

Despite the hardships they face, they persevere, driven by the hope that they will one day be able to thrive in a new chapter of their life. 

“In Sudan, where I come from, I played professional football. Now in Belfast, I have a team where I play in an intermediate league. So, I am trying to be a professional football player again here in Northern Ireland too.” Hayder Abddin shares his dreams with us, while on a football pitch in Belfast getting ready for this week’s training session with his teammates. 

Hayder is one of this year’s participants in IOM UK’s Skills, Training and Reintegration (STAR) project. This initiative supports adult men who have been through difficult journeys on their path to integration into new communities and independent living. The programme offers innovative training in life skills, digital literacy and preparation for employment to help participants build a stable and empowered future.

“Attending the IOM training was useful for me; it has built my confidence. I learned digital skills and how to draft emails in a professional way, and what my rights and responsibilities are here in the UK. This training really helps people improve themselves, and I hope more training like this can be available for others too.” 

In his home country, Hayder gained a BA in Pharmacy and carried out several research projects focused on pharmaceutics and the environment, all while working as a pharmacist. Recently, Hayder has received the exciting news that he has been admitted to Queen’s University where he will attend a postgraduate course in pharmaceutical studies, just as soon as he gets the required English language certification. “At the moment, I am focusing on my English test, which I have in a few weeks!”. In the meantime, he has also started working as a care worker.

Alem* reflects on his own unique journey that led him to Northern Ireland, where he now calls Belfast his home. He shares how participating in the training programme has been instrumental in building his confidence: “Confidence for me, is growing mentally, expressing ideas freely, accepting criticism. This training has had a significant role in this. I feel now more capable of navigating new technologies and using my new digital skills to learn new things. I have started studying; before I did not have this confidence.” 

The STAR project provides participants with the support and guidance needed to develop a long-term vision for their goals. It encourages them to reflect on their interests and understand how to align their skills with work, training or volunteering opportunities. The objective is to ensure that individuals not only survive but succeed in their new communities. 

“We have come here from difficulty journeys,” adds Alem “and here in this country, I have the beautiful and great opportunity to forget about my past.”  He learned about the training programme through Migrant Help, which refers individuals to access the support provided by IOM UK’s trainers: “I found out about this training programme through one of my caseworkers. I found it interesting because the courses are linked to my goals and interest in digital skills. So, I believed it would be a great opportunity for my next steps.”   

IOM’s STAR training sessions focus on empowering participants to clarify their future aspirations, identify key considerations when defining their career paths, and strategically plan their next steps. This year, the programme has run three times, supporting 30 participants. 

A key component of the training focuses on equipping participants with the skills to navigate the digital environment safely.  This is crucial for reducing vulnerabilities and mitigating risks such as re-trafficking and re-exploitation. Alem shares his experience:

“I was not very familiar with data privacy and cybersecurity; I have now learned how to be safe online and what to do if something happens.” 

A History teacher in his home country and an avid reader, Johannes* is currently volunteering to support communities in Belfast. We meet Johannes in a park on a sunny afternoon. He shows us the book he is currently reading and says: “If you look around, everyone is looking at their phones, no one reads anything anymore! I like to read, not just for fun, but deep reading, and then I put what I have learnt into practice in my daily life.” He then tells us that parks are his favourite parts of Belfast, “because I can take my children there to play with other children.” 

Johannes is another participant in IOM’s STAR training programme who found the focus on digital skills and online safety particularly helpful: “These skills are important for job searching as well as for finding other educational courses.”   

The STAR training also includes a module on life skills, which Johannes highlights as crucial for building confidence.

“Without confidence, we cannot have good communication with other people, which is very important for work and life.” 

Johannes’s dream for the future is to return to full-time employment as soon as possible. 

Migration occurs for a wide range of reasons —people move to study, work, or reunite with their loved ones. However, some journeys are unplanned, such as those of individuals fleeing conflict, violence, persecution, exploitation, or natural disasters.  

Regardless of the circumstances, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, works with national and international partners to help people find safety and opportunities. In the UK, IOM is broadening its geographical reach, offering tailored support to individuals in vulnerable situations or those who have faced challenging journeys.  

This includes providing immigration advice in Scotland and the South-West of England, and, more recently, skills development training in Northern Ireland where IOM’s UK team is conducting sessions to help migrants enhance their life, digital and employment skills. All these efforts aim to rebuild confidence and support them on their path to independence.

IOM's STAR project in Northern Ireland is funded by Migrant Help, through resources from the Department of Justice.

*Names in this story may have been changed in line with consent given by interviewees.

Photo Credit: Joseph Newman/IOM UK 2024