Sola’s Story

My name is Sola Mahmoud Al Hassan. I am a Syrian national and a qualified Computer Engineer. I left Syria in 2011 due to the war and moved to Lebanon, where I worked for an organisation from 2015 until March 2023 in several roles, including Computer Science Tutor, Educational Technology Specialist, and later Administrative Supervisor.

I arrived in the UK at the end of March 2023 and successfully obtained UK recognition of my degree at Level 6. In September 2023, I enrolled at college following an initial assessment and progressed quickly through ESOL, passing all skills at first attempt. I then completed Level 2 ESOL alongside a Level 3 Teaching course, achieving both by August 2025.

I also volunteered as a Treasurer with Homeward Horizon from the end of 2024. During this time, I actively applied for work through Indeed and other platforms. Through Homeward Horizon, I was informed of a vacancy that matched my qualifications and experience. I applied, submitted my CV, and was successfully appointed as a Functional Skills Tutor with Betaris, in partnership with Gloucestershire College, starting on 15 October 2025. I have recently begun teaching my third course in collaboration with Prospect Training.

I am extremely proud of this journey. It has been a positive and rewarding experience, and I feel proud to be an active and contributing member of the community. I encourage everyone to continue developing their skills and working hard to achieve employment and become effective members of society.