At the age of 12, Ridwaan was struggling to stay out of trouble at school. At age 13 he was learning to adapt to the new social cues of post primary school life. At age 14 he was getting the hang of the formal education environment and preparing to choose his GCSE subjects.
At age 15, the Covid pandemic struck, school closed and Ridwaan began to lose his way.
Now 17, Ridwaan is feeling more able to make positive choices thanks to the support he’s received from the Oasis Hub Youth.
Ridwaan was introduced to the Hub by friends who’d already been supported by youth workers and who were feeling happier about being back at school, as a result. It seemed like a better place to hang out than with people who might lead him into trouble.
“From the first day I came along I loved it. We play games, cook food together. It’s a space to talk. It feels different to schools. We’re learning more about ourselves.”
Coping strategies
Ridwaan soon benefited from the non-judgemental support of Oasis Waterloo’s Head of Youth Services Stu provided, giving him the time and tools to develop coping strategies to deal with all the challenges in his life.
“The moment I met Stu, my whole perception of school changed. I could really confide in him. He’s someone you can confide in. He will give you the best possible advice but also give you the room to determine your decisions.”
Participating in peer learning sessions has been particularly important to Ridwaan.
“One time when I came to Hub Youth, we were sitting around in a group talking about mental health, and like, it really made me understand because there were other people I knew all talking about the same things that I was feeling so I could really understand what I was going through and how to express what I was going through.
“We talked about coping mechanisms, how to cope with our feelings and what was happening in the world. I really took those skills on and developed my coping mechanisms,” he said.
Unlike school, the educational approach of youth work is led by the young person, working together to set their own goals and defining the steps needed to get there.
“It’s difficult, very hard” “The work can be hard to grasp and a lot of it has been independent work,” Ridwaan explained.
“Coming to Hub Youth has had a real impact on my development, I really think it’s improved me as a person,” he added.
A safe haven
Located in the middle of Waterloo, the Oasis Hub is next door to the Oasis Academy and surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the capital. It provides a safe space for young people to experience positive activities, make new friends and have access to a trusted adult. It also has its own nearby urban farm, providing opportunities to learn about animal management, as well as growing and preparing food.
“The Oasis Hub is like a safe haven that no one really knows about unless you’re involved in it. We sometimes hang out at the Oasis Waterloo Farm. There are goats, sheep, chickens, rabbits, hamsters, pigs. We feed them and look after them. I was scared of the goats at first, I didn’t know anything about them but I’ve learnt all about them and now I can feed them by hand and I’m not scared of them anymore.”
Now that he’s better equipped to handle his feelings and he has successfully navigated a very difficult period in his life, Ridwaan is hoping to ace his A levels and go on and study Computer Science at university.
When asked what advice he would give to any young people just leaving primary school and beginning their formal education journey, Ridwaan replies “Find your Stu. Find a worker who will really listen to you and allow you to develop yourself and understand yourself.”
