Bricklaying student Mohammad is rebuilding his life after fleeing war-torn Sudan at the age of 13
Bricklaying student Mohammad Omar is rebuilding his life with the help of York College & University Centre after being forced to flee his family home in Sudan.
Mohammad left the troubled African country, which is currently beset by famine and in the grips of civil war, due to fears for his life at the age of 13.
He made his way to the UK and, despite having had no form of previous education in Sudan, has just gained an Entry Level 3 grade on his Extended Certificate in Construction Skills course.
Mohammad’s exemplary attitude towards his course was recognised at our annual 2024 REACH Awards where he was named Construction Student of the Year and he now intends to further his Bricklaying studies during the new academic year.
Property developers Henry Boot – the company who sponsored his REACH Award - have also helped facilitate a three-days-a-week placement with Lovell Homes at the Cocoa Works apartment complex following a site visit.
That means Mohammad, now 19, will supplement his College tuition with valuable on-site experience and, on that opportunity, he added: “I was frightened for my life, so I came to England at the age of 15 to get an education and have a better life.
“I didn’t have an education in Sudan and I am very grateful for the excellent education I am receiving now in England. I see my future in construction or engineering, but I do not have the qualifications yet, so I thought bricklaying would be a good start for my career.
“I really enjoy laying bricks and, although for the first few weeks I found the course difficult to understand, my teachers gave me the support I needed and helped explain things to me a lot. They are very good, as is the equipment we use, and one of the main skills I have learnt is how to cut the bricks into the correct size.
“I’m now looking forward to learning more to get better with my bricklaying. My ambition is to eventually become an engineer but, if I cannot get the qualifications, then I would be happy if I was offered a job as a bricklayer.
“I enjoyed watching how bricklayers work during my site visit to the Cocoa Works and seeing the different types of brickwork and I am really looking forward to my work placement.”
Mohammad also works part-time on the carvery counter at the Pear Tree Farm pub in Monks Cross three times a week, where communicating with customers is aiding his education outside of College.
“I am talking to other English people all the time whilst I’m at work, so that helps improve my language skills too,” he explained.
On the honour of receiving a REACH Award, meanwhile, Mohammad added: “It made me very happy because I have not had anything like this before.”
Mohammad was nominated for the accolade by Construction tutor Greg Hardy who said: “Mohammad is an exemplary student and a hard-working, young man who embodies all of our College values of Ambition, Care, Respect and Success.
“He always tries his best both in practical and theory classes and asks inquisitive questions in his strive for perfection. He is also always the first in the workshop, the last to leave and the hardest worker in between.”
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