A celebration marking the end of an initiative providing English lessons to Ukrainian refugees took place at Maidenhead Synagogue earlier this month.

The project, entitled Open Arms, was initiated as a collaboration between the synagogue’s former Rabbi Jonathan Romain and the Brett Foundation, following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022.

The team contacted Olesea Tarasov, who works for the Windsor Forest Colleges Group and is an ‘English as a foreign language’ (ESOL) lecturer, to help with the creation of the new classes.

Olesea had already been involved in supporting Ukrainian refugees with English classes.

She said: “We also tried to provide English classes, not only for the adults, but also for their children.

“Because they didn’t have any family to look after their children, they would have to come with them.”

The classes initially took place twice a week but were later moved to once a week on a Monday.

As part of its work, the initiative led to the team also conducting Ukrainian classes, teaching kids the Ukrainian
language and culture.

“Among those Ukranian refugees, [we] were very lucky to have Ukranian teachers.

“So, there were teachers for the adult classes and also teachers for the children’s classes, and they would do Ukranian language [culture],” Olesea explained.

Alongside the teachers, there were also volunteer teaching assistants and food was also provided during the sessions.

She added: “It wasn’t just an English school for Ukrainians, it was also like a social hub for people who were in distress, who were lost, who didn’t know where to go, what to do.

“Some of them just didn’t know document-wise, where to go, what to do, or finding a job or even finding another sponsor, finding some help, foodbanks.”

Co-ordinator Nigel Cohen was ‘one of the main’ organisers in supporting the team and students.

Olesea explained that the project had personal significance to her due to her family ties with Ukraine.

She said: “A safe environment was created, I would say, for them to open up, to learn, to increase their self-confidence in a foreign country as well.

“For me it was very important as well, because my father he’s Ukrainian. Originally, I’m from Moldova.

“My father, he’s Ukrainian and he still lives in Ukraine and so the part of his family, they’re still there.

“So, it was very personal, and we’re very happy that we managed to help them.

“I would say that 80 per cent of those students that came through the school, they’ve left already because either their English got better or maybe they moved on or they got a job.”

Olesea added that the team decided to bring the classes to a close due to factors including a decrease in student numbers.

The last in-person classes took place on Monday, July 14.

To mark the end of the initiative, the synagogue held a farewell party on Monday, July 21 to bring together students and thank volunteers and organisers.

The event saw around 50 to 60 people attend, including Rabbi Jonathan Romain.

During the event, guests enjoyed some traditional Ukrainian food and music from the Ukrainian choir.

“It was like a class reunion – there was so much warmth and so much love and so much support.

“It was amazing,” Olesea said.

She added: “I feel truly blessed and grateful that they’ve offered me this opportunity.”

Online classes will still continue for some of the students, Olesea revealed.