MESH volunteer wins GOLD in British Para Weightlifting!

MESH Connect & Grow Expert by Experience volunteer, Oscar, talks about his recent GOLD medal win at the British Para Weightlifting, how determinedly carrying on with his weightlifting after seeking asylum in the UK has positively helped him, and will continue to positively help him in the future, and how both weightlifting and the volunteering he is doing are crucial for his future career development.
“So it’s true, with weightlifting, I get the opportunity to go places and take part in certain events. So weightlifting, it’s like a transition to my future career.
I mean, through weightlifting I have doors open for me… like opportunities. I get the opportunity to meet people, to travel. So weightlifting is one of the things that contribute is like a transition to my career. Because you know, I need a career or a job that gives you some money. Volunteering with MESH is opening doors for me too. I am learning new skills, like IT skills, and this will be good for my CV.
I’m not getting money through weightlifting yet, but weightlifting is helping me facilitate certain things, if I can say that. So I want to say, yeah, weightlifting contributes to make me who I am now.
It’s true that weightlifting and volunteering both support me with my mental health as well.
When you expect something [a positive asylum decision] and then you can’t receive it, it’s not easy for you to accept the situation. It’s true that you expect more, but weightlifting is something that helps you to be where you are now.
When I arrived in Halifax, it was difficult for me… I needed something that helped me to be where I am now. When I realised that, I did my best to continue to practice.