Realising It Was Never Too Late Gave Me the Courage to Finally Speak Up By Wilma Carpio
I joined VODW's classes wanting to broaden my knowledge and gain confidence in myself, arriving with a full range of emotions, nervous, excited, happy, curious, and a little unsure, over six months to a year spent across ESOL, IT, Mediacom, Body Mind and Wellness, and Financial Literacy. Before joining, I admit candidly that I thought learning might be too difficult for me because of my age, and that I felt embarrassed to study, believing I was already too old. It did not take long for me to realise how wrong that fear had been.
The range of what I gained is remarkable to me. I improved my communication, teamwork, and time management. I learned about financial wellbeing, including how to budget and make better financial decisions. Body and mind wellness classes helped me understand the importance of staying active, managing stress, resting properly, and caring for my emotional wellbeing. And my digital skills grew until I felt genuinely confident using technology and online tools. During my sessions, I felt reconnected with myself, watched my stress ease, built confidence, felt healed, and experienced a real sense of belonging.
The shift in how I see myself is deep and lasting. I feel more confident in myself and my abilities, no longer as afraid to speak up, ask questions, or try new things as I once was. I have come to understand that I can learn and improve, even when things feel difficult at first, a lesson that quietly undoes the very fear I carried in on my first nervous day.
I was unable to attend my graduation ceremony due to illness, but I was still deeply moved to learn I had received a certificate, a recognition I am truly grateful for.
My thanks to my teachers, to Unite the Union, to English for Action, and to VODW are heartfelt and generous, appreciation for all the support, encouragement, and time invested in my growth.
My hope for the future includes myself and every domestic worker who might follow in my footsteps, to keep learning, to keep building confidence, and to keep developing skills for everyday life, while encouraging newcomers to feel welcome, supported, and unafraid to grow in confidence within a safe and friendly space.
My journey, from a woman who once felt too old and too embarrassed to try, to one no longer afraid to speak up and ask questions, reflects exactly the transformation VODW hopes to spark in every member, transformation that fuels not just personal confidence but the collective courage behind the fight for the right to change employer, to renew a visa, to settle, and to build a lasting, secure life in the UK.
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