Natasha Oviedo has been described as a “true role model for her fellow students” for her work supporting newcomers to Northern Ireland over the past two years.
Natasha, 25, is currently completing a MA in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice at Queen's University Belfast.
Two years ago she travelled to Belfast from Sierra Madre, California, a small foothill village in Los Angeles County with a close knit community and plenty of wildlife.
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"My family are originally from Ecuador but I grew up in California with my parents, grandparents and three younger siblings," Natasha told Belfast Live.
"To be honest I didn't know much about Northern Ireland before I came here. I hadn't travelled to Ireland or the UK before that so it was all very different and new to me. I came here without any expectations or no idea what I was getting myself into."
After arriving here from southern California in September 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Natasha soon became involved as a volunteer with organisations like Horn of Africa People’s Aid NI and the Centre for Democracy and Peacebuilding.
"Arriving here during the pandemic, things were very quiet but Belfast has come to life again in the past year. People here are really nice and have good hearts.
"When I first arrived, people were really friendly and even the way they smiled made me feel welcome. It's been great getting to know them."
Having identified the growing need for accessible English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, Natasha founded LASI – the Language and Solidarity Initiative, a student-led programme designed to help refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
"It all started off with me teaching online at first and then later in person. There was a need for LASI as a lot of new people had arrived here at once and we lucky that so many other students volunteered their time to help us while balancing their own studies and jobs.
"It was quite amazing and impressive to witness so many of them being willing to give their time every week to help us develop a curriculum and deliver the classes," she explained.
LASI quickly expanded and has since helped over 100 people from around the world to improve their spoken and written English and access key healthcare services.
“Being in the classroom, we got to meet students at Queen’s from different disciplines, along with newcomers to Belfast from countries like Eritrea, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Kurdistan and Ethiopia,” Natasha said.
“We were able to turn a corner of Queen’s into a warm and inviting interfaith and multicultural space that supported integration of newcomers, while celebrating all of our differences.”
Natasha, a postgraduate student in the School of History, Anthropology, Politics and Philosophy who hopes to graduate this December, has just been named the Allstate NI Queen’s Student of the Year 2022.
Queen’s Graduates' Association President Feargus McCauley, said the accolade was in “recognition of the dedicated support provided to those who need it.”
“Driven by what she identified as a clear social need, Natasha has proved herself to be a true role model for her fellow students,” he said.
“Her hard work, compassion and empathy have not only provided a vital intervention for those who access services provided by LASI, but have also inspired her fellow students to volunteer.”
Outgoing QUBSU President Katie Ní Chléire also commended Natasha on her achievement, saying: “The Student’s Union believe strongly that everyone at Queen’s should have a voice.
“Natasha’s work with LASI is a vital contribution to this vision – helping newcomers to find their voice and become part of a community that welcomes people from all kinds of backgrounds and cultures,
“Natasha’s contribution sets a wonderful example to Queen’s students in uncertain times. As they navigate a world emerging from a pandemic, with unrest overseas and financial struggles at home, students like Natasha show them the importance of facing difficult times together, with hard work and compassion,” she added.
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