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Students celebrate Suffolk Day by penning love letters to the county

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Suffolk New College students celebrated Suffolk Day by writing love letters to the county.

The group of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learners were given the opportunity to explain why they love the county in a competition.

Faisal and Laeticia

Many students who took part reflected on how grateful they were to be free from danger since adopting the UK as their new home.

Faisal Azis, 17, from Ipswich was one of the winners and as part of his entry he said: “I had a hard journey then luck brought me here.”

Faisal Azis

Reflecting on his success he said: “I enjoyed doing the competition. I love living here in Suffolk – it is a national beauty. I feel welcome here. I’m very happy. I am going to spend the prize money (for winning the competition) on books.”

The other winner was Laeticia Lopes Vaz Natividade, 17. In her entry, Laeticia who lives in Framlingham described the castle as being ‘breathtaking’. She said: “I like the people and British values. I was confident I was going to win. If I was to describe Suffolk I would say it is a friendly and amazing place.”

Laeticia Lopes Vaz Natividade

Both winners won a £25.00 voucher and the runner up (Sihad Ali) described the place where he lives (Woodbridge) as ‘one of the happiest places to live’. Sihad received a certificate for his efforts.

Another entrant, Ivan Shamsha said in his entry that he always ‘hopes the Ipswich football team wins’.

Sarah Nagra is an English teacher at Suffolk New College and helped organise the entries. She said: “Some of these students have only been learning English less than a year so I was incredibly impressed. Many reflected on their hardships and explained how proud they were to live in a place that they felt safe. It was very humbling.”

All prizes were donated by Nice PR Ltd.

Posted 21 June 2024