Shakeela came to the UK from Pakistan and enrolled on an English course at
Derby Multi Cultural Centre to help her feel comfortable communicating with
others. It took Shakeela a couple of years to pass her English, literacy
and numeracy courses, but she never gave up, also completing European
Computer Driving License Levels 1 and 2.
Shakeela wanted to work with children so she then studied and passed NVQ
Levels 2 and 3 in Childcare Learning and Development (CCLD) whilst doing
voluntary work at her daughter’s school and nursery. She now has her
first job in the UK working for a local Sure Start Children’s
Centre.
Shakeela said:
“I hope there are other women who will hear my story and feel if
I can do it they can do it too. Sometimes it’s hard as you
don’t always get what you want first time around but you just
have to carry on doing it and you will get there.”
Rachel Thomson, Senior Campaigns Officer at NIACE, said:
“The incredible stories of all our Adult Learners’ Week
award winners show just what can be achieved in life through
determination, imagination and ambition. Shakeela, like all of this
year’s award winners, is proof of how learning can absolutely
transform lives, often leading to new jobs and careers; and helping
people to cope, or even overcome, the many challenges that they face.
Hopefully millions of adults across the country will be inspired by
Shakeela’s story to take up learning and discover for themselves
a whole new raft of opportunities.”
