The Inspire! Adult Learning Awards celebrate the power of education to transform lives, and the Life Change Award recognises individuals who have overcome significant barriers and used learning to create a new future. This year, one of the remarkable nominees is Jagmeet Kaur.
When Jagmeet arrived in Neath with her family, she carried with her not only the trauma of persecution in Afghanistan, but also a powerful determination to rebuild her life through education.
A mother of two, Jagmeet had been denied the right to learn as a woman in Afghanistan. She and her family endured years of fear and tragedy, including the abduction and loss of her young daughter at the hands of the Taliban. Eventually, Jagmeet and her husband made the courageous decision to flee with their sons, first finding safety in London before settling in South Wales.
Determined to pursue the opportunities she had been denied, Jagmeet enrolled on English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at NPTC Group of Colleges. Starting at Entry Level 2, she quickly demonstrated her commitment, progressing with remarkable speed and confidence. Despite the barriers she had faced, she embraced learning with energy, respect, and a clear sense of purpose.
Jagmeet said:
“I am now able to talk about myself, my family, my hopes and my opinions in English, without fear.”
Her tutor, Sophie Picton, describes her as “a remarkable individual, Jagmeet’s story speaks of the incredible strength and resilience of the human spirit. Despite facing extreme forms of persecution for both her gender and faith in Afghanistan, she has chosen to embrace learning in order to build a better life for herself and her family in her adoptive country of Wales. She is an example to us all.”
Today, Jagmeet is able to express herself in English, sharing her experiences, hopes, and ambitions without fear. Her learning journey has not only changed her own life but has inspired her family and classmates.
Her courage, resilience, and commitment to education make Jagmeet a truly deserving nominee for the Life Change Award at the Inspire! Adult Learning Awards.
If you are interested in finding out more about our ESOL courses, please click the link below.
https://www.nptcgroup.ac.uk/?s=esol&submit=&post_type=cbc-course
