Isaac Fabb

Wynebodd Isaac Fabb rai o’r heriau bywyd caletaf ac mae’n awr yn ddysgwr sy’n ysbrydoli sy’n esiampl i bobl ifanc yn cychwyn ar eu gyrfaoedd. Mae’r dyn 22 mlwydd oed, a gafodd ddiagnosis o anhwylder diffyg canolbwyntio a gorfywiogrwydd (ADHD) yn 17 oed, wedi goresgyn caethiwed i gyffuriau a cholli ei frawd yng nghyfraith i orddibyniaeth i ragori fel saer coed talentog.

Fe wnaeth y cyfrifoldeb o ddod yn dad yn ei arddegau ei ysgogi i newid ei fywyd. “Wrth edrych yn ôl nawr, rwy’n sylweddoli bod yr heriau wedi gwirioneddol fy helpu i ganolbwyntio a bod yn fwy penderfynol i wneud yr hyn yr oeddwn am ei wneud,” dywedodd Isaac o Abertawe. Er gwaethaf yr heriau hyn a gadael yr ysgol heb unrhyw gymwysterau ffurfiol, roedd Isaac yn benderfynol o gael gyrfa, ac, yng nghanol caethiwed i sylweddau, yn ddi-ildio aeth ati i ymgeisio am gyrsiau coleg amrywiol.

Ar ôl ychydig o geisiadau aflwyddiannus, oherwydd ei gyflwr yn bennaf, fe wrthododd roi’r ffidil yn y to a chafodd le ar gwrs adeiladu aml-sgil yng Ngholeg Gŵyr Abertawe. Ffynnodd ar y cwrs a flwyddyn yn ddiweddarach sicrhaodd waith gyda Chyngor Dinas Abertawe fel prentis saer, gan gyflawni ei nod o weithio yn yr yrfa o’i ddewis gan ddal i ddysgu.

Roedd dysgu yn ei waith yn gweddu’n well i Isaac, a llwyddodd i gael canlyniadau eithriadol a hefyd ei TGAU mathemateg wrth gwblhau ei gwrs aml-grefft. Trwy gyflawni’r hyn yr oedd yn ei feddwl oedd yn gamp
amhosibl arweiniodd, hyn at iddo gael ei enwi yn Brentis Cwrs Sylfaen y Flwyddyn, a’i gyflogwr yn ei ymgorffori yn ei dîm cyflogadwyedd sy’n annog pobl ifanc i ystyried prentisiaethau

Ar hyn o bryd mae’n gwneud ei Lefel 3 a rhagwelir y bydd ei farc yn rhagoriaeth ddwbl ac mae mewn trafodaethau i ddilyn HNC mewn Rheolaeth Adeiladu. Meddai Isaac: “Er bod y daith bum mlynedd yn anwastad, rwy’n awyddus iawn i barhau a derbyn yr her nesaf. “Gallaf ddweud bod gwybod fy mod yn mynd i fod yn dad mor ifanc wedi fy nghymell ymlaen i droi cefn ar fy nghaethiwed i gyffuriau ond hefyd i sefyll ar fy nhraed i fod yr oedolyn ifanc yr oedd angen i mi fod. Er bod rhai meini tramgwydd, nid oedd dim yn rhoi mwy o foddhad na chyflawni gyrfa yr oeddwn yn meddwl ar un adeg ei bod ymhell tu hwnt i’m cyrraedd.”

Gyda dyfodol disglair o’i flaen yn awr, mae Isaac yn anelu at gyrraedd y brig yn ei broffesiwn ac mae wedi ennill digon o barch ar hyd y ffordd. Dywedodd Medi Williams, Arbenigwr Cais Masnachol yng
Ngholeg Gŵyr Abertawe: “Fe wnes i enwebu Isaac ar ran y coleg oherwydd ei fod yn ddysgwr sy’n ysbrydoli sydd wedi dod yn esiampl i’r rhai allai fod wedi meddwl nad yw addysg oedolion iddyn nhw.”

Gina Powell

When Gina Powell volunteered as a teaching assistant in 2004, she didn’t imagine how pivotal Pencaerau Primary School, in Cardiff would become to her life. She took on the voluntary role to be “a familiar, friendly face at the school gates for families to build a bridge between home and school.”

An advocate for adult learning, Gina soon secured a paid job at the school where she’s now a family engagement officer. The “dream role” allows her to support parents and families. She liaises with learning providers, including Cardiff and Vale College (CAVC) and Adult Learning Cardiff, to bring learning opportunities to parents and adults. Over the past two years, 52 adults have completed family and adult learning courses, with some advancing to university.

“Being a learning ambassador, I show that life doesn’t end with being a parent – they can become whatever they want to be! I’ve walked in the same shoes as many of the families I support,” said Gina, a mother to three and grandmother to five.

“Maybe learning didn’t happen for them when they were younger but that doesn’t mean it’s too late. I’ve come to understand that learning isn’t just about qualifications; it’s about confidence, belonging and opening doors.” What makes her role even more personal is that her daughters now teach at the school, which they previously attended, and her grandchildren are pupils.

“I love what I do, and I love the school. It’s more than my workplace, it’s my home, my history and my heart,” explained Gina. “I’ve seen parents reconnect with learning and gain a renewed sense of self-worth. Whether their goal is university or just the courage to take that first step, I’m here to walk alongside them, because every step forward matters.

“Now, I also get to support other Family Engagement Officers and help open our school up to wider community learning. When we all work together, something amazing happens: our community grows stronger, closer and full of possibilities.”

Emma Mcloughlin from CAVC nominated Gina, she says, “Her journey from mum to learner, employee and an ambassador for adult learning demonstrates that having a
voice for learning can create generational change for her family and community. She’s a pivotal changemaker.”

Foo Seng Thean

Foo Seng Thean arrived in Swansea with his family to start a new life in 2015. Despite being a confident English speaker, he soon became frustrated at being unable to converse in the native language of his adopted home and was determined to learn Welsh.

“There is an old saying ‘To prosper in a new place you must embrace its traditions and way of life’,” said Foo Seng. “So that’s exactly what I am doing, learning Welsh with my sons, helping them with their homework and writing Welsh comments in a daily journal. Now, when they need inspiration, they come to me. “It’s fun – singing together, sharing our learning, establishing a Welsh day at home. My niece from Singapore even calls me her Welsh uncle!” His journey began soon after arriving in Wales, while working for the Chinese in Wales Association’s Multi-Cultural Hub, he was accepted onto the Welsh in the Workplace course organised by Swansea University’s Learn Welsh Swansea Bay Area.

But Foo Seng didn’t stop with just learning the language. He wanted to immerse himself fully into Welsh culture which has led to him joining the Learners Choir who performed at the 2024 National Eisteddfod.

“My Welsh pronunciation surprised the members,” said Foo Seng. “I have been blown away by the beauty of the language.” Foo Seng is using his experience to inspire other ethnic minority communities to welcome the Welsh language into their daily lives. He has been interviewed by S4C’s Heno programme and now promotes the use of Welsh in communications, social media posts and official events from the Chinese in Wales Association.

Foo Seng’s tutor, Emyr Jones encouraged him to sing with the Learners Choir, he said, “He seized the opportunity to learn Welsh and was keen and enthusiastic from the very start, not just in classes but also in supplementing his learning outside the classroom through the Duolingo app. He’ll sit the Foundation Exam in 2026.” Foo Seng believes his Welsh language journey has only just begun and added: “I am not fluent yet – but I am on the way!”

Walid Musa Albuqai

Walid Musa Albuqai grew up in Syria but was forced to flee the country with his wife and three daughters ten years ago because of the war. He’d worked on a farm during his early years and later as a warehouse manager and factory worker but struggled to find a permanent role due to the ongoing conflict.

Walid said: “Because of the situation in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, the United Nations gave families like mine the option to move to the UK. Not everyone moved, but my family and I decided it was the right thing to do. We were told we’d be moving to Swansea, and I was excited because I had never been to Wales before. I love it here because of the people and the beautiful beaches. It’s a very friendly city and I’ve been able to find work which I’m very grateful for.”

When he first arrived in Swansea, Walid spoke very little English. He struggled with basic grammar and sentence structure, so he started studying Entry Level 1 English as a Second Language (ESOL) at Gower College Swansea.

“When I first moved to the UK my English was very basic. My support workers helped a lot, and I volunteered at a charity shop to practice my English and start making friends with people in the local community” he said.

By attending classes regularly, studying outside of class and taking opportunities to practice speaking English, Walid was able to develop his language skills. He also took advantage of online resources including grammar lessons and apps to continue learning outside of his classes.

“My daughters are thirteen, nine and six. They go to English-language schools and have also helped me to improve my English. They, along with my wife, inspire me every day and have encouraged me to turn my dreams into a reality.”

Walid has now completed ESOL Levels 1 and 2 and he applied for a number of jobs including a bus driver role with FirstBus. His passion for driving and language skills shone through during the interview, and he got the job.

“I absolutely love working as a bus driver. Practically, the exam wasn’t too difficult, but the theory test was hard. I wouldn’t have been able to do the interview without my English skills. I owe my career to those classes.”

Walid is now looking ahead to the future and hoping to complete ESOL Level 3 before re-training as a driving instructor. He says, “I would like to encourage others to return to learning and pursue their goals, no matter how challenging it may seem. My advice is to work hard and never give up. Nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. I am excited to see where my journey takes me as I continue to make my way towards my goals and making a difference in my community.”

Lyndsey Hughes

Lyndsey Hughes is a remarkable tutor and project manager at CYCA – Connecting Youth, Children & Adults in Llanelli. She embodies resilience, dedication, and the power of education. Her journey from a shy, young mother to a confident tutor and project manager is a testament to her hard work and determination, demonstrating the power of education to transform lives.

Her story began in 2017 when she attended a Resilience course at the Integrated Children’s Centre. At that time, Lyndsey was a young mother of three, pregnant with her fourth child, and had never left her children before. Despite her initial shyness and nervousness, Lyndsey’s determination to improve her life and support her family was evident from the start.

Lyndsey’s first course, the Agored Cymru Level 1 Resilience, marked the beginning of her transformation. She quickly gained confidence, actively participated in group discussions, and shared her personal experiences as a mother, which resonated with her peers. Her commitment to learning was unwavering, even after the birth of her fourth child. Lyndsey continued to attend courses, often nursing her baby during sessions and completing her workbooks at home.

Lianna Davies, Deputy CEO from CYCA says, “We firmly believe that Lyndsey makes a significant difference to others, particularly when delivering courses because she has lived their lives and has walked in their shoes. There is no-one more inspirational and aspirational to deliver a course to help and support those in the community to start their own journey, gaining qualifications and returning to work. Lyndsey is the epitome of success.”

Her dedication and passion for helping others led her to become a “Mentor Mam” for CYCA, where she delivered arts and crafts sessions and supported other mothers in developing their skills. She says, “The courses I deliver are all Level 1 courses and accredited to help and support those who have left school with no qualifications and lack confidence and self-esteem.”

Lyndsey’s desire to further her knowledge and skills saw her shadowing other tutors, completing a “Train the Trainer” course, and achieving a Level 3 Principles of Assessment qualification.

Today, Lyndsey is a key tutor at CYCA, delivering the same courses that helped her on her journey. Her unique ability to connect with learners, having walked in their shoes, makes her an inspirational figure. She is now the Project Manager for a levelling up funded project, supporting the community to gain new skills to get into employment. She says, “I feel honoured to help and support new learners on their journey, to inspire and help others is my passion. If I can achieve what I have achieved with four young children, anyone can.”

Rachel Parker

Rachel Parker was born into a chaotic home life with alcoholic parents and little support at the time for her development and schooling. After being taken into care, she left school at a young age and found her escape in drugs and alcohol. After years of addiction, Rachel is now clean, and on her way to achieving her dream of becoming a counsellor.

She explains: “Drugs and alcohol took me out of my reality, but it was stunting my growth and limiting my potential.” Rachel became a young mother at 18 after giving birth to her daughter Holly who was born blind and had other severe disabilities. It was difficult for her to provide the level of care Holly needed while she was in active addiction. After losing custody of Holly, Rachel’s life spiralled, with her addiction taking over.

Despite her addiction, Rachel had dreams of a career where she could help others. She looked up to her substance misuse counsellors: “Throughout my treatment I would often think to myself, if I could stay clean, perhaps I could do their job one day.”

Rachel noticed that people found her approachable and would regularly go to her with their problems, which she always made time to listen to. “Sadly, I was in no position to train to become a counsellor while living in active addiction.” She explained.

Years later, once Rachel was able to get herself clean and remain sober, she was able to start thinking about training and turning her life around. She remembers: “It wasn’t until I began to realise that my lifestyle was killing me, that I begged my counsellor for help to get me into rehabilitation. Thankfully, she secured the funding, and I believe she saved my life.”

In 2017, she began training with Addysg Oedolion Cymru | Adult Learning Wales., Nicola Holmes, nominated Rachel for the award said: “Rachel’s story is one of determination, dedication, and personal growth. She’s had many setbacks during her journey, and at times had days when she doubted herself. Yet I have never met someone so determined to make a change, not only for their own future but for all those who need support just like she did all those years ago.”

Now, nine years sober, Rachel has been a qualified counsellor for a year, having completed over 100 hours of counselling to pass her diploma. “Qualifying felt surreal, I was ecstatic and so proud of myself.” says Rachel.

She works regularly at the Narcotics Anonymous helpline, saying “I want to counsel people because I want to give back, I don’t want to be a nuisance to society.”

Rachel’s faith has kept her strong throughout the many losses she’s endured, including the death of her daughter Holly two years after she became sober.

She has progressed through her Level 2 and 3 diplomas, studying for a Level 4 diploma has been placed on hold while she takes time to deal with her health conditions. She remains a strong advocate for adult learning, saying, “You’ve got to go for it and give yourself that opportunity. You’re going to meet new people, make new friends, and learn a lot about yourself and the world around you.”