CHAWAN Ali had to flee Iraq in 2015 with her parents and three younger brothers to find safety after years of fighting.

With limited English and sporadic schooling in her own country, the then 16-year-old had to fight for refugee status, while trying to settle into a new life in Wrexham.

Alongside her own studies Chawan is also championing policy change on the right to work, family reunion and detention for others like her at the Senedd and the Houses of Parliament.

Chawan was awarded with the ‘Different Past: Shared Futures’ Inspire! Award, a recognition of her success in changing her life through learning.

Co-ordinated by Learning and Work Institute with support from the Welsh Government and the European Social Fund, the Inspire! Awards reward those who have demonstrated the power of learning, building confidence and developing vibrant and successful communities.

Chawan is one of 12 winners who feature as part of Adult Learners’ Week, a week full of taster sessions and masterclasses aimed to inspire others to follow in their footsteps, which this year takes place online from 21-27 September.

The 20-year-old arrived in Wrexham in 2015, she was the only one of her siblings to be placed at school, straight into Year 11.

She said: “I was so scared; I remember walking through the halls of the school not knowing what was going on. I would only answer yes or no but I really didn’t understand anything. In a hall full of hundreds of students, I had never felt so alone.”

Chawan enrolled on an Entry 2 English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course, which she says opened a lot of doors.

Without GCSEs Chawan went on to complete a Kickstart course at Coleg Cambria and is currently studying Level 2 Health and Social care and Level 2 in ESOL. She hopes to sit her exams and continue onto her Level 3 course in Health and Social Care with dreams of becoming a midwife.

As the only person in her house who speaks English, Chawan, who looks after her mum who suffers with several long-term medical conditions, helps her family with appointments, bank forms and translating documents from her brother’s school.

As well as working at a care home and attending college, she also helps other asylum seekers in Wales and is fighting for policy change so that people like her have a better experience not only in Wrexham but Wales as a whole.

The member of the Wrexham Refugee and Asylum Seeker community Chawan runs drop-in sessions at Wrexham Methodist Church and also campaigns in the local area.

She said: “Gaining qualifications has changed my life, I have a future now – something which I have dreamed about for years.

“I keep working because I want to make a difference. Not only for me but for others in a similar situation.”

“From a time when all I could say was one-word answers to talking at the Senedd I have found my voice.”

Adult Learners’ Week celebrates lifelong learning, whether in educational institutions, through work, at home or as a leisure activity and the week will be full of tasters and success stories on why learning a new skill can change your story.

Chawan said: “I am now safe and supported, with the same opportunities most young people have and I am so thankful. I continue to work hard to be the strong woman for my family.

“I hope to take my GCSEs soon and start my journey to become a midwife.

“When people hear my story, I want to tell them to never give up. I want to tell them not to let the bad experiences in your life stop you moving forward, with hard work you can fight for your life and those of others.”

Lianne Walley, ESOL tutor at Coleg Cambria said; “Chawan is truly inspirational. Through her involvement with the VOICES network, an independent group of asylum seekers and refugees who self-advocate to raise awareness and positive change, Chawan has spoken at the Senedd representing those in similar situations.

“Learning and education has given Chawan the confidence and the voice to advocate for herself, for her family, for refugees and asylum seekers and for young people in Wrexham and Wales. She is working towards making her life worthwhile for her family’s life to be safer and more comfortable and for Wales to be a friendlier and more welcoming place to live and thrive.

“Chawan will continue with her studies and her role in The Sanctuary Movement ensuring that her voice and work is one to look out for in the future.”

To find out what’s going on during Adult Learners’ Week, and for personalised advice on your own learning options and support available, get in touch with Working Wales on 0800 028 4844, visit your local Careers centre, or search www.workingwales.gov.wales