EDUCATION Mum went back to school to win award
A MOTHER who left Romania and moved to Cardiff in search of a better life for her and her family has won a top award for achievement in adult learning.
Nutica Neascu, 34, and daughter Iulia, 5, moved to Cardiff in March 2016. Nutica spoke some English, but her daughter spoke very little, so they found it difficult to integrate with the local community.
They joined the Families Learning Together course at Radnor Primary School to meet other families in the same position and learn English.
The course helped them to make friends and learn more about life and education in Wales and when it finished last December Nutica wanted to continue learning. After going to an open day at Cardiff and Vale College she got a place on the Level 2 Business Administration course and has now won the Family Learning category at the Inspire! Awards 2017.
“I thought that education was something that happens when you’re young – it’s not something you think you’ll be doing at 34 years old. I’m really surprised to win this award but at the same time I am very happy,” she said.
“When my daughter started at Radnor Primary School in Cardiff a lady there told me about Families Together. She asked if I wanted to attend and I thought ‘Why not? It will help me and daughter with language. When we started, my daughter only knew the colours and how to count from one to 10 in English. Now she speaks English better than me and has a Cardiff accent. I am very proud of her. She says that when she grows up she wants to be a teacher.
“I made friends with other mums in the group, we supported each other and learned how education is different in Wales. As we came to the end of the course I knew I would like to carry on learning. I also hope I am setting a good example for my daughter.”
In Romania, Nutica worked in transport, finding trucks to transport goods around the world. She knew where Wales and Cardiff was on the map but hadn’t been to the UK before but she says she has been made to feel at home here. “I have had such help from the Welsh community. When I had problems or didn’t know something, people have just been so willing to help at my daughter’s school, in my job or at college.”
The Inspire! Awards are hosted each year ahead of Adult Learners’ Week to celebrate the achievements of outstanding learners in Wales who have shown exceptional passion, commitment and drive for learning; often in the face of difficult circumstances, as well as employers who champion learning in the workplace.