Women’s champion among royal honours
AN education worker who has helped transform the lives of hundreds of women in Rochdale has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
Rehana Mohammed, 54, from Rochdale, the area education manager at the Workers’ Educational Association, was awarded an MBE for services to the education of marginalised women in Rochdale and Oldham.
Through her work with The WEA, Rehana has taught women, many of whom emigrated to the UK from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Syria, Kenya, Iran, India and Afghanistan, English and other skills they need to integrate in the community.
She was instrumental in setting up courses that teach women skills such as sewing and pattern making, so that they can clothe themselves and their children cheaply.
Many have gone on to set up their own business.
Rehana said: “It’s an absolute honour. I have so much pride for my community and for them to nominate me and to recognise my commitment to them is such a blessing.
“I’m truly honoured to have a job I love and I’m so proud of working for
“The WEA as they have enabled me to help my community.
“Life’s not easy in Rochdale and Oldham and there are a lot of hardships but at least with the WEA, there is always hope.
“Adult learning impacts so many areas of a person’s life and provides a life raft to a better future for so many people.
“The impact is not only on employability but their health and wellbeing, family life and community engagement.
“It brings communities together and it transforms lives.
“I started from nothing myself and what drives me to work hard is my family - my children, grandchildren, my WEA family and my community.
“I love to see the pride and confidence adult learning brings to people – that’s when I knew we’d started something special here.”
Ruth Spellman, CEO of the WEA said: “I’d like to offer heartfelt congratulations to Rehana on her MBE. The impact that Rehana’s work has on the confidence and skills of women in Rochdale and Oldham is incredible.
“The WEA prides itself on providing education that is within reach. Our committed education staff and tutors are experts at reaching into communities and working through partnership to meet the needs of those experiencing disadvantage. Within this cohort of excellence Rehana stands out like a beacon providing more hours of learning and leading innovative new projects as well as always making time to be there for the students and local community.
“Rehana enables progression to other institutions by setting up courses in safe neighbourhood spaces, networking with a massive number of other voluntary sector organisations and maximising the resource available to offer people a holistic experience that focuses on their needs. This is a hall mark of the strength of Rehana’s work.
“On behalf of The WEA I’d like to congratulate Rehana on her achievements, and thank her for her dedication.”