Kulwinderjit Hothi

I was born in England but I left school with no qualifications. I previously did menial jobs such as worked as machinist, lunchtime supervisor and care assistant on night shifts, but I was very unhappy, as I always wanted to work in an office, but did not have skills and qualifications for it. A friend told me about the Nari Ekta course and I was able to join it. During this course I gained self-confidence and skills needed for the rapidly changing world of work and in just 1 year I gained sufficient qualifications and skills to acquire an office job, which was possible only because of Nari Ekta. The course design is such that people like myself are able to get extra support and encouragement. You are made to believe that you can do anything with hard work and dedication.

After the course I obtained a job at Metro as an Education Transport Clerk. When I went for the job interview, there were so many people who had came for the same post, but thanks to Nari Ekta I got the job. When I started working my manager asked me how I managed to achieve so many qualifications in one year? It only goes to show that with commitment and hard work and Nari Ekta behind you, you can fulfil your dreams. Nari Ekta brightened my children’s future and mine as I can help them with their study. It also improved my social skills as I made many new friends. I had second chance to be qualified which would not be possible without Nari Ekta.

Japleen Kaur

Japleen Kaur completed her course with Nari Ekta and was invited to be a guest speaker at the Women Training Network Review Launch. The topic for the speech was “How Women’s Training Has Worked For Me”. This is what she said:

I am Japleen. I was asked to speak to you today on how Nari Ekta training benefited me. I left school with 9 GCSEs,  but I had failed my A Level. Despite trying, I was not equipped enough to get a job. I was unemployed for a year when Nari Ekta gave me an opportunity to do their Business Administration course, and that’s when my life took a turn for the better. In the year that I spent at Nari Ekta, I gained all the qualifications offered by then with distinctions.

While on the course, Nari Ekta also encouraged me to do my chemistry A Level, so I can add this to the long list. Overall, I gained variety of skills, knowledge and experience which I feel could not have gained elsewhere. Despite learning and achieving all these qualifications; I also gained confidence, in which I speak to you today.

When I was looking for a job, I found that I could apply for 95% of the jobs advertised and that for 90% of these I was over qualified. It was with their help and support that I got the job at the Department of Transport, at first encouraging me, and then helping me with the application form and interviewing skills.

Nari Ekta was what I could rely upon no matter what happened. They knew of my ambition to be a teacher, so when an opportunity came up in the Leeds City Council, for a job where you could train to be a teacher, the Nari Ekta staff were on the phone to me. After that I became a Curriculum Parental Support Assistant at Roundhay Road, despite the field being different. And thanks to Nari Ekta, I was the only computer literate person in my department! While on the jobI did my HNC in Business and Finance. With the qualifications I gained I was able to get admission for a teacher training course with Sheffield Hallam University. After graduating with a Maths degree with Qualified Teacher Status, and I have been working as a Mathematics and Business studies teacher in a secondary school in London.

My belief is that the skills I gained at Nari Ekta are lifelong and will make me a component, efficient and effective teacher. Nari Ekta training encourages you to do what you always wished for, other women don’t put you down. You can say what you want, and it will not be rebuked. There aren’t any assumptions being made about you and you make friends for life. Nari Ekta helped me reach my goal, raised my self-esteem and self-confidence.

Jasbir Sohanpall

My name is Jasbir Kaur Sohanpall. I came to England from India in 1998 after I got married. I have been married for four years and have a two and a half years old son named Amanveer. I have been a house wife for the past three years. I did my B.A. in India in Arts subjects. When I came here I tried to find a job but I couldn’t get one because my qualifications were not relevant to the jobs I was looking for and because of the lack of experience as well.

Nari Ekta course has helped me in various ways. I have become more confident, outspoken and qualified in Administrative and Financial work.

During this course I have been on work placement in Merrion House/ Planning Department. This had helped me to develop my confidence and to improve my communication skills. All the tutors are very helpful and friendly. I enjoyed the course very much. It has changed my life. The course also gave me chance to meet different people in different environment while being on the college premises and also at my work placement. It has changed my social life as well. I didn’t have many friends before joining this course but now I have lots of friends.

Now I have completed the course and have gained my goals. I can face the world and make myself more useful as a member of society.

I am very thankful to Leeds City Council, European Social Fund, Management committee of Nari Ekta and all the staff members, tutors to give me chance to improve myself.