During Refugee Week, we are encouraged to reflect on the experiences of people who have been forced to leave their homes and rebuild their lives elsewhere. It is a time to recognise both the challenges many refugees have faced and the contributions they continue to make within our communities.

In my role, I have the privilege of meeting learners from a wide range of backgrounds. Some have arrived in Wales seeking safety and the opportunity to start again. While every journey is different, what often stays with me is not the adversity people have experienced but the determination they show in moving forward.

Learning can play an important part in that journey. Through ESOL classes and wider community learning opportunities, people build confidence, develop new skills, create connections with others and take meaningful steps towards integration into community life. A classroom can be much more than a place of learning; it can be a place where friendships are formed, confidence grows, shared understanding develops and people learn how to live, work and contribute alongside one another.

What I find particularly inspiring is how often learners move quickly from asking, “What can I learn?” to asking, “How can I contribute?” We see people volunteering in their communities, supporting local groups, helping in schools, progressing into employment and encouraging others to take their own learning journey. Many go on to become active contributors in the communities they now call home. These communities grow, fostering integration while offering opportunities. The success of Ruta Kitchen in Neath is a shining example of this: the business, which brings together Welsh and Ukrainian food and culture, has recently opened a new cafe on Nelson Street in Swansea, while offering employment to local Ukrainian families.

Refugee learners also bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and perspective. Learning is never a one-way process. Our classrooms are richer because of the diversity of experiences learners bring with them. We all benefit when people are able to share their talents, cultures and ideas.

At Adult Learning Wales, we are proud to support learners from all backgrounds. Refugee Week provides an opportunity to celebrate not only resilience, but also contribution. It reminds us that adult learning is about more than gaining qualifications or skills. At its best, it helps people build confidence, participate fully in community life and realise their potential.

This Refugee Week, I encourage us all to recognise the positive difference refugee learners make every day. Their stories are a powerful reminder that learning can open doors, create connections and help people contribute in ways that strengthen communities for the benefit of us all.

Kathryn Robson, Chief Executive