Source: Pegasus Post

An Education Unlimited training programme unlocked Teresa’s potential, initiating a journey of transformation and a newfound love of learning. Now the inspirational 57-year-old is making up for lost time, embracing every new opportunity to build her skills and grow her capabilities.

“I didn’t learn anything at school, in fact my primary and intermediate years are a complete blank,” admits Teresa. “I never dreamed that in my adult life I’d learn to read and write – I didn’t think I could ever do that! Now, I’ve completed a ten-week workplace training course, a six-week adult literacy programme, and am undertaking ongoing studies to address my dyslexia. I could never have imagined I’d be where I am today.”

The catalyst for change was Education Unlimited’s ‘Skills Values Develop Programme’, a bespoke training course designed to help St Vincent de Paul’s staff adapt to the organisation’s changing needs. The programme covered everything from communication, digital literacy and workplace wellbeing to health and safety, financial literacy, and the history of Vinnies, and while Teresa was hesitant at first, she quickly discovered stepping into the classroom was actually pretty enjoyable.

“Our tutor Gayle was so helpful. She told me ‘you are actually very intelligent, you can do this, you can learn’. I’ve never had anyone in my life believe in me like that. My initial assessments were terrible but I genuinely wanted to learn – I guess after all these years my head was finally in the right space.

“I’ve had good jobs and run my own businesses, but all my life I’ve bluffed my way through, not letting people know that I couldn’t read or write. For me, the biggest challenge of the course was letting myself be vulnerable – letting Gayle and my fellow co-workers see the real me. Gayle supported me every step of the way, and it turns out it wasn’t as hard as I thought. There were so many positives. I learnt a lot about communication and interacting with other people, and I think the course opened us up a bit more to each other – it has really changed the team dynamic at work.”

Teresa has been an integral part of the Vinnies Christchurch-based team for the last seven years, initially as a client, then a volunteer, and now a paid employee.

“I love helping people in need. Having the chance to support them fills my heart because I’ve been where they are. I left Christchurch when I was 18 and only came back here to live seven years ago. My marriage had broken up, I’d suffered a lot of trauma, and I was ready to turn my life around.  My new partner and I arrived in Christchurch with nothing more than our shoes, a few changes of clothes and a backpack. We had nothing. We rang Vinnies and they gave us a beautiful mattress, and their generosity had such an impact on me that I started volunteering there. After 18 months of volunteering they gave me a job and now I’m their Sorting Room Coordinator, taking care of everything from customer service and staff management to logistics.”

Education Unlimited tutor Gayle Taylor says the Teresa who first stepped into the classroom last year is a completely different Teresa than the one we see today.

“At the start of the programme she had no confidence in being able to learn, to such a degree that she pulled me aside and confided that she couldn’t read so didn’t want to read aloud in class,” Gayle says. “I assured her that at no time would she be put in a situation where she would feel exposed and that if or when she wanted to give reading a go, I was there to help her.”

With encouragement and support Teresa gradually overcame her fear.

“The transformation was amazing; as her confidence grew she became more involved in workshop activities. Her enthusiasm for the programme and her learning was infectious, and she has not stopped learning since.

“I am confident that Teresa will be a lifelong learner who will continue to seek opportunities to grow. I’m so pleased for her and look forward to continuing to celebrate her learning journey.”

So what’s next for this remarkable Vinnies employee? Quite a lot as it turns out.

“Next up I want to get my NCEA Level 1,” says Teresa. “Then I can say I did it, I didn’t fail. Beyond that, who knows. I’ve had a pretty interesting life – one day I might even write a book about it!”