A mother of five who has shown remarkable progress in English language learning, and who is giving back to her community, has won our 2026 Dunedin Adult Learner Award.
Inspired by ACE Adult Learners Week, Dunedin Centre Manager Sasitorn Kanthiya organised a competition for Dunedin learners to recognise and celebrate excellence in adult learning.
Dunedin Mayor Sophie Barker joined the ceremony to present the English Language Partners award to Hamida at a ceremony in Dunedin on September 10.
“Unbelievable, I can't tell my feeling in my words,” Hamida says.
“The award means lots, it encourages me to continue and to be patient and hard-working.” - Hamida
Hamida, originally from Afghanistan is one of nine migrants and former refugees who were honoured as award finalists at the event at our Dunedin Centre.
Hamida says she is trying to open the way for other Afghan women, to inspire and encourage them. Her goal is to be a translator using English, Farsi and Dari, which is the dialect of the Persian language spoken in Afghanistan.
“It's my dream, so I'm trying to improve my English.”
She left Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, in 2017 and spent four-and-a-half years in Malaysia before moving to New Zealand in August 2021.
Hamida started learning at our Dunedin Centre in 2022, participating in the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) intensive programme for three years.
The dedicated learner is now studying at the Otago Polytechnic for a New Zealand Certificate in English Language Level 3 (Applied) (Academic) qualification.
She studies part-time and is employed as a casual ELP Cultural Language Assistant in ESOL literacy classes.
The award judges say Hamida has approached her studies with determination and diligence, while caring for her five children.
She has also been active in the community, volunteering as an English-Dari translator for ELP Road Code classes.
“I really love to help others, especially women,” she says.
Hamida's desire to help other people began decades ago while she was a high school student in Kabul.
She says Afghanistan's civil war started in 1991 and at the end of 1992, her family was evacuated from the capital to the countryside.
When she couldn't go to school, her brother helped her study at home for a year.
“I love to study.”
Hamida then began teaching rural women how to read and write Dari.
She started teaching to keep herself busy, which she says helped her as well as the women.
Speaking about life in New Zealand, Hamida thanks ELP staff for their support and kind words, that inspire learners to further develop.
She says her husband Ghulam Ali has been supportive and encouraging, as have her children, especially her daughters.
Ghulam Ali was also nominated for the award, including for practically helping Afghan families to settle once in Dunedin.
Fellow Adult Learner Award finalist Gulalai thanks ELP for nominating her, “from deep down in my heart”.
She is grateful for the possibility to improve her English.
“When I think about Afghanistan, many children and adults don't have the opportunity to learn to read or write.
“I sincerely wish they could have the opportunity that I have here.”
Learning is a gift for everyone of every age, she says, expressing her gratitude to ELP teachers and volunteers for this opportunity and their support.
"They are contributing their experiences and cultures to Dunedin and the city is richer because of this. The strength of a city comes from its people." - Mayor Barker
Mayor Barker says learning a new language is not easy and for many ELP learners, this challenge is part of a bigger journey. She says all nine finalists have accomplished something “extraordinary”.
Teachers nominated learners from their classes for the award.
“The focus is on outstanding learners who have found their voices and are using the language skills they gained from ELP to advocate for worthy causes, and to support and help others in the community.” - Sasitorn
At the ceremony, learners' families and friends plus ELP staff and volunteers heard about each finalist's academic, employment and social achievements.
Most of these learners have gained full-time or part-time work at places as diverse as a plastic manufacturing company, cafe, meat processing factory and uniform company.
Some are actively helping others in their own ethnic communities and beyond, such as volunteering at the New Zealand Red Cross and the Dunedin Curtain Bank.
The award judges were ELP Senior Teaching and Learning Manager Jo Leach, of Wellington, and Christchurch Centre Manager Sheryl Jackson.
The awards ceremony was made possible with a grant from Adult and Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa and we are grateful for the support.
ACE organises and funds the annual Adult Learners' Week. (September 7 to 13 in 2026)
We would love to hear from you if this story has inspired you to learn English for everyday life, work or study. We have 21 centres around New Zealand and offer classes online.
