South Devon College student plays her part in helping college win prestigious sustainability award
A Devon student who arrived in the UK not being able to speak any English has helped her college win a national sustainability award.
Fatima Alali came to the UK from Sweden three years ago and is now studying at South Devon College.
The 18 year old, who is studying Access to Higher Education, was chosen to speak to judges of the prestigious Green Gown Awards about her experiences of sustainability at the college and how the college has helped her on her journey to achieve her ambitions since she arrived in the UK.
Fatima travelled to Sweden from Kuwait as a nine year old with her parents and two older brothers. The family arrived in Sweden as illegal immigrants.
“We crossed the ocean on a boat, it was very scary, and we walked through many countries. It was frightening but it has made me a better person.”
After several years in Sweden they came to London and then Devon.
South Devon College recently won Sustainability Institution of the Year at the Green Gown Awards. The college was recognised for its unbroken green thread and its ambitious sustainability strategy that has woven sustainability into the hearts, minds and actions of learners and staff, as well as throughout the curriculum.
“There are three pillars of sustainability,” explains Matt Green, Head of Commercial Services and Sustainability at South Devon College.
“Environmental, economic and social. Environmental is the one most people have heard about, it’s preserving and protecting our natural environment.
“Economic sustainability is about the viability of economic systems over time, essentially the good use of resources, ethical business conduct and financial resilience.
“Social sustainability is about the wellbeing of people and communities, now and in the future and includes human rights, social justice and education, basically improving our quality of life.”
Fatima, who wants to be a human rights lawyer, says South Devon College has inspired her on her journey as the college cares about human rights and the wellbeing of all students.
She believes she is the perfect example of this, having arrived at the college with no English, progressed through GCSEs and now on a pathway to higher education.
“The college supported me from my first day here in 2022 when I was 16. They recommended I start with GCSEs and I worked my way from there. During my GCSEs I was offered one to one coaching which really helped me achieve the grades I needed to progress on to my Access to Higher Education course.
Fatima says the wellbeing support at the college has been really helpful.
“The wellbeing team are always there for everyone and there are lots of clubs for different groups. I am part of the International Club and it helps me to meet with other students who share similar experiences of moving to the UK. Everyone at the college feels respected and safe.”
The college has a zero hunger approach for students. “Many of us are on free college meals so we get a hot meal at lunchtime and the college provides toast every morning for any student that wants it.”
The college promotes equality by getting girls into traditionally male jobs like construction and boys into beauty and care.
Fatima says everyone deserves to have basic rights and someone to fight for them.
“My experiences have changed me for the better. I am more patient and I am a stronger person. I have a goal and I want to work hard and become a lawyer.”
