The SEED Project has been a great foundation for many women in Seymour and surrounds in building up their independence, confidence and nurturing their life.
Kirsty Adams* graduated from The SEED Project’s Changemakers program this year, and the only way is up for her since.
After graduating, Ms Adams went from being shy to being featured in a video at a formal event, the Sambell Oration, with almost 400 attendees.
“I am just really proud of myself,” she said.
“I am just grateful that I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and am looking out for myself now.”
During the annual Sambell Oration, Adult Learning Australia’s chief executive heard Ms Adams’ story and recommended her for the Adult Learner’s Week Scholarship.
The SEED Project program co-ordinator Sam Hugill sent in her application, and Ms Adams won the scholarship grant of $1000.
“Sam rang me one day, and she goes, ‘I want to nominate you’, and I'm like, ‘Okay, what have I done?’,” Ms Adams said.
“She said there’s an Adult Learner’s Week, and I've been doing a course down at the centre to try and better my own education, and she nominated me.
“Two weeks later, she rang me, telling me that I’d won it and I had to get online.
“I was quite surprised that it actually got anywhere.”
Ms Adams used to be a support worker before she started her own family, and now, she is planning to go back to the workforce.
Through The SEED Project and Changemakers, Ms Adams is feeling positive about the future.
“They (The SEED Project) have been really good because they don’t force you to do it, they encourage,” she said.
“Sam had me going in before the program started, just to go in and sit, just so I was in the building, just to make me feel comfortable and safe.
“Now I can walk in the door, and I feel like I’m part of the furniture.”
With the scholarship she received, Ms Adams will be able to fund her school essentials.
“I'm going to be able to put it towards buying myself a laptop,” Ms Adams said.
“I don’t actually have (a laptop) to be able to work and go back to school on.
“It’s something that I wasn’t expecting, and I’m grateful for that I can put towards something that’s going to help.”
Ms Adams will also be speaking at the next Changemakers program at The SEED Project’s centre in Seymour to answer questions from the new batch of women that will be coming through.
* Kirsty’s last name was changed for this article for personal reasons.