I’m Alfred Oyekoya, and I’ve been proud to call Swansea home for nearly 20 years. I got married here, went to school here, and have grown to truly love this city.

One of the major challenges for minorities in Swansea is limited access to vital information. Many times, important opportunities or relevant updates don’t reach minority communities in time, or sometimes not at all. Different groups face different issues. For instance, international students may feel isolated within their school communities, while others struggle with maintaining a healthy work-life balance or navigating digital and language barriers.

This year, I had the honour of being named one of Wales’ top 100 Changemakers and was awarded an MBE at Windsor Castle, during a special ceremony attended by members of the British Royal Family. These recognitions are incredibly meaningful because they acknowledge the grassroots work we do, much of which often goes unnoticed. One of the most rewarding experiences for me is seeing individuals we’ve helped in the past, who once struggled, now coming forward to give back to the community, especially during our food bank drives.

We are deeply engaged with the local community and work in partnership with organisations like Race Council Cymru, Swansea University, and healthcare providers. Our focus is on offering support through drop-in sessions and various training programs. A key initiative of ours is helping new arrivals integrate by providing essential information about jobs, local services, and more through orientation and training sessions.

Stay informed and embrace the changes happening around you, particularly in today’s rapidly advancing fields like technology and artificial intelligence. These areas didn’t exist a few years ago, but now they present exciting new opportunities. It’s vital for young people to explore these emerging fields, keep learning, and position themselves to be leaders and teachers for future generations.

To young people, my advice is simple: Be proud of who you are and where you come from. It can take time to fully embrace your identity, but with the right people around you, it’s a journey that will build your confidence and help you navigate life’s challenges.

Next year, we are launching a project called The Boardroom Experience. This initiative is designed to give young people practical exposure to roles in areas like marketing, finance, and leadership through real-world case studies. This hands-on experience will be invaluable in helping them prepare for the challenges they will face in the future.

Alfred Oyekoya ydw i, ac rydw i wedi bod yn falch o alw Abertawe’n gartref ers bron i 20 mlynedd. Priodais yma, es i’r ysgol yma, ac rydw i wedi tyfu i wir garu’r ddinas hon.

Un o’r heriau mwyaf yw lledaenu gwybodaeth. Yn aml, nid yw cyfleoedd pwysig neu wybodaeth berthnasol yn cyrraedd grwpiau lleiafrifol mewn amser, neu o gwbl. Mae rhwystrau i fynediad yn amrywio yn dibynnu ar y grŵp. Gall myfyrwyr rhyngwladol, er enghraifft, fod wedi’u hynysu yng nghymunedau eu hysgolion, tra bod eraill yn wynebu problemau fel gweithio oriau hir oherwydd diffyg cyllid cyhoeddus neu frwydro â rhwystrau digidol ac iaith.

Mae cael fy enwi ymhlith y 100 o Ysgogwyr Newid gorau yng Nghymru a chael MBE gan lywodraeth y DU eleni yn ddau gyflawniad mawr. Mae’r cydnabyddiaethau hyn yn dilysu’r gwaith llawr gwlad a wnawn, sy’n aml yn mynd heb ei weld. Uchafbwynt i mi yw gweld unigolion yr ydym wedi’u cefnogi, a oedd unwaith yn cael trafferth, bellach yn rhoi yn ôl i’r gymuned, yn enwedig yn ystod ein hymgyrchoedd banc bwyd.

Rydym yn gweithio’n uniongyrchol gyda’r gymuned ac yn partneru gyda sefydliadau fel Race Council Cymru, Prifysgol Abertawe, a darparwyr gofal iechyd. Rydym yn canolbwyntio ar ddarparu cymorth drwy sesiynau galw heibio a rhaglenni hyfforddi. Un o’n mentrau allweddol yw sesiynau cyfeiriadedd a hyfforddiant ar gyfer newydd-ddyfodiaid, gan eu helpu i integreiddio’n well trwy ddarparu gwybodaeth am swyddi a systemau lleol.

Byddwch yn wybodus ac addaswch i’r newidiadau sy’n digwydd o’ch cwmpas. Nid oedd cyfleoedd heddiw – fel y rhai mewn technoleg a deallusrwydd artiffisial – yn bodoli o’r blaen. Mae’n hollbwysig i bobl ifanc gofleidio meysydd newydd a pharhau i ddysgu, gan fod ganddynt y potensial i addysgu ac arwain cenedlaethau’r dyfodol.

I bobl ifanc, fy nghyngor i yw cofleidio pwy ydych chi ac o ble rydych chi’n dod. Mae’n cymryd amser i dyfu mewn i’ch hunaniaeth, ond gyda’r bobl iawn o’ch cwmpas, mae’n daith a fydd yn eich helpu i lywio bywyd yn hyderus.

Y flwyddyn nesaf, rydym yn lansio The Boardroom Experience, rhaglen sydd â’r nod o roi amlygiad ymarferol i bobl ifanc i rolau fel marchnata, cyllid, a’r gyfraith trwy astudiaethau achos yn y byd go iawn. Bydd y fenter hon yn darparu profiad ymarferol amhrisiadwy i’w helpu i ymdopi â heriau’r dyfodol.