My name is Jill Duarte, and I have lived in Swansea since the 1980s. I have lived in various parts of the UK and abroad, but when I returned to the UK, I settled in Swansea. Initially, I worked as a lifeguard at the original leisure centre, now LC2. My career path shifted when I joined a team that reorganised local services, leading me to pursue a management course. I eventually transitioned into education, taking on a role as a community education officer at Pentrehafod School. Swansea, to me, is a city with a village-like community, where familiar faces often reappear, creating a close-knit environment that I love.

One significant challenge I faced was during a meeting in Cardiff, where I was the only white person in a room full of Black individuals. This experience gave me a deeper understanding of the discomfort that people of colour often face in predominantly white spaces. Another challenge has been learning to navigate and respect cultural differences, such as personal space and eye contact norms. These challenges have been integral to my role as a counsellor, and I am committed to learning from these experiences and facing them directly to grow and improve.

I have been involved in several initiatives in Swansea, including helping to establish the African Community Centre. Securing the first pot of funding for the centre was a significant milestone and motivated me to continue contributing to the community. I also founded the Hafod Youth Action Group, which empowered young people from diverse backgrounds by teaching them leadership skills. One of my proudest achievements was facilitating a life-changing back surgery for a young man from Eswatini (Swaziland), who later discovered his talent for painting while living with me. My efforts have been recognized with several awards, including the Service Excellence Award in Swansea.

My approach to engaging with the local community is highly personal. I have built a strong network in Swansea and am known for encouraging others to get involved in community activities. Through my counselling work, I have helped individuals take steps toward greater community engagement, often leading them by the hand to ensure they feel supported. I believe that this personal touch is the most effective way to foster meaningful connections and involvement.

I believe that changing attitudes towards diversity and inclusion requires effort from both sides. While it might be easier for someone like me to reach out, it is also important for the wider community to take risks and step out of their comfort zones. True success in this area will be achieved when everyone, regardless of background, feels confident in embracing diversity and building inclusive communities.

My advice for young people is to take advantage of opportunities to express themselves and engage with their communities. For example, the Digital Culture Exchange project allowed young participants to interview each other and share their experiences. I encourage young people to take risks and step forward, as doing so can lead to significant personal and professional growth.

Currently, I am involved in the HarMINDise mental health initiative, which focuses on resilience and system change. Additionally, I am working on a Wales for Africa application to support young people in Eswatini in leading agricultural projects. This initiative aims to foster cultural exchange with the African Community Centre in Swansea. I am planning fundraising efforts to support this project, with the hope of creating meaningful connections and mutual benefits for both communities.

Fy enw i yw Jill Duarte, ac rwyf wedi byw yn Abertawe ers y 1980au. Rwyf wedi byw mewn gwahanol rannau o’r DU a thramor, ond pan ddychwelais i’r DU, ymgartrefais yn Abertawe. I ddechrau, roeddwn yn gweithio fel achubwr bywydau yn y ganolfan hamdden wreiddiol, LC2 bellach. Newidiodd fy llwybr gyrfa pan ymunais â thîm a ad-drefnodd wasanaethau lleol, gan fy arwain i ddilyn cwrs rheoli. Symudais i fyd addysg yn y pen draw, gan gymryd rôl fel swyddog addysg gymunedol yn Ysgol Pentrehafod. Mae Abertawe, i mi, yn ddinas â chymuned debyg i bentref, lle mae wynebau cyfarwydd yn aml yn ailymddangos, gan greu amgylchedd clos yr wyf yn ei garu.

Un her sylweddol a wynebais oedd yn ystod cyfarfod yng Nghaerdydd, lle fi oedd yr unig berson gwyn mewn ystafell yn llawn unigolion Du. Rhoddodd y profiad hwn ddealltwriaeth ddyfnach i mi o’r anghysur y mae pobl o liw yn aml yn ei wynebu mewn mannau gwyn yn bennaf. Her arall fu dysgu llywio a pharchu gwahaniaethau diwylliannol, megis gofod personol a normau cyswllt llygaid. Mae’r heriau hyn wedi bod yn rhan annatod o fy rôl fel cwnselydd, ac rwyf wedi ymrwymo i ddysgu o’r profiadau hyn a’u hwynebu’n uniongyrchol i dyfu a gwella.

Rwyf wedi bod yn rhan o sawl menter yn Abertawe, gan gynnwys helpu i sefydlu’r Ganolfan Gymunedol Affricanaidd. Roedd sicrhau’r pot cyntaf o gyllid ar gyfer y ganolfan yn garreg filltir arwyddocaol ac wedi fy ysgogi i barhau i gyfrannu at y gymuned. Hefyd sefydlais Grŵp Gweithredu Ieuenctid yr Hafod, a oedd yn grymuso pobl ifanc o gefndiroedd amrywiol drwy ddysgu sgiliau arweiniad iddynt. Un o’m llwyddiannau mwyaf balch oedd hwyluso llawdriniaeth gefn a newidiodd ei fywyd i ddyn ifanc o Eswatini (Swazili), a ddarganfuodd yn ddiweddarach ei ddawn i beintio tra’n byw gyda mi. Mae fy ymdrechion wedi cael eu cydnabod gyda sawl gwobr, gan gynnwys y Wobr Rhagoriaeth Gwasanaeth yn Abertawe.

Mae fy agwedd at ymgysylltu â’r gymuned leol yn bersonol iawn. Rwyf wedi adeiladu rhwydwaith cryf yn Abertawe ac rwy’n adnabyddus am annog eraill i gymryd rhan mewn gweithgareddau cymunedol. Trwy fy ngwaith cwnsela, rwyf wedi helpu unigolion i gymryd camau tuag at fwy o ymgysylltiad cymunedol, gan eu harwain yn aml â llaw i sicrhau eu bod yn teimlo eu bod yn cael eu cefnogi. Credaf mai’r ymagwedd bersonol hon yw’r ffordd fwyaf effeithiol o feithrin cysylltiadau ac ymglymiad ystyrlon.

Credaf fod newid agweddau tuag at amrywiaeth a chynhwysiant yn gofyn am ymdrech gan y ddwy ochr. Er y gallai fod yn haws i rywun fel fi estyn allan, mae hefyd yn bwysig i’r gymuned ehangach gymryd risgiau a chamu allan o’u parthau cysur. Bydd gwir lwyddiant yn y maes hwn yn cael ei gyflawni pan fydd pawb, waeth beth fo’u cefndir, yn teimlo’n hyderus wrth groesawu amrywiaeth ac adeiladu cymunedau cynhwysol.

Fy nghyngor i bobl ifanc yw manteisio ar gyfleoedd i fynegi eu hunain ac ymgysylltu â’u cymunedau. Er enghraifft, roedd y prosiect Cyfnewid Diwylliant Digidol yn caniatáu i gyfranogwyr ifanc gyfweld â’i gilydd a rhannu eu profiadau. Rwy’n annog pobl ifanc i fentro a chamu ymlaen, gan y gall gwneud hynny arwain at dwf personol a phroffesiynol sylweddol.

Ar hyn o bryd, rwy’n ymwneud â menter iechyd meddwl HarMINDise, sy’n canolbwyntio ar wytnwch a newid systemau. Yn ogystal, rwyf yn gweithio ar gais Wales for Africa i gefnogi pobl ifanc yn Eswatini i arwain prosiectau amaethyddol. Nod y fenter hon yw meithrin cyfnewid diwylliannol gyda’r Ganolfan Gymunedol Affricanaidd yn Abertawe. Rwy’n cynllunio ymdrechion codi arian i gefnogi’r prosiect hwn, gyda’r gobaith o greu cysylltiadau ystyrlon a buddiol i’r ddwy gymuned.