As we continue to shape young people’s educational journeys, the commitment to fostering growth, support, and opportunity remains a cornerstone of our mission. The impressive number of applications, successful selections, and active participation in our programmes highlight the enduring impact of The Amos Bursary on the lives of students in London and the West Midlands.
2023 IN REVIEW
Our reflective video ‘2023 in Review’ encapsulates the essence of our journey throughout the year. As 2023 swiftly draws to a close, we are excitedly gearing up for the arrival of 2024.
APPLICATIONS ARE STILL OPEN
Be sure to get your application in before they close at 23:59 on 12 January 2024. We’re looking forward to welcoming our new cohort.
With all these new students coming, we need the mentors to support them. Why don’t you join us and empower young people to change the narrative and normalise success?
Our biennial Gala Dinner will take place on Friday, 21 June 2024, and coincides with our 15th year celebration. Keep an eye on our website as tickets go on general sale in January.
Wishing You a Prosperous New Year!
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from the Amos Bursary community in 2024 as we continue
#PromotingExcellence, #ShapingFutures and #ChangeTheNarrative
As we bid farewell to October, it’s time to look back at the incredible stories and achievements that made this Black History Month so special for us (and there’s a lot!). Our Amos Bursary community continues to shine, promoting excellence, shaping futures and changing the narrative. Here’s a roundup of our top stories.
SALUTING OUR SISTERS
To mark this year’s Black History Month theme of ‘Celebrating or Sisters’, our students and alumni weighed in on the amazing black women they wanted to celebrate.
PROMOTING EXCELLENCE
Samuel Olajugba, a trailblazing Politics and International Relations undergraduate at the University of Kent, embodies excellence, inspires positive change and is ready to make waves at Anthropy UK. 🔗Read more
Ife Alabi, a Warwick Law undergraduate, empowers Midlands youth with a mindset of resilience and LinkedIn expertise, fostering opportunities for growth and achievement. 🔗Read more
Nike Ajijola‘s remarkable speech at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre encourages others to embrace opportunities, seek support, and network with everyone. 🔗 Read more
Alumni Seun Sontan and Gabriel Amida and their team once again brought together African Caribbean Societies from universities across the UK to the Live Nation x Amos Bursary ACS Leadership Summit. 🔗Read more
SHAPING FUTURES
On the first day of the month, one of our Charity Partners, Ideas Foundation, shared how we joined forces to offer Amos students incredible opportunities to nurture their creative talents. 🔗 Read more
Grant Thornton staff gave up their office and their time to introduce students to the world of accounting and financial services with a real-world perspective. It’s been amazing to read some of the employees’ accounts. 🔗 Read more 🔗 Jessica Winter’s thoughts 🔗 Carly Gordon’s wishes
Linklaters opened their doors once again for our Student Development Day where we went through CV Writing, Interviews and Preparation For the World of Work. 🔗 What Awa Amon had to say🔗 Alexia Manentsa’s account
Amos students gained valuable insights at a speed networking session put on by Brown Brothers Harriman at their London HQ. 🔗 Read more
CHANGING THE NARRATIVE
Bank of America opened its doors for the official launch of The Amos BursaryUnder 16 Progressive Network, designed to help students thrive at school and transition successfully into life after GCSEs.
Rokos Capital Management hosted their Black History Month event, which included a book signing by entrepreneur, author and social commentator (oh and did we say Amos Alumnus and Ambassador), Kenny Imafidon. 🔗 Read more 🔗What Kavaughn had to say🔗Read Destiny’s account
Linklaters hosted the Black Apprentice Network’s BHM Conference reviewing the accomplishments of the network in the last year while also providing a glimpse into the upcoming plans for their community in the months ahead. 🔗Read more
Bukunmi Oloyede reminded us how delighted she was to have been selected for the Mission 44 Youth Advisory Board. As an aspiring engineer, she considers it a profound privilege to be a part of this inspirational charity dedicated to driving transformative change. 🔗Read more
Cambridge undergraduate, Amber Morrison spoke at PwC’s virtual town hall meeting explaining what ‘Saluting our Sisters’ means to her as part of our first female cohort and how these bold young women are being equipped to bridge the Authority Gap as they prepare to enter the world of work.
Standard Chartered Bank Celebrated Black History Month, extending their welcome to The Amos Bursary. We were privileged to be able to enjoy the live sounds of the amazing YolanDa Brown and her band. 🔗Read more
Jibril Rose received the Inspired Youth Award from the Association of Jamaican Nationals UK and got the chance to discuss government policy and the issues people are facing in today’s society at No.10! 🔗Read more
They say things come in threes, well Amos Alumni and Ambassador, George ImafidonMBE thought he would keep that trend going this month, in a spectacular way…
1. The Prince of Wales presented the Kid fromPrince of Peckham with an MBE no less for services to engineering, technology and young people! 🔗Read more
2. George was awarded Entrepreneur Rising Star of the Year by Barclays and The Black British Business Awards for the work of his organisation Motivez. 🔗 Read more
3. KPMG recognised Motivez as the Most Promising Non-Profit Organisation. 🔗Read more
ELSEWHERE IN THE COMMUNITY
CELEBRATE Johansel Emanuel Hernandez Pena and Sharon Ukpere both reaching their fundraising goals. They will both be off on the Amos Bursary International Experience to Lisbon, Portugal this year – Web Summit here they come. 🔗Johansel’s fundraising journey🔗Sharon’s fundraising journey
🔗SUPPORT Amos Mentor and donor of over 150 suits to our students, Michael Barrington-Hibbert, is standing as a candidate for Alderman of the City of London. If successful Michael will be the first black Alderman!
🔗CONGRATULATE Amos supporter, Elicia McKenzie who shone at LCCI Black Excellence Awards.
🔗WATCH Amos Alumni Karl Kareem Melami reveal the Sisters he celebrates not just in Black History Month. Spoiler alert, we all salute them for where we are today!
The winners of the Coronation Generation Poster Design Challenge have been announced
Educational charity, Ideas Foundation invited schools, colleges and educators from across the UK to take part in a challenge to encourage young people to get involved in the Coronation of King Charles III by harnessing their creativity.
Throughout April, Ideas Foundation delivered in-person workshops with schools and colleges from across the UK, including Manchester, Scarborough, Belfast, Greenock, Newport and London.
This allowed students to work alongside professional photographers and creatives including Canon Ambassador, Photographer and filmmaker – Clive Booth, Creative and Design lead, Hannah Wood from Wood & Co, Ayo Olubode, Poet and Amos Bursary Alumnus, Jags Singh, Cannon Ambassador, Nigel Stafford from Clear Channel and Robin Wight, founder of Ideas Foundation to develop and hone their skills and build confidence. The judges’ favourite design was created at a workshop hosted by Advertising Agency McCann London.
The Amos Bursary students’ creative process at McCann London for the Coronation Generation Poster Design Challenge
The judge’s favourite design, ‘#KingdomUnited’, was created by students from The Amos Bursary
The design was chosen by the judges because of its ability to do so much by saying very little. Head judge Sir John Hegarty, co-founder of Bartle Bogle Hearty and The Garage Soho, commented, “I wish I had thought of it myself. It’s a brilliant image. It shows how one idea can unite all issues and I love the fact they’ve just inverted Kingdom and United.”
Judges selected a group of ‘winning’ posters, which will be displayed on digital billboards at sites across the UK including Ealing, Liverpool and Glasgow, donated by Clear Channel UK. Alongside Sir John Hegarty The posters were judged by a panel of leading figures from the UK creative and education sectors, which included Kulvinder Johal, regional mentor for London and the South East for the Primary Science Teaching Trust, Simeon Quarrie, pioneering storyteller and technologist and Ben Conway copywriter at McCann London and Ideas Foundation Alumni.
Talent of the future
Conway was inspired by the levels of creativity from all the young people taking part, “To see how the young people have engaged with the Coronation Generation project has been so enlightening, their perspectives as they come of age in the King’s reign, it’s a sign of the times that the United Kingdom is ushering in a new era of hope and vision that we haven’t seen before. These posters they’ve created will be a starting point of King Charles’s history as King, and I’m so happy we’ve been given the platform to validate and uplift the voices of the young people to be a part of that history.”
Heather MacRae, Chief Executive at Ideas Foundation, the award-winning educational charity which champions bringing creativity into the classroom, said “We have all been blown away by the standard of entries and the enthusiasm of schools, having received over 1,000 signups. For many, The King’s Coronation will be the first celebration of this type they will have ever seen. We wanted to ensure young people could share what the occasion means to them. The winning posters give a real insight into how the younger generations view the Monarchy and reveal the yet untapped talent of the future of the UK creative industries.”
Reactions to the win
Colleen Amos OBE, CEO of The Amos Bursary an educational charity that partner with schools to empower British young people of African and Caribbean heritage to excel in education, commented “The Coronation Generation Poster Design Challenge was an amazing opportunity for our students to explore their creativity alongside industry experts. Their design will be displayed to mark this historic event making the whole experience more memorable for all of us. The Coronation values of community, diversity, sustainability, and youth are integral to all that The Amos Bursary does.”
Students involved in the winning poster said:
“I am grateful to have been part of commemorating such an important event in history” – Divine
“I feel honoured to have won as this is such a prestigious event.” – Rebecca
I think it’s nice to have been selected; the feeling that I’ve gone above and beyond in the creative field is something that I’m unlikely to forget.” – Vanessa
“This was a great learning experience for me and fun to do. It’s exciting that our design was chosen by the judges as the winner.” – Erykah
Creativity Wins
Although there can only be one overall ‘judges’ favourite’ design, the real winner is the opportunity itself. Highlighting the importance of creativity and its positive impact on everyone who rolls up their sleeves, embraces the unknown and “gives it a go”.
For more about the Coronation Generation Poster Design Challenge and to see all of the “winning” designs visit Ideas Foundation.
Involved in concept and delivery: Divine Agumba Rebecca Gouro Vanessa Okeke Erykah Worburton Jags Singh – Cannon Ambassador and Photography Tutor for Ideas Foundation
Tonight we marked International Women’s Day by celebrating our very own committee member, Juliet Alexander, at the British Film Institute (BFI). There’s so much more to say about this wonderful evening but it was not lost on us that the title of this 120-minute documentary brilliantly sums up the position of the women of the Amos Bursary.
On Her Shoulders: Black Women in Broadcast Journalism, it screams. And yes whilst the words after the colon give this film more context about Juliet’s personal career, On “Her” Shoulders brilliantly describes where The Amos Bursary began. And by “her” we mean Colleen Amos, by “her”, we mean Baroness Valerie Amos but more than this, by “her” we mean all of the women who since 2009 have been promoting excellence and changing the narrative for young men of African and Caribbean heritage.
But it’s International Women’s Day and we can’t say we were not excited when three years ago young black women were also invited to stand #onhershoulders and The Amos Bursary began shaping futures for the next generation of Black Women in Broadcast Journalism, the next generation of Black Women in STEM, the next generation of Black Women in Law, the next generation of Black Women in __ (fill in the blank!)
So we thought it only right to end the night by celebrating some of the shoulders we stand on, and we mean this is only some, and some of us doing the standing (and strengthening our own shoulders for the future of course). Happy International Women’s Day!
The Amos Bursary launches AMOS Connect, a new professional communications platform providing a significant set of digital features and benefits for our students.
The AMOS Connect platform which was officially launched in July 2022, has been designed to provide every Amos Bursary scholar with a fully hosted website on the ‘.amosbursary.com’ domain. Scholars will have access to their own corner of the internet where they can sell creations, blog their thoughts, showcase a portfolio, share their unique digital CV, or express themselves creatively in some other way. Students have already been developing their sites which are showing great promise. From budding social enterprises like https://ifealabi.amosbursary.com/ to education support services https://nikeajijola.amosbursary.com/ , it is indeed growing into a space for promoting excellence.
This unique offering was made possible by the generosity of Peter Jean-Pean, founder of the IT and digital services platform, WizzyWyp Media. Peter sees this personal gift of his time and expertise as his contribution to changing the narrative for these talented students. “The Amos Bursary gives fantastic support and transforms the lives of young people from African and Caribbean backgrounds. I hope the digital platform that we have developed opens a new chapter for the charity, adding value for the Amos Bursary students and beyond.”
Dowshan Humzah, an Independent Board Director and Strategic Advisor initiated the website project. In his capacity as an advisor to The Amos Bursary, Dowshan remarked from the outset, “This benefit for the Amos Bursary’s students is unique versus any other programme targeting underestimated students or advancing ‘levelling up’ and social mobility in the UK. We have seen how digitisation has advanced during the pandemic and this donation from Peter takes advantage of that. It also serves the growing desire from students to have a digital presence promoting themselves, their interests, passions, business or recreational pursuits.”
The Amos Bursary Co-founder and CEO, Colleen Amos OBE noted, “Our students spend five years on one of our triple track programmes as Scholars, Associates or Progressives. We currently have over 350 students who have the opportunity to benefit from this offer which is value at approximately £1700 per student. We are extremely thankful to Mr Jean-Pean for his generous gift that provides such a relevant proposition for our students and excited to see the successful digital ventures they launch on the platform.”
Phase two of the project is currently in Beta testing and is set to deliver even more communication-enhancing features to The Amos Bursary community.
We are pleased to announce the launch of AMOS News Network in partnership with CNBC International.
This is a new, year-long development and educational programme, continuing the long-term collaboration between our two organisations. The programme will offer Amos students the opportunity to get an inside look at how the news is made and gain first-hand knowledge of journalism and financial news from experts in the field at CNBC International.
CNBC is the leading global network of live business and financial news, information, and analysis, reporting directly from the major financial markets around the globe. In addition to the global TV network, its award-winning content is available on a host of digital platforms and services, including CNBC.com, CNBC PRO and across social channels.
The focus of the programme is aimed at providing students with a range of media-based skills including editorial, production, copywriting, editing, social media and marketing. Additionally, CNBC employees will provide mentorship and guidance tailored to the students’ needs and interests.
Six students with a special interest in media have been selected from across The Bursary. Moyin Babalola, Becklyna Gyampoh, Maame Oppong-Agyare, Eden Ehioghae, Kwaku Boateng and Kwabena Osei will create content in a format of their choice, with the support of AMOS Alumni Max Auer, Xavier Hamilton and a team of CNBC employees and resources. The content will be shared through our social pages and the students will be able to use this content to build their editorial portfolios.
John Casey, President and Managing Director of CNBC International, said: ‘I have been involved with The Amos Bursary for a number of years and having mentored some of the talented pupils of the Bursary, it became clear that a career in media was not something that many aspired to. The team and I at CNBC wanted to create an aspirational programme where students can learn about news reporting and publishing, and the different career tracks available within the media sector.’
Colleen Amos, Co-founder and CEO of The Amos Bursary, added: “Having the AMOS News Network in partnership with CNBC offers our young people an opportunity that will transform their lives. In such a competitive field, the chance to work and learn from professionals in close proximity is priceless.”
The programme will run until the spring of 2023 and culminate with a closing event.
Great news to start the month. Forbes 30 under 30 Europe lists Amos Alumni, Kenny Imafidon and Burphy Zumu under the category of Social Impact.
The list recognises the top 30 most impactful entrepreneurs under the age of 30 in Europe. It shows the power young leaders have to transform business and society.
Both Kenny and Burphy are humbled to be named on the list. Kenny commented on social media, “It’s always a blessing to be recognised for the work that we do. Although we don’t do it for the recognition, but to make an impact.” Burphy echoed his sentiments, “It is truly a blessing to be recognised in such a manner. Even more so in the month that marks an important anniversary for us!”
Burphy and Kenny, along with Leonie Bellio founded ClearView Research in May 2015. The company specialises in working with groups that are usually underrepresented in research.
Here at The AMOS Bursary, we have first-hand experience of the social impact of these two young men from our 2010 and 2012 cohorts. They both serve as “big brothers” to our younger students, motivating and supporting them on their journeys. They are also regular speakers on the AMOS Excellence Programme, offering insights from their personal experiences. Most recently they have taken the AMOS Bursary value of community spirit to the next level, as ClearView Research has become one of our corporate partners.
Forbes says, “The 30 Under 30 offers an annual opportunity to embrace the optimism, inventiveness and boldness of youth.” We say they couldn’t have picked two better people to represent those values than Burphy Zumu and Kenny Imafidon.
Our AMOS Bursary Sister Circle began in 2021 with the first female cohort. We are privileged to be a part of an inspirational network of black women from the AMOS Bursary staff, associates, committee members, supporters and donors whose aim is to build us up to be the leaders of tomorrow.
As young black women, this incredible support system helps address and challenge all and any limiting beliefs and strives to empower us to be the best that we can be. Some of our discussions have included issues such as:
The importance of female friendships and how to cultivate them
Being confident in our abilities and building our self-esteem
How to speak our minds and stay firm in our convictions
Confident and success in male-dominated environments
Maintaining our mental wellbeing
The fight against over-sexualisation
Helping people see that we can be both energetic and smart
How to deal with the barriers we face in society
Demystifying university life
Recognising the gaslighting of career vs. children
Debunking the stereotypes attached to women in the workplace
Articulating what it means to be a young black woman in today’s society and how that affects our life choices
Getting us excited about what lies ahead in the future
This International Women’s day for us is dedicated to celebrating the empowering exchange of ideas, encouragement, and motivation within our sisterhood.
Kenny is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of ClearView Research Ltd, which specialises in research focussing on young people and underrepresented communities. The only black person on the board, In July he was instrumental in securing £10 million over 10 years making a difference to improve the lives of young black people in the UK. He said “I am excited about this new fund and I truly believe that this is the beginning of greater things to come as we continue on our mission to support children and young people most in need and create a greater focus on the challenges faced by young black people in the UK.”
In addition to his role on BBC Children in Need’s Board of Trustees, Kenny is a Trustee of several other charities, a member of the advisory board of the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust and co-founder of a prison programme called ‘My Brother’s Keeper’.
