AMOS News Network in Partnership with CNBC International – New Development Programme Launches

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. 

Find out how you too can become an AMOS Bursary Corporate Partner here https://www.amosbursary.org.uk/partners/

Discover more about the leading international business and financial news network here http://www.cnbc.com

Remembering George Floyd on the Journey Forward

Today marks the second anniversary of the passing of George Floyd and we take a moment to reflect on his untimely murder in a police attack.

In case there is anyone who does not know, George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was apprehended for an alleged offence in Minneapolis, USA. Following his apprehension, four police officers took a series of actions that not only violated his rights but lead to his neck being pinned against the ground, whilst he pleaded for his life, for eight minutes and forty-six seconds until he eventually passed away.

It took little under nine minutes for a police officer, Derick Chauvin to take his life. Nine minutes that should have been used to make the rational and moral decision to drive Mr Floyd to the police station for further questioning, yet instead they were spent murdering and allowing his murder, despite bystanders crying and screaming for them to stop.

There is no denying that the treatment Mr Floyd received was unjust; regardless of whatever crime he may have been accused of committing there is no excuse to murder anyone, let alone due to racial stereotypes associated with the colour of their skin.

While this day signposts an untimely and melancholic event, it also reinforces the mission of charities such as The Amos Bursary. Our mission seeks to help change the negative narrative associated with being young and Black. To help others see that we are so much more than a code like ‘IC3’ or a statistic in the number of people not going into higher education. That we can make our dreams a reality and not feel like we have to be held down by the clichés associated with being black.

The AMOS Bursary community that has been formed over the past 13 years facilitates and champions the success of ambitious Black British men and women from underprivileged backgrounds. It offers us empowerment and the ability to develop confidence in ourselves and our skill sets through workshops, networking events and so much more. Being part of The Bursary and its excellence program has made us increasingly confident in our abilities by the minute.

It has often been said that Mahatma Gandhi famously said “Be the change you want to see in the world”. In fact what he said was “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.” As AMOS Bursary scholars we can say with confidence, that the skills and mindset that are being developed in us are helping us to become pioneers of change within our community. We’re not waiting to see what others do. We’re moving and we’re shaping futures that transform stereotypes about young black people and that allow students and professionals of African and Caribbean heritage to have the same opportunities as their white counterparts.

Article by Oluwabukunmi Oloyede and Daniel Bateren

Discover how The AMOS Bursary students and alumni have been inspired to change the narrative.

Think about partnering with us to shape the future

Talking diversity, equality and inclusion with HRH The Prince of Wales

Yesterday four AMOS brothers were part of a round table discussion at University College, Oxford hosted by Baroness Amos of Brondesbury with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as the guest of honour.

Amos alumni and ambassador Isaiah Wellington-Lynn, alongside current Amos scholars Wayne Gouro, Kwabena Osei and Leon Gidigbi discussed key issues surrounding access to Oxford and Cambridge for underrepresented groups and shared their own personal journeys of applying to and being at Oxford. The Prince took great interest in understanding their varied perspectives and the challenges they faced which included everything from misconceptions of Oxford, to lack of guidance and encouragement.

They also reflected on critical things that have helped them on their journeys such as the UNIQ Oxford program and The AMOS Bursary, and they explored ideas of what could be done to improve access further.

Isaiah’s PhD research paper “The anthropology of belonging, meritocracy and privilege” was of particular interest as Prince Charles is currently thinking a lot about how to leverage his network to better support young people pre, during and post-university, and those who take alternative paths. Isaiah said of the visit, “He was very inquisitive and managed to get me to talk about a lot of different things from basketball, my £64,000 crowdfunding campaign and my upbringing to the London Interdisciplinary School, the challenges of siloed education, and a university’s duty to validate contemporary jobs and career paths.”

Yesterday these young men left the residence of Baroness Amos feeling privileged to have had a seat at such an influential table alongside the future monarch. Today they got their heads back down and continued the necessary work to build the tables that they can invite their younger AMOS brothers and sisters to sit at in the future.

When future kings meet the future king great things can happen!

Get insight into what drives our amazing co-founder and patron Baroness Valerie Amos in her Becoming X interview

Discover what sets AMOS Bursary Students apart in any room and what inspires our alumni to continue to be ambassadors for change

Kenny and Burphy listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2022

Kenny & Burphy Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe 2022

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.

Find out how you too can become an AMOS Bursary Corporate Partner here https://www.amosbursary.org.uk/partners/

Discover more about the impactful work of ClearView Research on their website https://www.clearviewresearch.co.uk/

Check out the full list of 30 under 30 Europe 2022 honourees here https://www.forbes.com/30-under-30/2022/europe/

Giovanni Wins Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2021

AMOS Scholar, Giovanni Rose, has beaten over 6,000 young writers to become a top 15 winner of the coveted Poetry Society Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2021.

Giovanni who is part of our 2021 cohort wrote the powerful ‘Welcome to Tottenham’ to give a voice to his experiences growing up in the North London area.

The 17 year old states that his hope is that one day he can play a part in developing his community, getting rid of all of the negative things that he spoke about in his poem and make Tottenham a better place.

Read the full award-winning poem https://poetrysociety.org.uk/poems/welcome-to-tottenham

Watch Giovanni perform the Poem during his BBC London Interview https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-london-59263238