Page 12 - Future Leaders Magazine

PROFILES

CHELSEA KWAKYE, 20 creating a ‘safe space’ for BME students and
hosting regular coffee/tea sessions.
School: University of Cambridge “I have created Homerton’s first BME forum
Course: History (BA) whereby students can seek help and advice or
Year: Second simply post interesting articles,” she says. “I
Grade average: 2:1 have also worked closely with senior tutors and
admissions staff to host Homerton’s inaugural
Chelsea has held several leadership roles BME open day for prospective year 12s in inner
at university. As the 2016-17 BME officer for London.” This includes applications, interview
Homerton Union of Students, she worked workshops and alumni speakers.
with senior tutors and staff to ensure BME
matters are addressed on a wider spectrum. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Her key responsibilities involve ensuring that Working as an entertainment lawyer with my
all matters of discrimination are addressed, own agency.

SHARON ONOKAYE
-AKAKA, 21

School King’s College London
Course History (BA)
Year First
Grade average 2:1

In 2016, Sharon co-founded The Right To
ELIZABETH Education (TRTE), an initiative set up to assist VANESSA SEFA, 19
students unable to access student finance
OLADUNNI, 20 for a university education. Sharon, who has School University of York
experienced this issue, presents the work Course English in Education (BA)
School University of Oxford of the campaign to potential funders and Year First
Course History and Politics (BA) volunteers, and organising events. Grade average 2:1
Year Second She is also an ambassador for the Let Us
Grade average 2:1 Learn Campaign which aims to create equal During her short time at university, Vanessa
access to higher education, where she set up has already independently organised an event
Being the co-president of the Pembroke an outreach team to deliver inspirational talks entitled ‘Hot Topics’. The informal evening
College History Society requires Elizabeth and networking to empower young people. included food, music and debate, addressing
to organise social events for more than 40 some of the more contentious issues affecting
history undergraduates and graduates and Where do you see yourself in 10 years? the African Caribbean community in the UK.
host special guest lectures for members. Working in law and heading up my own Questions debated included “How best could
This requires liaising with students, speakers, widening participation scheme. we solve black on black crime?’ as well as
tutors, conference team, the college bursar, general boys vs girl questions on relationships
and sometimes the kitchen to ensure each and etiquette.
event runs smoothly. In 2016, she held a music event for young
In her first year Elizabeth was Racial and people in Croydon in conjunction with Oxjam,
Ethnic Minorities Rep for Pembroke College which included a catwalk show. The event
JCR, where she engaged university-wide raised £500, with 100 people attending over
racial equality discussions, ethnic minority- the course of two days.
orientated events and publicise opportunities.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? As a role model in education for young people.
Giving back in some way to Africa.

IMANI SHOLA, 20 strategies for sustainable development in
Tanzania. As a YouTube Partner and Content
School University of Cambridge Creator she has over 6,000 subscribers using
Course Modern and Medieval the platform to offer academic mentorship
Languages (BA) and insights into her Christian faith. Her
Year Second videos have racked up over 133,000 views.
Grade average First class The award-winning poet recently self-
published her debut book, Heart Shards and
During her first year of university, Imani Lip Balm, which offers comfort to readers
won a place on a two-month summer trip to in the midst of the troubles that have taken
Tanzania with 40 other students. This was as place in the nation in the past year.
a member of the Cambridge Development
Initiative Student Society (CDI), the world’s Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
first student-run development consultancy, Doing something that I love and that allows
which designs and implements innovative me to give back.

10 FUTURE LEADERS | 2017-18