Page 13 - Future Leaders 2018-2019

GEORGELENE THEOPHINA Arts
ELLIOTT, 21 GABRIEL, 21

School: Durham University/ School: University of Oxford
University of Mannheim, Course: Philosophy &
Germany Theology
Course: Marketing (BA) Year: Second
Year: Third (of Four) Grade average: 2:1
Grade Average: First
Theophina is the founder and editor-in-chief of Onyx
Georgelene is another young student on a mission to inspire Magazine, a student publication set up to tackle the under-
others to study abroad. Coming across the global youth representation of young black people in the creative industry
leadership network AIESEC at university, she took the first and provide a platform for black students at Oxford.
leap into the unknown by volunteering in Indonesia. “I was tired of looking through magazines and seeing one
She was appointed team leader for finance of a project to token black model,” she says. After launching in January
support local craftspeople. Her role was to help develop a 2018, Onyx received over £8000 of support-in-kind and over
business strategy that protected them from exploitation by 100 article submissions in just a few months. Theophina
big companies, and to raise funds to support them. manages a team of seven editors who are all Oxford
The experience whetted her appetite for foreign travel, so undergraduates, to handle submissions and logistics.
she signed up for a year at the University of Mannheim in Prior to Onyx, Theophina’s work was published in literary
Germany. There, she has continued her work with AIESEC journals and in 2018, she was selected to write for the
as sales and marketing team leader for attracting German BBC. She produced a video entitled, ‘Black Don’t Crack’,
students to the leadership scheme’s projects overseas. which raised awareness of sun protection within the black
“I wanted to learn something different and be in an community and reached 35,000 people on the BBC website.
environment that was completely different,” she says. In the summer of 2017, Theophina worked as a senior mentor
“Through travelling, I’ve seen there are so many differences with the National Citizens Service (NCS), a personal and
between us; but those differences are beautiful.” social development programme for 15 to 17-year-olds.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I hope to be a global marketing manager and have a social At the 10th anniversary event of Onyx magazine, having seen
enterprise that looks at my country of heritage, Sierra Leone. it grow as Future Leaders has – that would be the dream.
Working as a creative at one of the WPP companies.

CHRISTOPHER EUNICE KORMI, 20
JOHNSON, 21

School: Loughborough
School: University of University
Warwick Course: Sociology with
Course: Hispanic Studies Criminology (BSc)
with Portuguese Year: Second
Year: Third (of Four) Grade average: 2:1
Grade average: 2:1
In her first year of university, Eunice and some of her
As co-founder of the Black Excellence Abroad Network, peers established a Ghanaian Society to create a sense
Christopher – who spent this year in Portugal – plans to of community for Ghanaians and for non-Ghanaians to
encourage more black and ethnic minority students to study learn about the culture. In the first year, Eunice took on
overseas. “Go abroad and see how beneficial it can be,” he the role of events manager. By her second year, she found
insists. “You might face racism in some parts of the world but herself juggling the roles of president, events manager and
don’t allow that to stop you.” promotions manager to keep things moving. Pre-planning, a
Working with three fellow students, he plans to organise a positive attitude and passion saw her successfully lead the
series of events at UK universities, and develop a sponsorship team through a successful careers event with Barclays as
pack to push the initiative forward. A dedicated website will special guests and a Ghana independence event with up to
feature blog posts about students’ experiences abroad. 80 people in attendance.
Currently Christopher – whose ultimate goal is to become a “We recently had our elections for the new committee and to
broadcast journalist – is launching his own sites, CLJ Blogs see the year below so pumped up and ready to take things to
and CLJ Vlogs, aimed at inspiring others to learn languages the next level made my heart so full.”
and travel. He freelances for The Common Sense Network, Eunice is a Student Marketer for Graduate Promotions at
writing about topics from Spanish culture to the legacy of her university, and during term time she volunteers with the
Stephen Hawking and contemporary politics. Charnwood Borough Council as a Social Media Consultant
Previously volunteer officer of the ACS at Warwick, he for local businesses, offering advice on how to increase
became heavily involved in mentorship and outreach followers and get more exposure.
programmes with local schools.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I would love to be a fashion designer in the future and to
Ideally a news anchor, like CNN’s Don Lemon or Anderson have started an agency for young people who are looking for
Cooper, covering the news and running debates. work experience to gain skills.

10 ANNIVERSARY EDITION FUTURE LEADERS 11
TH