A WINNING ATTITUDE Education Is Not a Guarantee of Wealth
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IMPACT REPORT 2017 the AMOS BURSARY Realising the ambitions of young men A WINNING ATTITUDE Education is not a guarantee of wealth. It is a guarantee against abject poverty. Mike Amos Contents Damon Ying – Outstanding student of the year 2017 5 Reflections 6 What is the Amos Bursary? 9 Linklaters five transformational years 10 Achieving excellence 13 They are off to university 14 Isaiah Lynn – from Stratford to Harvard 14 Rising stars 15 Personal and professional development 16 Everyone is battling ‘something’ every day of their life 16 Commercial awareness with Helios Investments 17 King’s College sponsors year 12 Conference 18 Opportunities 19 Youth, diversity and employment, at Wychwood House 19 Jazz at the British Library 19 Conversations with the UN Secretary General 21 Community Engagement 25 Warsame supports Somali Community 26 Prostate Cancer Challenge 26 Alumni Update 28 Employment 2013–2017 29 Thank you 29 3 | IMPACT REPORT 2017: A WINNING ATTITUDE Damon Ying | 4 Outstanding Student of 2017 Damon joined the Bursary in 2013 and went on to study A Levels in four subjects and attained grades A*, A*, A and C. He secured a place at UCL to pursue an MSci undergraduate degree in Mathematics and graduated with a 2:1 in 2017. Hard working and conscientious with a my Prudential experience was both worthwhile and determination to succeed, Damon joined the enjoyable and I wished I could have stayed longer.’ Bursary and the goal he set himself was to improve Damon is an outstanding organist. According to his his communication and social interaction. Damon mentor Dr Omar Daniels, ‘His mastery has progressed made use of every opportunity available to him. to virtuosity and excellence. He recently topped the He attended almost every development day and Associateship Diploma examination of the Royal networking opportunity to practice and work on College of Organists in the UK obtaining the highest his personal development. He developed a strong marks and winning all 3 major prizes on offer for the relationship with his mentor Omar Daniels. He exam. He reached this level of excellence by diligent said ‘My mentor, Omar, was especially helpful in use of two Organ Scholarships at two churches supporting me and I am very grateful to him’. in London that offered training in exchange for In the summer of 2015 Damon, along with nine other his regular playing at weekly Sunday services and AB students travelled to New York for a study tour. He choral and other events.’ In June 2017 Damon was had the opportunity to get some work experience in recognised with the Outstanding Student Award at the Finance and Operations Department at one of the Amos Bursary Summer Fundraising Gala and his the leading global law firms – Linklaters. attendance to several social events including events at the House of Lords is in marked contrast to his I learnt to appreciate how effective teamwork can early days when he grappled with his communication be in achieving successful outcomes and was able and social interaction abilities. to improve my communication skills both verbally and in writing. Overall, I had a very worthwhile Damon now has a Graduate position as a and most enjoyable experience in New York City. Statistician working for the Government Statistical I gained many valuable skills which will be essential Service (GSS) and sees this as a stepping stone to for my future job prospects and every single day his ambition to become an actuary. I learnt something totally new for which I am I have had extremely good support from the Bursary extremely grateful. and the best mentor that I could ever ask for in Omar Daniels who has supported me throughout His internship at Prudential in 2016 proved to be the my time as a student of the Bursary. I am particularly most appropriate and valuable to his actuarial career grateful for the opportunity to meet new people – aspirations. He was able to gain an awareness of which was useful in enhancing my social and current developments in this sector; learn a range of communication skills. As an alumnus of the Amos relevant technical skills; network with many of the Bursary, I would like to keep in touch and offer my actuaries employed in the Group Risk department; services in whatever way is deemed suitable. and also enhance his interpersonal skills. He gained an outline of what trainee actuaries are required He is a man of his word and is one of the Amos to do; actuarial career progression; and the best Alumni who prepare AB students for Assessment option to proceed with this career. He said ‘Overall, Centres. 5 | Reflections Colleen Amos, CEO Amos Bursary As we reflect on 2017, the words of Dame Vivian Hunt, Managing Partner UK and Ireland McKinsey and Company, continue to resonate for our students, ‘In today’s world employers with more diverse workforces perform better financially’. The Amos Bursary (AB) offer same goal. In 2017 we held 31 London-based boys of African- development workshops, offered Caribbean background the 25 networking and professional chance to aim higher than the development opportunities. statistics on higher education One of the true secrets to success, participation and career is the ability to develop ‘A Winning progression would suggest. Attitude’ and overcome self-doubt. Against this backdrop Amos This was the theme for our conference Bursary students continue to held in July 2017. It was the driving strive for success to become the force for everyone in 2017 and was changemakers in organisations Colleen Amos, exemplified by Ashley McFarlane our Amos Bursary CEO across the world. To-date our first student to qualify as a doctor. graduates have achieved 100% Ashley was focused and quietly employment. determined and motivated to study medicine. While on holiday in Jamaica I am always asked ‘How do you assess a hurricane hit the island and there your success?’ My response, listen to was extensive damage to property the stories from our students, alumni and the environment. He took part in and mentors. The journeys they travel the relief effort aimed at improving together, the experiences they share the quality of life for locals who had and the life long bond they all form. suffered as a result of the natural The aim of every student joining the disaster. Bursary is to achieve success, but Isaiah Lynn 3rd year UCL student who we also know that they will have in two months raised £70,000 to difficult times, we know at times secure a place for a year at Harvard. they will fail and have to step back to move forward. They will encounter Isaiah’s winning attitude motivated, challenges like never before. The inspired and lifted him into new levels Bursary will be with them through of awareness and potential. It gave the bad times and the good. What him the confidence and self-belief they do know is they are part of a necessary to take charge of his life for brotherhood of 127 AB students greater personal and career success. and alumni, 42 Associates and over He has become a role model for the 200 mentors and 35 Committed other students and we wish him all volunteers all working towards the the best at Harvard. | 6 CHAPTER Many students have excelled this Looking forward, 2018 marks limited financial impact; explore year, supported by the guidance 10 years since Michael and the potential to support schools, of our volunteers, facilitators, Eunice Amos passed away. They universities and organisations speakers and mentors. They have were the inspiration behind the using our approach to raising used the information, tools and Bursary, and we are committed to attainment of students, and techniques provided throughout building on the legacy established explore alternative funding the year, to apply as part of their in their name. We will continue opportunities. personal growth and development to strengthen the employment I hope you enjoy this report gaining greater insight into how potential of the students by: which captures our student ‘A winning Attitude’ is critical for maximising our use of Alumni stories, successes and them as they prepare for their and Undergraduates; give a opportunities all of which time at university, in their careers, greater focus on technology contributed towards making into the world of work, and as and well-being; maximise sure that 2017 was another future leaders. networking opportunities; embed successful year in our history. the Associates Programme as a tool to upscale the Bursary with 7 | IMPACT REPORT 2017: A WINNING ATTITUDE Student complement 34 graduates 80 Current students 21 Associate students Student destination 2017 62 University students 3 Post graduate 28 Employed 4 Gap year 17 School students 21 Associate students | 8 What is the Amos Bursary? Lohan Morrison and Kai Moore, first year students at Warwick University give the students’ perspective. Lohan Morrison Kai Moore Being a student on the If I were to summarise the Amos Bursary has helped Amos Bursary I would use me to combat one of the the old adage, ‘If you give biggest hurdles I’ve actually a man a fish he will eat for faced so far. At the end of a day but if you give him a my first year of doing my fishing rod he will eat for AS, I scored a shocking a lifetime’. By this I mean, D in my favourite subject whilst at the AB I was which is History. That was placed with a network of devastating for me because I had put in so much young men who were all in the same age category effort and was so enthusiastic about this subject as myself.