Driving Change
FO r M ing a P er SO n , C hanging T he WO r LD
i am hugely proud to be a Fellow of h omerton. a s a College we believe in our students, in their potential to shape the world for the better: not just academically, but practically and in ways that benefit everyone. Philanthropic support is helping us create the Changemakers Programme, which will give our students the opportunity to develop deep knowledge and skilful means to lead, innovate and understand complex systems that will be of real value in the world. i never cease to be impressed by the young people whom i meet – their drive, determination, and talent. a nd with your support we can make sure people like them continue to join us and flourish as part of h omerton.
Dr Alison Wood Academic Director, Homerton Changemakers
“As a College we believe in our students, in their potential to shape the world for the better…”
“The knowledge I gained, the experiences I had and the links I made will be a big part of shaping my future, and my future work.”
U n LOCK ing OPPO rTU ni TY
iwant the future to be one of equality. i have spent a year fundraising for Unicef UK as President of the Cambridge Unicef U K On Campus Society, and am a proud volunteer of the n ational Council of Women, a women’s rights organisation founded in 1895. When i was offered the opportunity to attend the U n Commission on the Status of Women as a delegate for the n ational Council of Women, i knew it was a lifechanging opportunity to learn more about the challenges people and governments face as well as understanding the process of negotiations that makes change happen – but i would not be able to afford it.
i wrote to the College asking for help. They gave me a grant that enabled me to attend and supported me through the whole process, even putting me in touch with amazing and helpful alumni in n ew York working in relevant areas (including the U n ). The knowledge i gained, the experiences i had and the links i made will be a big part of shaping my future, and my future work. Supporting h omerton gives students like me the opportunity to make the most of our time here at the College, and allows us to pursue the skills and experiences to continue making a difference when we leave. `
Helena Trenkic
BA History, 2nd Year
“I feel like I’m so well supported here, that I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Daniya Ahmed, BA History, 1st Year
SC aTC hing M e B e FO re i Fa LL
upport from h omerton made a huge difference to me. When i arrived from Bangladesh for my Masters, i relied on my family to fund me. h owever, someone close to me fell ill, after which that money wasn’t available anymore. i was mid-way through my Masters, learning things no other course could offer me, with a brilliant supervisor, in a great community.
I knew that if I couldn’t find the funds, i would never be able to pick up where i had left off.
That’s when my College stepped in. Luckily, the College had funds for people in my position.
With that support, i completed my course and was later accepted on a PhD, fully funded by the Cambridge Trust. Without Homerton, I would never have finished my Masters, and never have been able to get on to this PhD. i ’m proud to be at what i call my Cambridge h ome – h omerton.
“Cambridge is a wonderful place to be but it is not cheap and the need for financial support grows ever greater.”
PaY ing i T FO r War D
There’s no doubt that h omerton has had a huge effect on my life. i arrived as a rather naïve young man with an idealistic vision of teaching and schools but coming here and spending time in schools completely changed how i saw education and society. a lthough i never taught, i ’ve spent my entire working life in education and enjoyed it enormously.
Lack of proper student financial support is a genuine obstacle to access to higher education. When i was President of h US in 1989 we campaigned against student loans but the campaign was unsuccessful and the financial landscape for many students has become bleaker
since then. Cambridge is a wonderful place to be but it is not cheap and the need for financial support grows ever greater.
This is why i make a monthly donation.
h omerton’s support network allows the College to help those who need it most and can make the process fair and accessible – and with greater diversity comes greater success.
i t’s also exciting that h omerton still has a willingness to keep reviewing what is offered to students and how to help them fulfil their potential. g iven the College’s distinguished history in education it is absolutely appropriate that it should drive change today towards an accessible educational experience with relevance to the demands of the 21st century.
James Thomson BEd, 1987