Education team’s May wrap-up

Summer is here, which means the beginning of a jam-packed period for the Education team at ELBA! Here is what we have been up to so far:

Mentoring Works – Celebration Event

In May, our celebration season kicked off with a vibrant gathering of 50 students and mentors from our Islington partnership, transforming a standard meeting into a powerful story of shared growth. We ignited the room with a “Connection Constellation,” an activity that encouraged everyone to step out of their comfort zones and find the “invisible threads” of experience that link us all.

The heart of the event was the “Growth and Gratitude Tree,” where pairs traced their journey from the difficult roots of early challenges to the flourishing leaves of their proudest achievements. While these pairs will continue their work until their final goodbyes in July, the day was a beautiful reminder that when we bridge the gap between school and the corporate world, we create more than just career pathways, we build a community of mutual respect and lasting inspiration.

Accenture Net-Walking Event

The sun made an appearance at Accenture’s “Net-Walking” event – an inspiring initiative hosted by Accenture as part of their Season of Impact volunteering campaign! On 1 May, 11 motivated east London university students arrived at Accenture’s offices wearing comfortable shoes, eager to dive into the world of Accenture’s projects and impact. They spent the morning connecting with a diverse range of Accenture colleague, gaining invaluable insight into different career paths as volunteers shared their professional journeys and offered essential advice to these future graduates.

One of the students shared:

The highlight was the main networking session: a vibrant, sunny outdoor walk where students had further opportunity to learn more from Accenture employees in an informal setting. This unique setting allowed students to deepen their connections with the Accenture team, posing their well-prepared questions and fostering meaningful conversations.

A huge thank you to the Accenture volunteers for creating such a dynamic and unforgettable experience for these east London students!

Fitch Women in Finance

On 12 May, 16 female students from Newham College attended a fantastic ‘Women in Finance’ event hosted by Fitch Solutions. The day featured inspiring female leaders from Fitch, who each shared their individual experiences as women working in the financial services industry. To help students with their own career and education goals, they also had the opportunity to ask volunteers further questions in a fast-paced speed networking session.

The final activity involved an engaging case study project, where students collaborated in groups to use their problem-solving skills and presented their innovative ideas at the end. The team with the winning presentation was rewarded with some awesome Fitch merchandise!

A huge thank you to Fitch’s passionate volunteers for making the day so engaging and insightful!

Interested in supporting young and ambitious east London students? Get involved by contacting us at [email protected].

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