In their own words
Stories
Hear from students whose lives have been changed through mentorship and guidance, and from the mentors who walked alongside them.
Students
Students tell their story
Young people who arrived in the UK mid-education, and what happened when a route finally opened.
Anonymous
Summer school participant & mentee
“I came to the UK in 2020 as a minor without a diploma. A year later I won the Bowman Scholarship and started my foundation year at UCL.”
Read full storySamah
Summer school participant & mentee
“I am from Syria. I applied to learn more about UCL because I am interested in studying there, and to improve my knowledge about university life.”
Read full storyEnkophazion
Summer school participant & mentee
“Before I joined the summer school, I never felt capable of science. Now all I want to do in the future is science.”
Read full storyZeyneb
Student
Story coming soon.
Mentors
Shaping futures as a mentor
The inspiring journeys of our dedicated mentors, who are shaping the future through education and guidance.
Abi
Senior Mentor
- Refugee Education
- Social Impact
- Community Building
“Education empowers young refugees to build bridges between their past experiences and future aspirations, creating pathways to success that seemed impossible before.”
Read full storyAlyssa
Lead Mentor
- STEM Education
- Career Guidance
- Leadership
“I wanted to teach for a meaningful cause that goes beyond traditional education, focusing on empowering students to become leaders and innovators in their communities.”
Read full storyChapman
Expert Mentor
- Academic Excellence
- Research Methods
- Critical Thinking
“I wanted to teach for a meaningful cause that transforms not just academic performance, but develops critical thinking skills that students carry throughout their lives and careers.”
Read full storyChristina
Mentor
- Youth Engagement
- Soft Skills
- Confidence Building
“I chose to mentor because I believe every young person deserves someone who believes in them, even before they believe in themselves.”
Read full storyElias
Mentor
- Digital Literacy
- Mentor Support
- Inclusion
“Mentorship is about showing up consistently. It’s in those small consistent efforts that transformation truly begins.”
Read full storyFern
Mentor
- Empowerment
- Life Coaching
- Career Growth
“For me, mentoring is about helping others unlock the confidence to imagine more, try more, and be more than they thought possible.”
Read full storyHector
Mentor
- Resilience
- Youth Development
- Leadership
“My aim is to help students recognise the strength they already hold within and equip them to lead their own story forward.”
Read full story
Your story next
Become a mentor, or apply to the programme
Every story on this page started with one email. Whichever side of it you are on, we would like to hear from you.