‼️🔊CALLING FOR YOUR HELP🔊‼️

In just a few days, students from the class of 2024 will receive their results (GCSEs, A-Levels etc.), marking a significant milestone in their educational journeys. This should be a time of joy and celebration, a chance for students to reflect on their hard work and achievements, catch up with teachers and peers, and look forward to future endeavors.

However, the current climate of unrest, hate crimes, and racism has cast a shadow over this exciting day. Many underrepresented students feel scared to leave their homes to collect their results or celebrate their hard work. As a tutor and mentor in STEM subjects, it is heartbreaking to hear my students losing their excitement for the summer due to these ongoing issues.💔

I remember vividly the fear and isolation I felt as a young student. There were days when I would rather walk home in the rain after school than face the bullying and racial abuse on the bus. I was told to "go back to my country" and was denied entry by those who tormented me. Nobody helped. Those experiences left deep scars, and I am deeply concerned for the mental health of young people facing similar challenges today.

Education has been my lifeline. It gave me a voice and the strength to give back to my community. 🙏 I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities I have had, including receiving the Sir Robert Martin Award from Loughborough University. With this privilege, I am donating £1,000 of the award to YoungMinds Charity to support continuous mental health support for young people. The remaining amount will fund my final year research development journey, helping to disseminate our group’s important work supporting healthcare and sustainable R&D. 🧫🔬👩🏻‍🔬🎨🌏

But I cannot do this alone.

Please, I need YOUR help to ensure that young people have the support they need to thrive👩🏻‍🎓👩🏽‍🎓👨🏿‍🎓👨🏻‍🎓👨🏾‍🎓. This effort is not just about mental health - it is about improving social mobility for underrepresented students. As a STEM advocate, I am passionate about helping aspiring next-generation STEM researchers. Early educational experiences can have a profound impact on someone's career choice. I wouldn't be where I am today without the confidential support of my school teachers during incidents of racism. However, I was unaware of the additional support available to me.

We must ensure that racial hate does not deter future scientists. It is already challenging enough for underrepresented students to enter the chemical sector, as highlighted by the Royal Society of Chemistry's Missing Elements report📑: https://www.rsc.org/policy-evidence-campaigns/inclusion-diversity/surveys-reports-campaigns/racial-and-ethnic-inequalities-in-the-chemical-sciences/

This is our chance to make a difference.

Unfortunately, mental health is still often a taboo topic, especially in many cultures, including my own. It is crucial now more than ever to help normalise these discussions and provide the necessary support for our youth. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

Please join me in supporting YoungMinds. Your donation can make a significant impact on the lives of young people, helping them to overcome their fears, celebrate their achievements, and pursue their dreams without the burden of racism holding them back.

Donate now to support mental health and social mobility for young people.

Together, we can make a difference🫱🏾‍🫲🏿

Thank you for your generosity and support! 🫂

YoungMinds is the UK's leading charity championing the wellbeing and mental health of children and young people. Driven by their experience, YoungMinds creates change so that children and young people can cope with life's adversities, find help when needed and succeed in life.