Students of Colour Ambassadors

Update from your SOCAs, January 2023!

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 14:54:11 Z

BIO SOCAs!

Hi from Serena and Kaainat! In semester one, biological society, biochemical society, pride in biology and BAME in BIO collaboratively held a successful meet and greet with a turnout of approximately forty people. There was food and badge making to offer a more relaxed environment in which BIO students can converse and feel comfortable. Additionally we held a black history month event in the atrium of the new science building which again, was a great success with a turnout of 50+ people. There was a fantastic cake to highlight the month as well as an informative slide show presentation to feature some of the black pioneers in science. This semester we hope to achieve even more student engagement through the better use of our social media such as Instagram which everyone should give a follow! – ueabameinbio. We also hope to make a difference within the actual curriculum by introducing our decolonising the curriculum workshop into the skills for biologists/chemists.

HSC SOCA!

Hi! This is your HSC Student of Colour Ambassador, Kody. For the first semester of being an ambassador, I have organized a Meet and Greet: Pizza and Quiz night for our fellow schoolmates to have a bit of fun while enjoying the scrumptious food provided. Monthly BAME meeting has also been taking place with interested lecturers to brainstorm potential events to be held in the future and update each other about the School’s learning atmosphere. HSC First Get-together in 2023 in January marks the end of the first semester’s event. It was a successful night with multiple students attending to discuss about their course, reflection of first semester and future ambition. Several ideas concerning future events to be held were also suggested by the participants. They pointed out that it was a great way to socialize and mingle in this way especially amazing hot food and drinks were arranged as well.

For the coming semester, I would endeavor to feedback students’ opinion to related authority as usual and organize events that would match with students’ preferences and hopefully foster more meaningful connection in HSC! Please continue to support us and wish everyone an amazing year ahead!

LAW SOCA!

Hello from Sharia! My role as a Student of Colour Ambassador has been quite eventful so far. I have been able to learn a lot through various training sessions and workshops. The most interesting was the Mental Health Awareness workshop I attended in November last year. Not only was it insightful but it enabled me to gain a deeper understanding for how important it is to prioritise mental health. This newfound understanding will equip me further in my role to better support other students in my School.

I was also fortunate to host my first in-person event for the Law students - a meet and greet and quiz night. The experience provided me with important skills that come with organising events, such as how to plan different activities, create a visually appealing poster and distributing it amongst various channels, finding a suitable venue etc. The event ended up being quite fun and enjoyable, as everyone was able to kick into their competitive spirits to win different rounds of the interactive quiz.

This semester, I aim to hold another event, hopefully with more attendants, so I can connect with more students of colour within the Law School as well as across the University community by collaborating with SOCAs from other Schools. I’m really hoping that by continuing to engage with the SOCA Scheme, students of colour are provided with a safe and open platform to be heard and feel empowered.

CMP SOCA!

Hello from Thara! My first semester as the Student of Color Ambassador for the Computer Science Department was an eye-opener and a truly enriching experience. I got the opportunity to educate myself on the multiple factors that are contributing to the degree gap between students of color and others. My primary motive was to create a safe space for the members of the community to share their thoughts, concerns, and opinions, and the “Meet and Greet” I organized along with my fellow SOCA Nathan provided me a platform for the same. It saw the culmination of students of different age groups, nationalities, and cultures coming together for a common cause, that of equal rights and recognition, and discussing the barriers that stop us from attaining this goal

I also got the chance to meet my SOCA Academic Lead, who gave me valuable insights on the issues I could address over the coming semesters and the areas I should research to find a course of action. As part of this, I will be interacting with Kainaat and Serena, the SOCAs of the Biology department, who have been in the position for the past few years, so I get a better understanding of the concerns I need to address and implement long term solutions. This semester, I will be focusing specifically on bridging the degree gap in the computer science department and addressing this issue at the grass root level. Furthermore, I also want to implement programs to hone the career-attaining skills of students of color.

I also hope to plant the seeds toward establishing a regular channel of communication solely for the students of color in the department, that carries forward from the previously organized “Meet and Greet”. Furthermore, I will make sure underrepresented groups within the community also get equal representation, in the events and initiatives organized over the course of the semester. Here’s wishing everyone a great semester and a wonderful year ahead!

Greetings everyone!

My name is Nathan, and I am the current undergraduate student of colour ambassador for the school of computing science (CMP). I would like to begin by thanking everyone that attended the ‘Meet and Greet’ event that my fellow CMP SoCA, Thara, and I held last semester. The purpose of the event was to provide a more casual setting to introduce ourselves, share prospects, get CMP students to interact and get to know each other better. You also took this as an opportunity to notify us of any problems you had come across, thus giving us further insight into the multitude of issues faced by students of colour. Once again, thank you for participating in all the mini-games and activities thus making the event a success!

I spent the remainder of the semester finding solutions to any matters I could handle directly and/or finding suitable workarounds, such as ensuring the hub made the necessary adjustments to accommodate 1st year students that had completed a different curriculum and not covered certain specific subjects. I got the chance to meet with my SoCA Academic Lead to discuss the issues that may be present throughout the school as well as other further discuss the areas I look to address during my stint as SoCA.

Please feel free to contact me at any point if you have any concerns. [n.pelaelo@uea.ac.uk]

DEV SOCAs!

Hi everyone and happy new year!

I'm Kyra and I'm one of the Students of Colour Ambassadors for the school of International Development. At the beginning of the semester, we organised a Meet and Greet for DEV students of colour. This involved us having a turnout of more than 40 students of colour, and organising a quiz night alongside pizza and refreshments. It was nice to see everyone enjoy our first event and get to know other students of colour in DEV. Next, we organised an open event titled 'Empowerment in Norfolk.' During the event, we had guest speakers from people of colour, including Danny Keen, a Jamaican-born artist, Jose Ferrera, a salsa dance teacher, and Emir Ghariani, a recent graduate from UEA. We held a range of interesting conversations including the Windrush generation and decolonialising museums. Additionally, during the event, we enjoyed a mini salsa dance session from Jose and Caribbean catering from Jamoroc.

At the end of the semester, we organised a small event at the Bowling House for some great food and two rounds of bowling. It was nice to get the chance to talk to more students of colour. Lastly, I want to say a big thank you to everyone who supported and attended our events during the first semester, and we're always here to hear your suggestions and concerns about your DEV course or university life. We can't wait to reveal more events for the next coming semesters!

Hello again everyone! I’m Busra and as a DEV Student of Colour Ambassador, we want to say thank you to all those that attended our events last semester. First, we organised a Meet & Greet: Pizza and Quiz night for DEV students which so many of you took part in. It was lovely to see everyone get involved in the quiz and then mingling and talking to each other. Then we held a Black History Month event open to everyone titled Empowerment in Norfolk. For this, we invited black artists and student of colour alumni to give talks on a range of topics related to ethnic histories. We’re very glad that everyone enjoyed the Salsa dancing and Jamaican catering that we organised for you. After these two big events, lastly to encourage socialisation and conversation we organised a Dine and Bowl where we headed to the Bowling House for some lovely food and 2 rounds of bowling. I really enjoyed meeting everyone at all these events and I’m looking forward to getting the chance to talk to more of you this semester. Wishing everyone the best of luck with their exams and/or assignments. Don’t forget that we are always here to talk to if you have any concerns or queries about your DEV course or university life in general!

hi from your 22-23 hsc soca, Kody!

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 09:54:49 Z

Why did you apply for the role?

I want to help students of my School especially Students of Colours to raise their voice towards the School authority. I hope that me and another ambassador are able to create a safe space for them to express their opinions regarding their course, cohort, relationships with the peers or even their feelings of being part of this big family. I genuinely believe that a representative is essential in a school and with this role, I am able to get involved in various aspects of student-school activities through arranging events/ projects for students to participate and enhance their experience at the university.

What will you be working on?

I would be planning regular art workshop which allows students to flex their creative muscles and create their own products. Christmas party would also be arranged for students of HSC to gather together and enjoy the joy of the festival. This socials would be an exceptional good way for international students to meet some new friends whom they can spend Christmas with. BAME career workshop as well as Career panel events for students would also be organised for Students of Colours to share thoughts with one another about their area of interests related to the course. Potentially, external speakers would be invited to take part as well to provide some professional advice.

What are you looking forward to over the year?

To work alongside my partner, work with SOCAs from other schools and organise events together to connect this UEA big family. Most importantly, help students of colours to create an enjoyable university experience and reduce the degree awarding gap.

hi from your 22-23 ldc soca, Nusaiba!

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 12:04:25 Z

Why did you apply for the role?

I’ve often found it befalls a person of colour to be the representative of their entire people in both macro and micro social situations; while I have my reservations regarding this, I refuse to back down from standing up and showing up for people of colour in all environments, defending, protecting and celebrating their rights to subsist in whatever way they choose.

What will you be working on?

As Student of Colour of LDC, I have 3 main objectives:

To support and validate other students of colour in day to day decisions and choices in environments they may second-guess themselves

To make the stories and struggles of students of colour visible through every effort; especially through the promotion and inclusion of prose and poetry produced by POC both in the curriculum and at events

To vouch for students of colour as a spearhead leader and badge bearer

I plan to be a face that can be turned to when students of colour feel immobile by inaction, or tacitly complicit in subtle discrimination in their classrooms. I want to embody mediation in my classrooms; be a friend who can give honest support and steady students in times of identity crises. Having the presence of a Student of Colour Ambassador in a classroom will not only make the other students of colour feel like they’ve got somebody in their corner, but also make other students wary of their actions thoughts and approaches to subjects concerning POC experiences and also impact how they interact with their POC peers. In my experience students of colour are often simply operating in the background, almost invisible; and as a student of colour ambassador I will initiate and direct conversations that makes them visible and valid.

What are you looking forward to over the year?

I look forward to addressing specific, actionable issues that Students of Colour face on a day to day basis in order to chip away at a wider system that can grow around them to accommodate them. I want to dismantle the system from within by using my voice and my platform to not only raise awareness about injustice but to take the people affected through the right channels to the establishments in power.

hi from your 22-23 cmp soca, Nathan!

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 08:42:12 Z

Nathan Pelaelo – n.pelaelo@uea.ac.uk

I am Motswana, born and raised. I was born into a very mixed family and an equally wholesome and culturally diverse community. Experiencing and/or witnessing any form of racial inequality, be it the ‘soft’ and ‘subtle’ or more blatant and aggressive racism, came a massive shock to me once I had grown out of the protective shell provided by my previous environment. This in turn meant that I was exposed to the bias and inequality a little later than most of my colleagues, albeit still at a tender age.

Why did you apply for the role?

I have since made it a personal mission to learn as much as possible about the impacts of racial bias and, to the best of my ability, mitigate them in any community I become a part of. The role of Student of Colour Ambassador for UEA’s School of Computing Sciences stood out as the prefect opportunity to do exactly that!

What will you be working on?

I will be planning and hosting a multitude of events I hope will give students of colour the sense of belonging they deserve and minimise the disparity that exists between the minorities within our community, thus providing them with a support system I believe will allow them to fully exert themselves during their tenure at UEA.

What are you looking forward to over the year?

I look forward to providing as much support as possible to all students of colour, either directly or indirectly, as well as working with all relevant departments to adjust any dated policies and implement new ways to further minimise the racial education gap

hi from your 22-23 ldc soca, Rachel!

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 14:13:35 +0100

Why did you apply for the role?

I want to give a voice to the Students of Colour in my school and want to create a safe space for them to make their experience at UEA the best they can have. I believe that representation matters and with this job I am able to be involved in many aspects and create events/projects for students to enhance their education and time at University.

What will you be working on?

My focus right now is on events for BHM I have a banner painting coming up as well as a movie night to celebrate black joy and excellence. Nusaiba and I are also planning a conversation/discussion about Black influence on writing and representation where we are inviting external speakers as well as academics to take part in. I also hope to be involved more in Aaron’s karaoke nights in blue bar. Other projects I have in mind are for example a shared Christmas party for POC.

What are you looking forward to over the year?

To work alongside my wonderful partner Nusaiba as well as the other SOCA’s from the other schools, creating events, and being part of so many projects happening at UEA.

hi from your 22-23 cmp soca, Thara!

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 16:10:15 +0100

From a very young age, through experiences both subtle and obvious, I realized that the world was unfair to people of color and that no matter what I did, how many degrees I possess, or how much I earned, I would always be treated differently and need to fight twice as hard as everyone else to earn my place in the society purely because of how I “look”.

Instead of letting this fact carve my path, I decided to take matters into my own hands and write my own destiny, one that is not tarnished by biases and bigotry. Fortunately, through all the trials and tribunals, I had a strong support system in the form of my family and friends that applauded my small wins and held my hand through every fall. It was the realization that not every fellow member of my community would have this privilege that inspired me to apply for this role

I wish to represent all those who wish to be seen or heard but do not have the courage to do so due to fear of discrimination and help them break out of the limits and inhibitions that society has set for them. A major factor that affects the employability and degree gap within the student of color community is the communication barrier that they often face, which then translates to all areas of their life and strips them of a sense of belonging. This is the gap I hope to bridge throughout the course of the year. Within the department, I would like to create a safe space for everyone to share their opinions and discover as well as help them overcome the challenges that they’re facing. Here’s to an enriching and amazing year ahead…

hi from your 22-23 pha soca, Salma!

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:18:29 +0100

Why did you apply for the role?

I applied for the role of SOC Pharmacy ambassador because I felt drawn to the idea of being able to represent, share and uplift my background and culture throughout my school. I believed it would be very fulfilling allowing other students within my school to feel included and represented as well through events based on exactly that.

What will you be working on?

In a team, we will be working on special events that can increase the students sense of belonging and being part of a community. These events include: sports drop-in sessions, inviting POC UEA Alumni to speak about their experience as a POC pharmacist, hosting events that will allow POC students and staff to get together, collaboration events with the UEA PharmSoc, along with many more events planned over the year!

What will you be looking forward to over the year?

I am mostly looking forward to making a difference in SOC’s journey at university, and hoping I could be a helping hand in developing this community further! I also am looking forward to leaving an impact this year and to hear out SOC’s needs, wants, and inquiries and implementing them best I can in future events. Furthermore, I am looking to be there for any SOC requiring 1-on-1 advice and support any time thorough out the year.

hi from your 22-23 bio soca, Serena!

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 14:18:45 +0100

My name is Serena Skinner and I’m from the school of BIO. I applied for this role to be able to make a change within the school of BIO in regards to closing the degree attainment gap. I aspire to be a voice of students of colour within BIO to ensure that the minority are heard. We will be working on decolonising the curriculum and building a community within BIO. I am looking forward to engaging with international and new students to ensure they feel involved within our community. I am also looking forward to some exciting events that we have planned!

hi from your 22-23 bio soca, Kaainat!

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 15:36:43 +0100

Kaainat Khan – kaainat.khan@uea.ac.uk

School of Biological Sciences (BIO)

Hello! My name is Kaainat and I’m a second-year Biochemistry student representing Students of Colour within the School of BIO for another academic year. If you’re a returning student, you may be aware of our student-led support group “BAME in BIO”. The group is comprised of Student Chairpersons, Kaainat Khan (myself), Serena Skinner and Faculty Chairperson, Dr. Alexander Suh.

There is no denying that the structural inequalities within university have a profound effect on a student’s ability to achieve high grades therefore my objective as an ambassador remains the same as last year; to provide coaching and support for other students of colour in BIO to ensure they have the confidence to talk about any issues they face regarding the attainment gap and take a leading role in open conversation.

Our group BAME in BIO is not a society, it is a student community in place to provide a friendly and supportive student environment for anyone to share their experiences and thoughts on racial inequality within university.

We frequently partner with The Biochemistry Society and Biological Society throughout the year in alignment with our shared mission of inclusion and creating safer spaces for students. Last year, we worked together during Black History Month in 2021, bringing BAME in BIO's celebration event and The Biochemistry Society's decolonisation workshop.

As well as in-person events, we also provided drop-in sessions via Discord for BAME students to talk to one another and come together in tackling issues. Events like this will continue to run this academic year. Follow us on Instagram @ueabameinbio to be part of the community and for all up to date information on events this year.

hi from your 22-23 dev soca Busra!

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 13:54:57 +0100

Hello, my name is Busra and I’m a Student of Colour Ambassador for DEV School. I'm a third year studying Geography with International Development.

I applied for this role because I want to help shine a spotlight on our community’s ethnic diversity. I want to enable more students to fell seen and be heard by their peers and the wider university admission. This year we will be working on a number of fun events and socials to encourage students to network and voice their interests. I would like to bring more attention to a range of religious and cultural celebrations from all around the world. I want to work towards unifying the university community through shared experiences and fun times! This year I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone and hopefully speaking to more of you at our Black History Month events.

hi from your 22-23 ama soca, Sulli!

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:02:56 +0100

Why did you apply for the role?

As an international student myself, I understand that there might be a lot of challenges being a student colour. I know it can be intimidating to raise an issue to the authority as well. Therefore, I aspire to help in creating a bridge between the students of colour and university so that students of colour can seek help in a more comfortable way.

During my time as a SOCA, I would like to encourage and inspire other students of colour to speak up instead of keeping silent when encountered inequalities or obstacles. In addition, I would like to help in striving for more support for BAME students and suggest new ideas in providing support. Besides, I would like to promote the acceptance of diverse and multicultural community and increase the awareness of equal opportunities within campus. I would like to help the other students of colour to achieve a more fulfilling university life and organise memorable events for them as well.

It is a very meaningful job for me, as we can improve the university experience and academic performances of the future BAME students if our projects are successful. It will continue to have positive influence on BAME students as well.

What will you be working on?

- Social events for students of colour

- Cultural events

- Sports events for students of colour

- Update social media for educational and promotional purposes

- Research on the reasons behind degree awarding gap, obstacles faced by students of colour and the solutions to it

What are you looking forward to over the year?

My goals would be

1. To inspire and encourage students of colour to speak up about the obstacles that they are facing

2. To reinforce the sense of belonging for students of colour

3. To create an accepting and harmonious community for students of colour where everyone feels comfortable

4. To facilitate cultural exchange between students from different backgrounds

hi from your 22-23 dev soca, Kyra!

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:08:24 +0100

Hi! My name is Kyra Thompson, and I’m a third-year student studying International Development with Politics. I’m excited to be working as a Student of Colour Ambassador, to support current and future DEV students.

International Development is a degree that largely focuses on learning about regions where there are predominantly people of colour, and for students of colour in DEV, it can be difficult to navigate these sensitive topics. This is especially due to the lack of representation in the reading lists, lecturers, and guest speakers, where people of colours’ voices are largely missing. This is something which I’ve struggled with as a 1st year student, and it’s important for me and Busra (DEV SOCA) to create a safe space where students of colour can feel represented and comfortable to share their challenges.

Our main priorities are not only to create spaces of affirmation and solidarity for students of ‘Afro-Caribbean’ heritage, but to also expand on the experiences of those from ‘Middle-Eastern’ and ‘Asian’ heritage. We hope to explore this by providing more cultural celebrations, safe spaces, and listen to suggestions of improvements from these students.

I’m looking forward to work together with Busra to continue the progression of decolonising our curriculum for DEV students!

hi from your 22-23 med soca, Athena

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:06:14 +0100

Why did you apply for the role?

There were several occasions where I noticed that there was a difference in learning opportunities between BAME and non-BAME community within the medical school. Through this role, I hope to empower BAME students so they can enjoy the learning experience throughout their study.

What will you be working on?

This year, I will continue to work on the international student mentoring project. I will also work alongside members from the BAME group in Norwich Medical school on any future projects.

What are you looking forward to over the year?

I look forward to working alongside other passionate students and member of staff, and meeting everyone in the BAME community. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or feedback.

hi from your 22-23 law soca, Sharia!

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:58:47 +0100

Hello, my name is Sharia, and I am the Student of Colour Ambassador for UEA Law School!?

As this is the second year in my role as a SOCA, I would like to take the opportunity to reach out to as many people as possible to help spread the vital message on how we can close the degree awarding gap and overcome any potential barriers students of colour may face in our university community. ?

These are a couple of things I endeavour to achieve this year:

Host a meet and greet / informal get to together inviting other Law students of colour to attend - this will be an incredible chance for students of colour to connect and provide a safe space for us to discuss the best ways of addressing certain issues in our Law School and University as a whole.?
Attend training sessions and team meetings to better understand how I can accomplish more in my role as a SOCA whilst working as effectively as possible. This will also provide me with the necessary tools to better educate and support others.
Work on a collaborative event with the other SOCAs across the university, to help broaden the impact of the SOCA scheme across UEA and establish firm grounding of the scheme well into university life. Cross collaboration with different schools will enable us to reach and support many more people.

I am looking forward to embarking on this journey once again, and I really hope that I can contribute to creating a more positive and inclusive experience for students of colour at UEA.?