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WOHAA Testimonials

The Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA) is a prestigious, nationally recognised UK social enterprise programme for young leaders aged 13-18 (Years 9-13). For over 20 years, more than 40,000 students from 600+ schools have participated, developing essential life skills like communication, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. WOHAA offers students the chance to grow beyond the classroom, with 9 out of 10 participants reporting significant skill improvement and recommending the programme to their peers.

Testimonials from teachers, mentors and students

Semi Finalist 2024- Team Fueling Futures Shares their WOHAA Experience

Semi Finalist 2024- Nnemaka Shares Her WOHAA Journey

Interview with Simona Bhotti | London Business School

Interview with Jemma Tadd | eBay UK

Semi Finalist 2024- Camila’s Team Shares their WOHAA Experience

Interview with Sir David Jason & Michael Dapaah

Interview with Kirby Warsop | Boots UK

Speed Mentoring 2024: Empowering Futures

Winners of 2020- The Heathland School

WOHAA 2021 Student Experience

Interview with Mr Tom Cannon | Blackhealth High School

Interview with Mr Ian Smith | Brooke House College

watch more here

This is St Olave’s second year partaking in WOHAA. I have been genuinely impressed by the vast development in the interpersonal skills of the students who have been involved. Specifically, students’ confidence when organising large-scale charity events has developed, with students being proactive in liaising with staff, peers and external providers to ensure their events have been a success. I would strongly recommend the programme as it is a great opportunity for young people to enrich their education by making a positive contribution to the wider community.

Holly Smith – Head of Year, St Olave’s Grammar School

Getting involved in WOHAA has been transformational for our students, Grace and Martha. They embraced this opportunity fully, proving that the more you invest, the more you gain. Their fundraising efforts have benefited the school community and pushed them outside their comfort zones, fostering personal growth. They’ve developed strong organizational and communication skills, now confidently speaking to diverse and influential audiences. WOHAA’s networking and mentoring opportunities have been invaluable, including a personal session with an Oxbridge Dean on accessing the PPE course.

Paul Bishop – Director of 6th form, Saint Cecilia’s School

I discovered WOHAA through an online search for extracurricular opportunities and was inspired by its social impact and mentoring support. Our students have gained valuable skills in planning, organization, teamwork, and confidence. It’s been rewarding to see them take on big projects, like a concert, and grow as they successfully manage these events. While some groups may need more guidance, WOHAA encourages initiative. I’d definitely recommend it to other schools, as students have ownership of their projects, receive quality mentoring, and make a positive difference. We’re considering offering WOHAA again, with an evaluation of extracurricular activities at year-end.

Mr Stephen Coote – Head of Business and Economics, Sheffield Girls’ School

WOHAA’s focus on holistic development and social entrepreneurship aligns perfectly with our educational philosophy. It motivated us to involve our students, offering them opportunities to develop skills beyond the classroom. Through the programme, I’ve seen our students grow in leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving—key skills for their future academic success. While WOHAA is comprehensive, a stronger focus on financial literacy would further enhance the experience. I highly recommend WOHAA to other schools. Its unique blend of learning and community service has had a profound impact on our students, and we look forward to continuing this valuable partnership.

Jason Brooks – Director of Supercurricular, Oxford International College

I heard about WOHAA through an email sent to our Assistant Head for 6th form. After reading the information and having an online meeting with Sarah I was inspired by the stories and the work of WOHAA. I was looking for projects to build students leadership and Independence and this seemed perfect. The students that have started to participate and create their project are building communication skills as well as planning and leadership which means they can add to their CV and personal statement for university evidencing these skills. I would definitely recommend WOHAA to other schools as it is such a worthy idea that can build skills in our own students as they think of others and assist in developing our world. I look forward to presenting WOHAA to our new cohort of Year 12 next year.

Mrs. Amanda Haylock – Head of Year in 6th Form, Plumstead Manor School

As WOHAA participants, we developed key skills like negotiation and communication. From the start, six girls with diverse ideas had to find common ground, learning to set aside egos and make decisions collaboratively. We also negotiated with local organizations to support sustainability efforts. Our main fundraiser, selling soy-wax candles, taught us about business and finance, which aligned with our future career goals. This hands-on experience helped us apply our knowledge of marginal profit and economics. We highly recommend WOHAA for the valuable experiences it offers in making a positive impact on our communities and fostering personal growth.

Keda – WOHAA Student

I was thrilled to lead Team Firebirds to 2nd place in the 2022-23 WOHAA cohort. We were fortunate to be mentored by Mrs Rajni Sriram, whose guidance helped us align our strengths with our fundraising projects, aiding not only in WOHAA but in future university and career decisions. We attended valuable free workshops, including speed mentoring, which built skills for university and job applications. Through WOHAA, I learned to design, market products, manage finances, and raise awareness for our cause. The partnership with the Duke of Edinburgh Award was also helpful, allowing us to fulfil both commitments. Attending the Semi-Finals and Awards Ceremony at prestigious locations like the House of Lords was incredibly rewarding, especially seeing how our efforts benefitted underprivileged children. Performing at the finals was a personal highlight. I’m grateful to Dr. Sri and Mrs. Sriram for creating such an inspiring initiative, empowering students to make a real difference. Their passion and dedication make WOHAA truly special, and I wish them continued success.

Rivini – WOHAA Student

The main thing that encouraged me to join WOHAA was definitely the fact that the charity helps provide education to children less fortunate than us. During my time with WOHAA, I have definitely developed an ability to plan things out thoroughly. For example, during my first bake sale, I had to figure out who was buying, who was advertising and who was in charge of finance. I think that this is most definitely a skill that will be carried with me my whole life because you need a good ability to plan things out accordingly for a lot of things in life like your workspace, planning something for a friend, planning things accordingly for your future children etc…My participation with WOHAA has made me want to pursue law. Lawyers need to be able to meet a deadline and be able to plan things out accordingly – skills that WOHAA has brought out in me. I definitely would recommend WOHAA to a friend, I actually already have and I am so excited to continue my WOHAA journey.

Khadijah – WOHAA Student

During university, I volunteered as a WOHAA student mentor, helping participants plan and execute their projects while supporting events like Speed Mentoring and Awards Evenings. This experience taught me invaluable skills in people management, communication, event planning, and networking. Since then, I’ve worked at Lloyds Banking Group and Kartesia, and WOHAA has been a key part of my journey, helping me fulfil my university scholarship’s volunteering requirement and becoming a meaningful side project in my professional life. The skills and connections I gained accelerated my career development, and I’ve even returned as a mentor to inspire students, particularly young women, about opportunities in Finance. I highly recommend WOHAA to both students and volunteers—it builds confidence and independence in young people while offering volunteers a rewarding chance to inspire the next generation.

Serafina – WOHAA Student

I became involved with Wings of Hope in 2008 while attending Haberdashers’ Boys School, where our group won the WOHAA, raising over £13,000 for the charity. Since then, I’ve proudly served as an honorary ambassador. Over the past 16 years, I’ve seen WOHAA evolve into an outstanding national charity under the dedicated leadership of Dr. Sriram and Mrs. Rajni Sriram. Their commitment to empowering children in the UK and abroad is remarkable. Personally, WOHAA played a key role in shaping my empathy and leadership skills, aiding my career in Medicine. As an Orthopaedic Surgeon, I continue to support the charity and will do so in the future.

Dr Branavan – WOHAA Student

Get involved today!
Ready to participate in this year’s Wings of Hope Achievement Awards? Simply have one team member fill out the sign-up form and share everyone else’s email addresses. Each team member will then receive an email to complete their registration.