Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA) is a nationally recognised social enterprise programme for young leaders in schools and communities across the UK. Open to students aged 13 – 18 years old (or Years 9 – 13), the Achievement Awards focus on building up essential life skills beyond the classroom.
For over 21 years, 40,000+ students from 600+ schools across the UK have taken part in the Achievement Awards. 9 out of 10 WOHAA participants report significant improvement in skills such as communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, organisation, creativity, entrepreneurship and philanthropy. These students also state that they would recommend the programme to other students.
Founded by a group of gap year students, under the leadership of Wings of Hope Children’s Charity founders Dr R. Sri Ram and Mrs Rajni Sri Ram, the awards programme is designed for students to take ownership of their projects in all forms of creativity and social enterprise.
Students get into groups of up to six and over a few months conduct their own fundraising projects and awareness campaigns all in the name of charity and education.
In the past, students have pushed the boundaries of ingenuity, with projects including 24-hour football matches, cultural evenings, attempting Guiness Book of World record attempts, comedy nights, skydiving, hiking, Mufti days, “Pawtrait” services, candle-making ventures, video gaming competitions, coding classes, and so much more.
Students are not motivated by self-gain but by goodwill. They are committed to fundraising and raising awareness for other children around the world who don’t have access to good education in international projects supported by The Wings of Hope in India and Sierra Leone.
Each WOHAA team is assigned a mentor, who through regular check-ins and meetings, is able to support and guide the students through their projects. WOHAA is designed to be conducted by students themselves. Teacher and parent/guardian involvement is not mandatory.
Mentors are fully trained in safeguarding, skills monitoring, and senior mentors have professional teaching qualifications and WOHAA has over two decades of experience curating a robust support mechanism for students.
Our mentors are fully trained in safeguarding and skills monitoring. They also have support from our senior mentors who obtain professional teaching qualifications- ensuring all-round support for students under our programme.
Along the way, WOHAA participants get free access to workshops, mentoring and masterclasses, by some of the Wings of Hope’s many supporting businesses, ambassadors, and university partners. Signature workshops and events include:
Over 40 different industries represented by mentors (not companies like a traditional careers fair). Mentors represent a wide variety careers: from music to medicine, finance, to fashion, law, veterinary science, to engineering, technology, languages, brand marketing and much more.
Learn more about Speed Mentoring here!
Masters students from the world-leading business school, volunteer to get the teams of WOHAA students onto the right start of their project journeys with their “Accelerator” day on project planning and management.
Read about previous Accelerator Days here
With a network of over 150 leading young professionals, WOHAA organises in-person and online workshops for WOHAA participants. These workshops range from CV writing, post school choices, starting a business, understanding more about retail, working in technology, fashion, finance, law and so much more.
Wings of Hope organises a variety of university campus tours, to support wider access to world-class institutions including The University of Oxford, The University of Cambridge, King’s College London, and more.
We run a series of online webinars on evenings and weekends to inspire and inform students about different brands and organisations.
Once students submit their “Snapshots” projects to the charity, it is assessed against areas of skills including project management, community service, creativity and more.
Short-listed students get invited to present their work to a panel of leading judges at Westminster. Judges including luminaries from politics, business, entertainment, sport, the arts and education.
The Finals are a celebration of the incredible work that WOHAA students have put into their projects.
Although fundraising is key part of the project, the amount of funds raised is never the only measure of success, as WOHAA’s philosophy is to support a programme for young people from all backgrounds to come together, regardless of gender, financial circumstances, geography, or community.
Throughout the inspiring history of the Wings of Hope Achievement Awards (WOHAA), more than 100 exceptional students have earned the opportunity to embark on a life-changing journey to India. This unique trip allows them to visit a variety of impactful teaching and education projects that they have personally contributed to through their fundraising efforts.
During their time in India, these students have the rare chance to see, with their own eyes, how their funds are being utilized to support and uplift the local communities. They gain direct insight into the positive impact they are helping to create, engaging in meaningful, face-to-face interactions with the children and teachers involved in the international school projects.
In addition to observing the tangible difference their efforts have made, students experience a rich cultural exchange. This immersive experience fosters a deep sense of global kinship and mutual understanding. The bonds formed during this visit—between students from different parts of the world and the local community—are a testament to the spirit of global citizenship and compassion that WOHAA nurtures. The opportunity to participate in such a profound cultural and educational exchange has left an indelible mark on both the students and the communities they have visited, creating lasting memories and forging connections that transcend borders.
“My trip to India was by far a humbling experience! As my first time in Asia, I was buzzing with excitement to experience a brand-new and beautiful culture. Upon arriving at the school, we were greeted with incredible warmth, each of us receiving personal roses.
The students’ intellectual level and their enthusiasm for learning left a lasting impression, something so rarely seen in the Western world. From playing mathematical games to teaching German and Spanish, the children were eager to absorb knowledge and learn about different cultures. One standout moment was our lesson on African culture, which ended with African music and the children colouring African patterns.
The highlight for me was the final assembly. The talent showcased by the children, especially the boys performing thrilling yoga tricks, was simply astonishing. The entire afternoon reflected the positive impact we had on the students and how much they appreciated what we had shared with them.
This trip has opened my mind to the wonders that can be achieved through education, the thing that united us all.”
At Better Lives Foundation (UK charity no. 1122290), we believe healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege. For over 20 years, our mission has been driven by compassion, hope, and the unshakable belief that every person, no matter their circumstances, deserves access to life-saving medical care. In 2009, we opened the Yonibana Sai Hospital, the region’s only fully equipped referral hospital, where every patient, from newborns to the elderly, receives treatment entirely free of charge.
Since then, we have touched the lives of over 112,000 patients with cataract and hernia surgeries, safe maternity services, urgent dental care, nutritional support, and so much more. Every smile restored, every life saved, and every child given a healthier future is a reminder of why we do what we do.
Your WOHAA journey does not end at the Finals. Stay in touch and you’ll get access to a brilliant network of alumni who you can connect with. Many of our alumni have gone on to do incredible things in their universities and workplaces – from being doctors, teachers, fashion designers, engineers, IT pros and more.
If you wish for us to keep in touch with you about upcoming workshops and events, please submit your current details here.
