As the first term of the 2013/2014 academic year draws to a close, over 80 Mosaic West Midlands supporters gathered at La Favorita Restaurant for an evening of celebration, laughter, emotion and pride.

Guests included mentors from the primary, secondary and Enterprise Challenge competition , school staff and Mosaic’s West Midlands Regional Leadership Group members.

Compere for the evening and West Midlands Lead Regional Manager, Annalisa Lockett, spoke with passion about the work and impact that Mosaic and its supporters has on the lives of young people in secondary schools and girls and their mums in primary schools.

Schools such as Cherry Orchard Primary School, whose partnership with Mosaic started earlier in September. Year 5 girls Avneet, Shahnoor, Sabrina and Hadija enchanted the audience with their inspiring speech explaining what they had learnt from their Mosaic journey, with 9 year old Avneet charming the audience with her introduction: “It’s lovely to be here and I hope you’ve all had a wonderful day and are now looking forward to this because I definitely am. I think Mosaic is a great idea because it helps young people and children to build their confidence and guide them along the road to success and pride”.

In her speech Shahnoor reflected: “Mosaic classes have helped me to enhance my understanding and learn how to be a good citizen, and how to not always say stuff that I want to say but to listen to others opinions, as I do usually like to talk! I enjoyed all aspects of Mosaic but my favourite lesson was when we produced the school community poster and we used different materials to make pictures of our playground, garden, gazebo area and a classroom. I have also learnt that irrespective of whatever gender you are, you can be anything as long as you put your mind to it. I feel motivated to achieve, learn and be successful in the future.”

Sabrina added: “What I enjoyed about the Mosaic programme was spending time with my mum, my friends and mentors. I enjoyed all the topics like communication, education and citizenship. What I learnt in this programme is how to be a good communicator, building my confidence and improving my listening skills and most importantly to work hard at everything.”

Hadija concluded: “In one of the sessions we talked about body language. Body language is a good thing to use because it shows the other person that you are interested in the conversation. In my opinion I think that Mosaic is very supportive because it has helped me to be confident.”

Following the girls speech Heather Carty, Learning Mentor and Mosaic Link Teacher at Cheery Orchard commented: “I am so proud of the girls. I have seen them blossom in confidence during their mentoring sessions and for them to stand in front of such a large group of adults and speak so well about what they have learnt is a remarkable achievement.”

Year 8 girls Saba and Nusrat from Washwood Heath Academy shared their Mosaic journey and explained the longer term impact of having been mentored in Spring 2013, with Saba reflecting: “Mosaic helped me in many different ways, it boosted my confidence in all of my lessons. It also helped me to develop leadership skills and taught me how to co-operate in a team. By using this knowledge I have not only improved within school but also in my life outside of school. Before this life changing programme I would have found a way of getting out of standing here in front of you, but today the excitement kept building inside of me and I could not wait to stand here and to tell everybody about this wonderful programme that could change other peoples lives.”

Nusrat Sadiq, Partnership Development Manager and Mosaic Link Teacher at the school spoke about the long term benefits the secondary mentoring programme has bought to the school and in particular the students who have been mentored adding: “It gives me great pleasure and an honour to be part of an organisation that harvests and nurtures the potential of our future generation. Mosaic’s secondary programme unlocks impending talent; sometimes young people are placed on a constant hold, watching the trains of opportunity pass by due to a lack of self belief and confidence. Being mentored supports our young people to become responsible citizens, take ownership of their own learning, having future goals and as demonstrated by Saba and Nusrat take key leadership roles within the school.”

In her closing speech Annalisa Lockett reflected: ” Another successful celebration event made all the more memorable by the wonderful speeches delivered this evening, speeches that have made us laugh and cry in equal measures. We often refer to our mentors as being inspirational role models but having heard Shahnoor, Sabrina, Hadija, Avneet, Saba and Nusrat speak with such passion, conviction and joy they have taken the mantle and inspired us!”

Mosaic West Midlands are now recruiting female mentors to support the primary school programme commencing in Spring 2013. For further information please contact Yvonne Palmer, West Midlands Primary School Co-ordinator.