60 girls graduated from the Mosaic Primary School Programme in London at a ceremony hosted at the prestigious offices of leading international law firm, Norton Rose.

Osmani, Bygrove, Ark Franklin and Barham Primary Schools participated in the 10-week programme during which inspirational female mentors from a variety of backgrounds joined mothers and daughters to cover a wide variety of topics designed to help build confidence and valuable life skills.

Mosaic would like to thank Criterion Capital and the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for their generous support of the primary school mentoring programme.

Mothers and daughters were recognised for their hard work and effort and received their graduation certificates to rapturous applause and congratulations. They then had the opportunity to meet and listen to Sughra Ahmed who delivered an inspiring and passionate speech. Sughra shared her own stories and recollections, urging the students and their mums to be resilient in chasing their aspirations and dreams.

Sughra is Programmes Manager at the Woolf Institute in the Centre for Policy and Public Education, where she has responsibility for the design and delivery of research and training on issues such as faith, belief, communities, and integration. She is also the President of the Islamic Society of Britain. Previously, she worked as Research Fellow in the Policy Research Centre where she explored the migratory and settlement experiences of first generation Muslim women and men in the UK, and worked with a number of organisations to consider the issues young people face whilst growing up in the UK and the impact of this on wider British communities.

Sughra said: “It was a very special day day for me as  a supporter of the Mosaic programme. To see it in full flow and hear from graduating children about what they had learned and how they’ve come through the scheme was very emotional as well as hugely inspirational.”

The girls presented to the gathered audience of guests, sharing their experiences of Mosaic’s programme and recounting their achievements during the process.

Mentor Joshna Raghwan said: “There are many rewards associated with being a mentor but perhaps the most exciting is when you see the girls and mothers you have come to know so well receiving their certificates at Mosaic’s graduation ceremony.  As their success is also your success – it’s very much a mutual sense of great pride. I really enjoy the mentoring opportunities that come from working so closely with Mosaic. Mentoring  is rewarding, meaningful, life-affirming and fun.”