Students from schools across Camden were pleased to make their voices heard at this year’s “We Make Camden Summit”.
This year’s summit was the first time that students engaged in Camden STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) activities attended, making the event a place where the voices of young people in Camden are welcome and heard.
Two students shone as they stepped up to share first-hand their experiences of studying for T Levels, a new two-year technical qualification which is equivalent to three A Levels, for students aged 16 and above.
Julia Oduro from Acland Burghley School was featured within the Summit video which was presented to an audience of more than 300 partners. The video captured the impact of her marketing placement at Havas, a leading global communications company.
Balen Ebrahim from Haverstock School met with Summit attendees, as part of the Summit’s exhibition.
Speaking directly with local businesses and sector leaders, Julia and Balen spoke about their T Level journey, explaining how industry placements, real-world projects and employer engagement help to build their skills, confidence and career aspirations.
The Camden students were also delighted to have a conversation with Councillor Richard Olszewski, Leader of the London Borough of Camden, and impress him with their professionalism and confidence.
The summit was also an opportunity for students to share more about their work at the London AI Campus, a partnership between Google, Camden Council and Camden Learning, which aims to boost young people’s digital and AI literacy and connect them to exciting career prospects.
Eleven students gave presentations about their machine learning projects and answered challenging questions from delegates, such as what it means to be human in a digital world.
The London AI Campus presentation was very well attended and the Question and Answer session gave audience members a chance to hear directly from students on their experiences of using and learning about AI. The students responded confidently to a room full of engaged and curious professionals.
Off the back of the presentation, a team from Camden Council reached out to ask whether the students could run an AI masterclass to help upskill their colleagues, an opportunity the campus is now exploring.
The “We Make Camden Summit” was a powerful celebration of collaboration, innovation and the future talent of Camden, with the student voice firmly at the heart of the conversation.
Caroline Dean, Head of STEAM and Partnerships at Camden Learning, said: “We were very proud to see Julia, Balen and the AI Campus students speaking so confidently at the ‘We Make Camden Summit’ and ensuring that young people in our borough have a voice.
“Opportunities like this allow young people to demonstrate not only their technical knowledge, but their professionalism, ambition and ability to engage with industry and their wider community, qualities that are central aims within the Camden STEAM programme.
“The council’s summit was the perfect moment to celebrate the ambition and talent of young people in the borough, and Camden Learning was delighted to be part of it.”
