Luciana Berger MP inspired Year 12 students to have self-belief and follow their dreams at the ORT-JUMP graduation, held at JW3.

The audience of over 250 guests, included graduates of the ORT-JUMP mentoring programme, their proud parents and the mentors, who volunteered their time over the past year to offer careers advice to their student mentees.

Luciana told the teenagers, “You’re going to have the challenges of clearing up the messes left by previous generations, of fixing the planet and ending the injustices that scar our societies. I don’t think there’s any sign of the snowflake generation in here, you really are going to be the generation of steel.”

Student Toby Boyne, who attends Immanuel College – one of the 10 London schools participating in the programme – addressed the audience expressing his gratitude at being offered the chance to receive careers guidance from a mentor at High Speed 1. “ORT Jump provided an opportunity to learn about pursuing engineering as a career. With the guidance of my mentor, I’ve been able to write a CV and have gained a greater appreciation for the skills I will need when applying for jobs. The ORT-JUMP programme has given me the skills to translate my education into a career.”

Chief Executive Adam Overlander-Kaye spoke on ORT UK’s impact through education, ORT-JUMP director Mia Lyons gave an overview of this year’s programme and mentor and Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Nic Alexander, revealed why he has committed to mentoring students since the programme was created in 2009.

The mentees, who were required to submit two essays during the programme, cheered for their friends as prizes were awarded for the best entries. Every graduate was then invited to the stage to collect a certificate for completing the course and took the opportunity to chat further with Luciana about her journey into politics.

Congratulations to the ORT-JUMP graduates 2018!