Two students win the 2024 Changemakers Prize for intelligent, committed action
Minnat Allah Mohammed and Lucy Rycroft-Smith each received a £250 prize and an award at the College’s Annual Foundation Dinner on Tuesday October 29. The prizes were presented by Pooya Kamvari, Prize supporter, Homerton alumnus and Changemakers mentor and speaker.
Pooya Kamvari
“It is an honour to support this wonderful prize. Minnat and Lucy exemplify the dedication, sacrifice, and selflessness it takes to be a Changemaker, and are both deserving and inspiring in equal measure. It is always a humbling experience to be in the midst of Homerton College’s changemaking cohort as they exhibit their commitment to making the world a better place. I look forward to following their progress towards the brightest of futures.”
Minnat Allah Mohammed
For Minnat, second year undergrad in History and Politics, it was the scale, scope and energy of her work that impressed the judges.
Over the years she has devoted her time to supporting students at all levels of education, volunteering at nurseries and primary schools in disadvantaged areas and delivering debate training at secondary schools with Impart UK. Minnat has also mentored students to get private school scholarships and top university offers with Zero Gravity and helped young immigrants benefit from Migrant Leaders’ career support as a Talent Ambassador.
In addition to her grassroots work, Minnat has served on the executive committees of the Young Fabians and Newham Fabians and the Cambridge Islamic Society Charity Committee. She has also acted as Head of Membership and Recruitment for the Young European Movement, campaigning against gender-based violence across Europe and launching a branch in Cambridge.
Her work has been recognised through her nomination for the UPF Young Achievers’ Award and being named one of Powerful Media’s Top 150 Future Leaders. The list of Minnat’s achievements is remarkable, and with the help of the Changemakers team, she has now launched Stayn, a digital platform that aims to improve social mobility. Stayn was a winner of one of the 2024 Catalyst Fund prizes.
Minnat became involved with Changemakers as soon as she arrived at Cambridge, and remembers being inspired by their mission.
Minnat says:
“I aligned with the aim to create change through one person at a time, as well as Changemakers’ holistic and extensive way of achieving it. I knew that Changemakers had been, and will continue to play an instrumental role in enabling changemaking across the globe, starting here, in Homerton. For all of those reasons, Changemakers is difficult not to be a part of.
I came to Cambridge with many broad goals and aims, but Changemakers has improved me from within to improve my outward attempts to achieve these goals. It has allowed me to become more conscious of, and intentional about my choices and methodology. I definitely feel as though I am better able to help those whom I want to impact.”
Changemakers has certainly played its part in the launch of Minnat’s enterprise Stayn, helping to keep her passion alive in the project whilst also providing direction and shape. Minnat has also learnt to be more considerate in a working environment, more ambitious, and ‘brave in being an agent of change’.
Minnat continues:
“Changemakers is truly magic, and I am so grateful for all of the ways they have influenced the person I am.
I am so proud of having developed the idea of Stayn, from a suggestion to pitching it on stage to a sold-out showcase audience. It was unlike anything I have done before. I hope that it can go on to help other state school students like me in future! But I could not have done it without the support from my mentors, Soraya, and the rest of the Changemakers team.
It felt amazing to win the Changemakers Prize! I am so grateful and honoured to receive this prize – I owe sincere thanks to the judges and the Changemakers team. It is great to be recognised for my efforts to create change in my little corner of the world, and I hope I can inspire others to do the same.”
Lucy Rycroft-Smith
Lucy, PhD in Maths Education, year 5, impressed the panel with the depth, commitment and energy of her work.
Throughout Lucy’s time at Homerton, and despite her disabilities, she has continued to contribute to the College and the wider community. Her vision for a thriving, inclusive community that supports individuals in their personal and academic growth has been her driving force. As an older member of the student community, as well as a parent and teacher, her work has championed leadership, collaboration, and compassion. The creation of supportive, inclusive academic spaces that foster a culture of empathy and understanding, has been recognised and appreciated by peers as well as students.
Challenging inequality, Lucy’s involvement in key College initiatives has prioritised inclusivity and equal access to opportunities and also contributed to long-term structural changes that address the needs of disabled students and carers.
Lucy has been involved with the Changemakers programme for several years and her decision to join stemmed from a desire to contribute meaningfully to her community.
Lucy says:
“The programme's focus on leadership, collaboration, and inclusivity deeply resonated with my own values and personal experiences. I saw it as an opportunity to not only grow as an individual but also to challenge the status quo and advocate for greater accessibility and equity within the spaces I navigate.
The Changemakers programme has been instrumental in shaping my approach to leadership and community engagement. Personally, it has encouraged me to embrace the challenges posed by my disabilities and transform them into strengths that drive change. I’ve become more confident in initiating difficult yet necessary conversations about inclusivity, accessibility, and the importance of creating supportive and accessible environments for everyone.
Professionally, the programme has provided a platform for me to extend my advocacy efforts, particularly through initiatives like the Homerton College Essay Programme and the Design Programme. It has reinforced the importance of fostering collaboration and ensuring that diverse perspectives are heard and valued. Through my involvement, I’ve been able to connect with other passionate individuals who share a common goal of improving our community, which has been incredibly rewarding, and also make lovely connections with students and prospective students, some of whom are as young as my daughter!”
On receiving the Changemakers Prize, Lucy said:
“Winning was an incredible honour, and it felt deeply validating to have my work in accessibility and inclusivity recognised. The award not only acknowledges the progress I’ve made but also motivates me to continue pushing for positive change.
As for the funds, I plan to invest them in furthering my initiatives around accessibility and inclusive education. I would like to develop workshops or resources that promote these values, ensuring that future students and community members can benefit from the same supportive, empowering environments that I’ve worked to create. The prize will also allow me to explore new ways of connecting with individuals and groups who are equally passionate about creating positive social impact.”
