This year the Wings of Hope Achievement Award Semi Final Event was hosted by Lord Speaker Baroness Hayman in the River Room, Principal State Room of the House of Lords.

Students from the across the UK came together on Wednesday 25th March at the House of Lords for the Semi Finals of this year’s Wings of Hope Achievement Award. Award semi finalist teams were invited to present their work to the distinguished Wings of Hope judging panel, chaired by the distinguished actor Sir David Jason, on the 25th March 2009. 

The event was hosted by Lord Speaker Baroness Hayman, and took place at the River Room, the Principal State Room of the House of Lords.

Also participating on the panel this year were BBC News Presenter Adrian Chiles, Lord McNally, Michael Rebelo, Managing Director of Saatchi and Saatchi, Stephen Howard, CEO of Business in the Community, one of the Prince’s Charities, and other distinguished luminaries of the business world.

In his opening speech, Dr. R. Sri Ram, co-founder of the Wings of Hope said "I can already confidently predict the winners before we even start. The winners are all those hundreds of children in India and Malawi that all your hard work will go to support."

Sir David Jason said of the students "This year’s teams have excelled themselves and have all done a terrific job."

Lord McNally, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and a dear friend and valued supporter of the charity also participating as a panelist said ‘The work of the young people was inspirational.’

The students themselves were all extremely excited to have reached the Semi Finals, and did not let their nerves get the better of them. Shobika Mohammed, part of team Abolishing Dependency from Newstead Wood School for Girls in Kent said’ I am really excited to have this opportunity to present today, and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  Branavan Rudran, from Team Ribbon in the Sky of the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys School in Middlesex said ‘I’ve definitely improved my communication and team working skills as a result of WOHAA. It wasn’t easy but we all worked well as a team and I’m extremely proud of our achievements’.

 

 

Wings of Hope Achievement Award Semi Finals 2009

Official Student Photographs

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