EMPOWERING THROUGH EDUCATION
WOHAA for Parents
The Wings of Hope Achievement Award (WOHAA) is a scheme which was created to encourage students to help their contemporaries across the world who are less fortunate then themselves. It also encourages students to fundraise whilstgaining new skills, thinking innovatively and having fun!
Please take a look at our FAQs. If you have any further questions, do contact us.
WOHAA is a free social enterprise scheme for students in school years 9 – 13. The students are aiming to fundraise for Wings of Hope, which sponsors children in India and Malawi to receive a free education. The award scheme is also a competition to win some top prizes including an all-expenses-paid trip to India and work experience placements.
What do the students actually do?
In groups of up to 6, students plan and carry out their own, projects, events and activities in their school and local community. It is entirely up to the students what they choose to do. Examples of events previous participants have organised include bake sales, auctions, galas, sponsored swims, talent shows and sports days. The students can come from different schools within 1 group, providing they can easily communicate with each other.
Not very much! We have a Resource Centre for students to look through but most importantly we are here to help them with any questions. There is also a liaison teacher at the school who may be more suited to advise them on any specific logistical queries (e.g. how to book the school hall). We do ask parents to write a letter which the students include when they submit their projects to us.
Are there legal restrictions on fundraising activities?
Under-16s are not allowed to fundraise on the street (unless they are taking part in an organized procession); fundraising in public spaces such as parks or pedestrian areas requires a local authority licence; third-party liability insurance may be required by venues hosting charity events. Collecting buckets and tins must be sealed throughout an event.
How are the projects assessed?
The students are not marked on the funds raised; instead, we assess their innovation, creativity, teamwork stills and awareness raised.
The Snapshots Project is the students’ record of their fundraising activities. The Wings of Hope requires parents to send in a letter about their son/daughter’s experience of WOHAA when they submit their Snapshots Project. The letter is a good way of feeding back to WOHAA about your experience as a parent and how, we hope, you have seen your children develop.
What happens at the House of Lords?
If your children are shortlisted to go through to the Semi-finals, they will be invited to give a 5-minute presentation at the House of Lords to a very prestigious judging panel. The award timeline means Wings of Hope can only give relatively short notice of being short-listed, so it can be a rush to prepare the presentation, which needs to be on Powerpoint. WOHAA emails students about file formats, etc., but technical problems can occur, so make sure your son/daughter reads the information carefully and has copies of their presentation available on the day.
How do we know who the winners are?
We hold a glitzy award ceremony which is held at Wembley Stadium to celebrate your children’s hard work and we also announce the overall winners of Wings of Hope! Please keep checking the news for the latest updates. All participants will receive a certificate which is sent to them via their schools.
Who gets the work experience placements?
Winners of awards are offered fantastic work experience placements. Once they win, they must be as flexible as possible to which work experience they are offered. They will be asked for their preferences, but placements also depend on the date availability of the firms and the winners.
I want to know more about the trip to India
The trip to India is fantastic. As soon as the winners find out they have won, they will be given a pack about the details of the trip: flight details, accommodation arrangements, local addresses, emergency help, food and medicinal advice etc. There will be a couple of meetings for the parents and students with the Wings of Hope team who will explain everything in detail.
Whilst in India, the conditions are great. They are really looked after – all travel arrangements were made with the same driver. They stay in serviced apartments – so they can all be together in the room. Food is excellent; Wings of Hope are very careful with food arrangements. The winners will be asked to prepare some material they can teach to the younger students.
If you have any questions about WOHAA, please do contact us
