Help Kayinsola raise tuition fees for Harvard

It’s Women’s History Month and I made history being the first person in my family to be accepted into a postgraduate degree. And I need your help to make that dream into a reality.

My name is Kayinsola Amoo-Peters and I am a University of Cambridge graduate who studied Human, Social and Political Sciences and now I’ve received an offer from Harvard to study Learning Design, Innovation and Technology. Going to Harvard - a university that has a 3% acceptance rate - would be life-changing, as a first generation postgraduate student.

I was born in Lewisham, as the eldest daughter to amazing, hardworking Nigerian immigrant parents, and raised in a small seaside town in Essex called Harwich, where we were able to form a small but strong community. Growing up as a Black girl in predominantly white spaces was challenging. Seeing injustices happen but never having the tools and the words to explain what was going on and why it was wrong was spurred me on to learn. With a dear friend, I created my sixth form’s first African Caribbean Society, to create a safe space for Black students of all ages in a school that often did not feel like one. We discussed everything from the most popular social media trends and the newest movies and tv shows out, to advice on situations happening around the school, allowing our Blackness to be on full display, each of us learning from each other every week. Learning more about the world around me, meant I was able to open my eyes to institutional issues and understand why they were happening. Education was my tool to advocate not only for myself, but for those around me.

I have always been passionate about breaking down barriers in academia, making it a comfortable and accessible place for every student, at every level. This passion burned brighter in university as I conducted research for the Cambridge University Centre for Teaching and Learning, investigating the reasons why Black students were less likely to receive higher grades in their final years, and developing ideas for change in department policies. As I presented at the 2023 Black Awarding Gaps and Decolonisation Forum, I knew education is where I wanted to stay and make a genuinely positive impact.

—

I am the creation of my community, without whom none of anything I’ve mentioned would be possible. Everyone from my family, to my friends, my colleagues, to those I have grown up with at church have shaped the way that I am, the way that I operate. The way that I learn has been shaped by the lessons that have been drilled into me, by the jokes that I’ve laughed at, the shows that I’ve been recommended, the conversations I’ve had. Some of the most incredible learning moments I’ve had have been outside of the classroom, doing ordinary things with the community around me.

In particular, anyone that knows me knows that I love television and film. Once you get me talking, I frankly don’t stop. Part of my efforts to create a more diverse curriculum for myself was using television as a platform for learning. My aim is to create educational, academic and fun television for teenagers and their curriculums to show that television shows can be seen as more than procrastinatory play that inspires mindless fascination, they can instead breathe a wealth of knowledge and ideas. To show that no aspect of life is too fun, too frivolous, too futile, to be used as an educational tool. And in a time where anti-intellectualism seems to be at an all time high and the arts are continually being defunded - I believe this is needed now more than ever.

—

I received my Harvard offer on the 7th March, but unfortunately I did not receive the scholarships needed for the fees and other scholarships will not provide the money in time. Admittedly, it was bittersweet. The following day was International Women’s Day and I spent the whole day thinking about the women who had come before me who have fought, resisted so that I could be in this position, to continue even a small fraction of their work. So I have to try and by the grace of God and your help, I’ll get there.

The challenge is to raise up to £80,000 before deadline for Fincert documentation for international students to demonstrate proof of necessary funds to cover all expenses associated with enrolling in the course. I have applied for financial aid, but I will not know of the outcome for a while.

Anything you could donate would be incredibly appreciated, and if you’re unable to donate please share this with any friends, creators, brands that may be able to help and who might be invested in my journey.

Please share this far and wide. I believe I can make it there. Help me make this dream into a reality.

God bless you all.

Thank you.