Introducing our new Volunteering Coordinator: Mano Emmanuel
We are delighted to announce we have appointed Mano Emmanuel as OxFizz’s new Volunteering Coordinator. Mano has already joined us, and will be taking over full responsibility from 24th January 2020.
You can read Mano’s introduction below.
Mano captured us at interview with his endearing story about an access student’s response to meeting him in Cambridge (see story below). His desire to improve diversity at Oxbridge and his comprehensive approach to volunteer recruitment made a great match for the job of stabilising volunteer operations.
When I left university, there were various possessions I had accumulated which seemed designed to present a sense of emotional nostalgia: matriculation photos, first essays, a degree certificate and the like. Yet, the single item which means the most to me is a handwritten note I received after volunteering at a college access event. Alongside a sketch of me which drew particular attention to my beard and long hair, it simply said “I didn’t expect to see someone who looked like you at a place like this”. This brought home to me the enormous barriers to entry that exist in Oxbridge and instilled in me a desire to work on widening access to higher education.
A year or so later, I count myself very fortunate to be joining OxFizz, whose social vision I am extremely excited to contribute to. As increasingly damning statistics come out which demonstrate the access problem that Oxbridge has, it is more pressing than ever to have companies like OxFizz who can help provide the more specific and tailored guidance needed to ensure that the Oxbridge application system doesn’t provide any further barriers to entry than those already experienced by disadvantaged students.
As the grandson of three teachers, education has always been close to my heart. Working at OxFizz, I hope, in particular, to continue the legacy of my grandfather, a teacher who emigrated to this country from Sri Lanka and to whom education was of the utmost importance.
Alongside my studies at university, I really enjoyed getting involved in sport (particularly mixed netball) and spend arguably too much time cooking. Since moving back to London, I’ve also managed to secure a pub quiz hosting gig in Stoke Newington so if any of you are locals at the Rose and Crown, I hope to see you there!
I look forward to hearing from lots of you soon,
Mano
mano.emmanuel@oxfizz.org