Law School student Chiamaka Ithuoma, who is currently in her final year of our LLB 3 year Law degree, has been awarded the WAPCE Undergraduate Award for her work on the Cheylesmore Good Neighbours Project.

The Warwick Awards for Public and Community Engagement (WAPCE), seek to recognise the vital contributions Warwick staff and students make in engaging the public – on an international and national level as well as crucially within our region and local communities – in our learning and discovery, with the goals of sharing and co-producing knowledge, strengthening the role we play in the region and showcasing the role Warwick plays nationally and internationally in making the world a better place.

Law student Chiamaka (@allthings.psych) is a project leader on Warwick Volunteers ‘Cheylesmore Good Neighbours Project’. This project sees elderly community members and students coming together to improve the community’s understanding of technology. As many everyday activities now take place online, Chiamaka strongly believes no one should be prevented from carrying these out due to the barriers of technology.

In this project, students teach community members how to use technology to communicate with friends and family, call their doctor and even pick up medication. Students who have taken part in this project are able to break outside of the university ‘bubble’ and connect with the local community, with many also developing their communication skills.

As project leader, Chiamaka attends all volunteering sessions and encourages other students to get involved and reflect on the difference they are making in the local community. Chiamaka also utilised social media and other marketing methods to raise awareness to ensure maximum visibility of this project. Her success can be seen in the expansion of the project into Kenilworth, with the hopes of further projects in Leamington Spa and Earlsdon. The project has also been nominated for the Warwick Volunteers Award, which further attests to Chiamaka’s hard work and meaningful impact on Warwick’s local communities.

Congratulations Chiamaka on both the award and all your hard work.

See all the WAPCE winners.