Nicole is an inspirational young woman who, despite continuous barriers to her education, has consistently demonstrated resilience and determination to achieve her dreams.
“No one can take knowledge away from you. It’s not just about qualifications; it’s about growth, confidence, and breaking barriers.”
For Nicole, the past seven years in the UK have been a constant test of patience, strength, and belief in a better future. Arriving as a young person with ambition and dreams from Zimbabwe, Nicole has been stuck in legal limbo, unable to work or access basic student support and finance. As Nicole didn’t have access to student finance or any public financial support, she felt that enrolling in higher education was impossible. The emotional toll of continuous setbacks when she knew that she had both the potential and ambition to study and succeed left her feeling stuck and frustrated with her future.
“At times, it felt like all hope was lost. I was stuck in limbo, unable to progress despite my determination. It was heart-breaking to watch others move forward while I remained in the same place simply because of circumstances beyond my control.”
After receiving a recommendation to apply to Hope for the Young’s grants programme, Nicole was awarded £3,100 towards her living allowances, for the duration of her undergraduate degree. Alongside advocacy support from the Grants and Advocacy Manager, this grant provided her with financial relief during her studies and allowed her to focus on her education.
“When I received the grant, it was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I had a real chance to succeed.”
Nicole has not only completed her degree despite the uphill battle she experienced to continue her education, but she graduated with a First Class Honours in Medical Science. After completing her undergraduate degree, Nicole has since graduated from her postgraduate degree and has achieved an MSc in Molecular Biotechnology!
With a dream of working in the scientific field and inspiring others along the way, Nicole is focused on creating impact through research, advocacy, and community. She wants to inspire others who have faced similar struggles to keep pushing forward and making a meaningful impact through science. She is continuing her journey in academia and will soon be starting her PhD studies in Interdisciplinary Studies – Sustainability at the University of British Columbia under the education section. What a next chapter, in Canada!
Alongside all of her academic successes, Nicole also has her own podcast, ‘Thoughts We Share’, where she talks about topics like imposter syndrome, confidence and self–validation – things that she shares she personally navigated and wants to help others with. You can listen to her podcast, hosted with her friend Tinaeshe, on Apple Podcasts & Spotify.
Nicole is an incredibly inspiring and hard-working young woman, and we’re proud to have been part of her journey!
“My experience with Hope for the Young has been nothing short of amazing. They truly changed my life by giving me the support I needed at a critical time. Their work goes beyond financial aid - it’s about giving young people hope and a chance to build a future.”
At Hope for the Young, we rely on donations to provide the grants and tailored advocacy support that young people like Nicole need to access university and continue their education. If you are able to, please consider donating to our work.