Enfield Caribbean Association went back into Enfield classrooms this week visiting two schools in the borough.

On Monday 21 June, Enfield Caribbean Association held a careers fair with year 6 children at Starks Field Primary School in Edmonton.

The fair provided pupils with an opportunity to discuss their career aspirations and ambitions with a variety of professionals in several areas including veterinary medicine, accounts and finance, music and the Royal Air Force.

More than 50 pupils participated in small workshops with expert practitioners in their fields where they asked questions and participated in group activities. In the Animal Aspirations Vets workshop, the children were taught by Anantha Kumarvel and Remi Onabolu, how to use a stethoscope and find the heartbeat of a dog. The children also learned how to bandage a hurt pet. Professional singer-songwriter Paula Thompson got the pupils to exercise their vocal cords and sing their hearts out loud. Accountant Megan Walker, proved to be particularly popular, when getting the children thinking and understanding money, saving and finance.

Other professionals who volunteered their time included actress Sharron Pillay. Kenya Josiah discussed her careers and experiences in the arts and music. Husband and wife, Phil and Odette Betts were also at hand to discuss the various job options in the Royal Air Force.

On Tuesday, 21 June, Windrush Voices author, Roy Edwards and one of the book’s contributors, Margaret Obomanu visited St Andrew’s school in Enfield. The school’s year 5 pupils have been studying about migration in the British Isles from the Bronze Age to the modern times. Furthermore, they read books with strong migration themes including Floella Benjamin’s ‘A Windrush Story’ and Benjamin Zephaniah’s ‘Windrush Child.’

Margaret discussed her childhood in rural Delta State in Nigeria in the 1930s and 1940s which instigated her love of nature.  She vividly drew a portrait of her father and mother and schooling in rural Nigeria. She also remembered seeing Queen Elizabeth II visit to Lagos in 1956.

The questions and answer sessions with the children were lively and wide-ranging. The children found Margaret’s story particularly interesting. Many felt it enriched their learning experience, to meet somebody who had made the very migration journeys they have been studying for the year.