TEAMGlobal were once again instrumental in the running of a conference on Tuesday October 18 at Gumley House School in Isleworth. The conference, which ran all day was entitled “Movement of Freedom, Every Individual’s Right?”

Indhi Gupta, a Gumley House student, said: “This conference gave me a platform to share my comments and ideas that I feel passionately about”

Four speakers were invited to attend the conference and spoke on various subjects regarding immigration.

Mr Alp Mehmet, a first generation migrant who spent 9 years as an Immigration Officer, was the first speaker of the day. Since retiring in 2008 he has worked in both the private and public sectors and is currently Vice-chair of Migration Watch UK, a position he has held since 2010.

He said: "Perhaps the best conference of its type I have ever attended. Intelligent and engaged young people are this country's future. We will be in safe hands."

Anuja Prashar, a former Home Office official was the second speaker to take the stage. She has been lecturing in Higher Education for the past 10 years on various subjects including Global Management, Political Identity & Nationalism and Cross Cultural Communication, as well as working closely with several women’s groups, campaigning to help eradicate domestic violence and abuse against women.

Markella Papadoulia a registered European Lawyer and a member of the AIRE Centre strategic litigation team focusing on asylum and trafficking cases, was also one of the speakers.

She said: "The issue of asylum and migration in the context of European law and policy is one of the most contemporary and controversial in every national agenda at the moment.

“It was a pleasure for The AIRE Centre and myself to have the opportunity to discuss and interact with such well-informed, brilliant students."

Headteacher Caroline Braggs commented that she felt it essential that Gumley students have a wider understanding of global issues. She added that with the support of TEAMGlobal, the Education Charity that makes these conferences possible in schools, students have the unique opportunity to tackle a key subject each year through these collaborative sixth form conferences which bring together over 220 sixth formers from 4 external schools.

Alex Ntung, Head of Education, Migrant Help UK, was the final speaker of the day. Despite surviving extreme poverty as a child, his hunger for education enabled him to flee the hardships he had experienced and come to the UK where he underwent stringent asylum processes. He is now a university guest lecturer who has a candid awareness of the issues surrounding cultural insensitivity.

Alis Sejourne, a Gumley House student, said that hearing from different experts in their fields helped her to achieve a better insight on this subject and particularly when hearing the more personal view from someone that has faced war trauma directly.

The Gumley students were engaged completely throughout the conference asking some interesting questions about sensitive issues. They were not afraid to challenge the speakers and were animated and well informed.