City and Islington College launches #WeAreAllimmigrants themed learning week

City and Islington (Candi) launched their Themed Learning Week today, Monday 11 February 2019, at the Centre for Lifelong Learning in Finsbury Park. City & Islington have run a themed learning week for the past 5 years and this year’s focus is on immigration and the idea that #WeAreAllimmigrants.

The week kicked-off with College Principal, Andy Forbes, opening the event. He told the story of how his father moved to Birmingham as an immigrant during the war and how this week affects him personally because of this. He went on to say: “We are part of a multicultural college and country… and long may that last!”

Capital City College Group Chief Executive, Roy O’Shaughnessy spoke to the students via an audio link. He said “I am very grateful for the staff and students’ efforts making this event possible. If you judge someone purely on how they look, you are destined to fail. We have to look beyond what we see at first sight to better understand and respect every human being as a human being.”

The week has been organised by teaching staff and GCSE English teacher Sean Vernell spoke to us about the week and why it’s so important:

The launch also saw staff and students and members of the local community delivering singing, spoken word, speeches and dance performances all centred around immigration and the struggles that many immigrants face.

College Principal Andy Forbes also spoke to us about what the week means to him. Watch:

 Capital City College Group Chief Executive, Roy O’Shaughnessy was unable to attend the ceremony in person but spoke to the students via an audio link. He said “I am very grateful for the staff and students’ efforts making this event possible. If you judge someone purely on how they look, you are destined to fail. We have to look beyond what we see at first sight to better understand and respect every human being as a human being.”

The launch also saw staff and students and members of the local community delivering singing, spoken word, speeches and dance performances all centred around immigration and the struggles that many immigrants face.

ESOL student Majid Adin, shared a video that he made in 2017 about immigration. His video, set to Sir Elton John’s song ‘Rocket Man’ won an international competition set by Sir Elton to create a music video that told a new story of adventure, loneliness and hope. Majid even got to meet Sir Elton himself.