Last year’s second-place Star keeps shining. The charity Melba founded and for which she won £230,000, SE1 United, continues to play a vital role in its community. And although Melba’s final year studies kept her busy, she has still managed to find time to stay involved. After meeting the Mayor of London last year, she decided to take part in the Thames Festival Night Carnival and spent her summer choreographing, costume-making and co-ordinating SE1 United’s presence in the September parade.
She has also been teaching contemporary, street and African dance to locals aged from seven, and way upwards. “It’s just so much fun!” she says. “A more entertaining and sociable way to keep fit – the best of all worlds!”.
Conversational in German, Arabic and Portuguese, Melba has spent the past few months taking refresher courses in all three languages and preparing for her Masters degree. The former President of Oxford’s African Caribbean Society had offers to study for an MPhil in Developmental Studies at Cambridge University, as well as a full scholarship to remain at Oxford to pursue an MSc in African Studies. She will be returning to Oxford in autumn. Melba also has an offer to join KPMG in 2011, where she will qualify as an accountant and work towards her long-term goal of helping businesses in Africa.
Melba’s achievements were recognised earlier this year when she was invited to a dinner at the House of Lords to mark outstanding alumni of St Catherine’s College, along with people like Lord Plant and Betty Boothroyd. In her words: “I was invited to the House of Lords for a St Catherine’s alumni party. It was AMAZING!! And I had no clue until the Master began his speech that I was a Guest of Honour! (Although I realise with hindsight I should have guessed something was up when I was one of very few current students in attendance). Anyway, he outlined my work with SE1 United and gave a summary of my efforts in Oxford over the past three years. Then the best bit - I was applauded by 48 years of Catz alumni. And they took turns to come and shake my hand. Mine? It was really wonderful, sort of out of this world. Overwhelming but so special. I shall never forget that night.”
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