Malcolm - Trainee
Malcolm's story
19-year-old Malcolm Ukeje is one CACT Awards winner, following his journey on the Traineeship programme. He won Participant of the Year (Over 18).
Malcolm was referred to CACT’s Traineeships programme by the Royal Borough of Greenwich in October 2019, having recently moved over from Italy.
Speaking little English, Malcolm found the transition difficult at first.
“I was feeling as if this was not my place because this place is totally different from Italy and I was alone, I didn’t have friends. It was really difficult.”
“He was very nervous, he didn’t really understand English,” Niz Miah, CACT’s Education Manager, explained.
Having expressed a passion for photography, Malcolm began working with CACT’s Marketing & Communications team, and was given the chance to take photos and film at a number of CACT’s projects.
Speaking after his placement, Malcolm said:
“I improved my confidence and my communications skills. It was a great opportunity as it gave me a clearer idea about what I wanted to become in the future. I was lucky.”
Malcolm secured a place on a 20-month Photojournalism programme delivered by renowned photographer Ernest Simons. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Malcolm was set to photograph at Wimbledon and Euro 2020.
Malcolm has also secured a college placement based around photography, which he will be starting later this year.
First published in the Greenwich & Lewisham Weekender.
Click here to find out more about CACT's Traineeships programme.