It’s a Friday morning when Julie Lewis walks into the foyer at International Students House; a foyer that has
transformed into a bright, airy and colourful reception area since she first set foot into the building over forty
years ago. She unbuttons her coat and eases into one of the chairs, making herself comfortable – after
all this is home. She sits back, quietly observing the young, diverse faces that make up the majority of the
residents as they make their way from breakfast back to their rooms, engrossed in animated conversation.
She smiles; to think that years ago, she was one of these young faces – how time flies. This is the first
thing she expresses as we start the conversation on how she came to be one of the most active and
dedicated members of the ISH alumni, despite not being a resident during the course of her studies.
‘It’s frightening to come to London on your own, leaving your family, your friends… the ones who are
accommodated at ISH are especially lucky. I was lucky to find my way to ISH and I often think how different my story would have been if I hadn’t found this home away from home.’
When Julie was an international student from South Africa at the London College of Fashion more than forty
years ago, London was not as multicultural as it is today. So, when a classmate who was a Student Advisor at ISH invited her to one of the weekly talks held in the House, Julie was excited to find a place where she could interact with students from around the globe in the heart of the big city. The Mary Trevelyan Talks, established and named after the founder of ISH, brought together students from different universities for conversations with dignitaries and interesting individuals. Julie recalls spending most of her evenings
and weekends at the House, networking and learning from the weekly talks and activities.
‘On Tuesdays when we used to meet up, the room would fill up – everyone would be on their feet; the
anticipation, the respect and because no one wanted to miss the talks. Every time was different; it was
special and the guests were always a surprise. While there were strict rules, everyone just respected the
guests and attended every single talk. Nobody said a word. It was organised. Dignified.’
Not only did Julie find friends among the students, but she soon bonded with some of the staff as well,
establishing relationships with people who contributed to her experience of British culture. ISH was an open
door that gave her access to meet a new community of people and some of these interactions developed into friendships as she always found a host from the ISH family every time she travelled.\
‘It was just a continuation of ISH outside London.’
When she needed some financial assistance to continue with her studies, the network that Julie had entered at ISH proved valuable as she was able to secure funding from the Africa Trust, after futile applications to different charities. With this funding, she was able to complete her studies and soon after settled down in South London where she is an active member of the community, all the while engaging with ISH on a regular basis as an alumna. She’s attended several of the London Alumni Reunions and some regular in-house events, such as the Scholars’ Welcome Reception. Julie commends the scholarship programme that ISH runs in partnership with its member universities as a life-changing project that she
proudly endorses.
‘It’s a lifeline to the students whose backgrounds would otherwise inhibit their ambitions. And to be
able to contribute to this initiative, to ensure that more students get the chance to pursue their dreams is the reason I’ve pledged a gift to the House as part of my legacy.’
Leaving a legacy gift is one way of ensuring the continuity and growth of International Students House.
When Mary Trevelyan established the House, her vision was to provide students with a safe haven in
central London with activities to encourage a spirit of global friendship and cultural understanding. In light
of Brexit and the global border crises, the mission is still as relevant today as it was back in 1965. Safe
spaces such as ISH foster a community that embraces individuals from different backgrounds, giving anyone who walks through the House a sense of belonging and empowering students who will one day be the leaders, presidents and captains of industry. If you would like to find out more about legacy gifts, please contact our Alumni at alumni@ish.org.uk