On 24 January 2026, a group of young people from CB Mentoring’s Bridge cohort stepped into something a little special: a private, behind-the-scenes tour of the African exhibition at The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.
The visit was hosted by CB Mentoring’s CEO, Edwin Panford-Quainoo, and Partnerships Lead, Charles Nyambuya, and brought to life by Dr Eva Namusoke and her expert curatorial team. Instead of a typical museum walk-through, this was an interactive, story-filled experience designed to spark curiosity and creativity.
One of the main focuses of the tour was African goat skin, a material with a long and fascinating history. The young people learned how it has been carefully prepared and used over centuries, from bookbinding and handbags to horse-riding boots. Seeing how a single material can travel across time, cultures, and uses made the experience feel both grounded and surprisingly modern.
A standout moment for many was viewing a rare cabinet of sacred texts bound in goat skin, including a Qur’an and Qur’an bag, alongside a hardbound Holy Bible produced by Cambridge University Press. These pieces opened up powerful conversations about how African materials and craftsmanship have shaped global history, religion, and publishing — often in ways that aren’t talked about enough.
The session was anything but passive. Young people were encouraged to ask questions, share thoughts, and make their own connections between the artefacts and their lives today. This helped turn history into something living and relevant, rather than distant or abstract.
To round off the visit, everyone took part in a hands-on creative workshop using surplus goat skin from the museum’s collection. With guidance and encouragement, the group designed and made their own artworks — turning what they’d learned into something they could hold, shape, and be proud of. Along the way, themes of sustainability, reuse, and creative confidence naturally came into focus.
By the end of the day, the energy was high. The experience left many feeling inspired, more connected to African heritage, and more confident engaging with cultural spaces. Several young people even said they wanted to come back to The Fitzwilliam over the summer — a small but powerful sign of growing curiosity and ownership over their learning.
This visit is a great example of what CB Mentoring is all about: opening doors, celebrating culture, and creating experiences that help young people build confidence, creativity, and big ambitions for the future.
