The Youth Achievement Awardees testimonies were again so inspiring and refreshing that those who may have wanted to leave could not pull themselves away. Held in Committee Room 10 of the House of Commons on July 8th, the award programme was hosted by Mr Virendra Sharma MP's office and kindly supported throughout by Lord Nazir Ahmed of Rotherham.
It was held despite the difficult transport situations caused by the tube strike and those, like Lord Ahmed, who were in the middle of the Holy Month of Ramadan. One Mum said afterwards, 'you don't know how encouraging and life-changing this can be for them (the awardees).' For photos please see this link: http://ow.ly/PBhiR
We are very grateful for Richard Harrington MP, Helen Hayes MP, Paul Scully MP, Vicky Foxcroft MP who all braved the tube strike in order to attend part of the programme and congratulate the Youth Achievement Awardees.
Youth Achievement Awardees 2015
Jide Adetunji & Ibrahim Kamara
Both are the founders of GUAP (Great Understanding And Power) - The UK's first video magazine, allowing
individuals to watch a physical magazine rather than read it. Captivating on methods that are often used to distract young people, the two have created a magazine which aims to inspire and entertain young people, through various video articles.
Imran Azizuddin
At present, I am a leading member of the school debate team, which is hosting a collegiate debate for the year 7 pupils in which they will argue for and against such topics as "The voting age should be lowered to 14 years old" and "Violent video games are detrimental to society". We hope this will serve to allow younger students to start actively thinking about and researching current and topical events. In late July, I am due to participate in the global finals of the NASA space design competitions, having competed in the regional and national heats as a head member of the Human Engineering sub-team, which specialises in the integration of settlement occupants of different beliefs and cultures by careful design of domiciles, communal rooms and procedures.
Julia Christy
She was a Deputy Head Girl in her school because of she had an exemplary attitude and work ethic.
She performed dance in many shows and multicultural events in school. She was very supportive and caring towards others by mentoring younger students as well as helping in the language department. She was selected to be a school ambassador, running whole school events, comparing the “BIG” quiz and raising money for charity.
Althea Corlett
She has taught all levels and ages in classical ballet in Malta, the United States, Germany and currently in London. She is the Secretary of UNESCO Malta from 2009-2012. She encouraged young people to take interest in their culture and society while starting the UNESCO Malta Youth committee. She applied and got co-funded by the European Union for a YOUTH UPF project called 'CREATING CHANGE' in Malta in October 2013.
Raman Hayer
Raman Hayer is the current President of Youth Ngage after joining Youth Ngage at age of age of 14 years old. She was an ordinary member then the Group Secretary before being promoted to the Vice President. She later became the President in the 2014 to 2015 year group. She is the main contact person for Youth Ngage for other organisations apart from the Chair and the Director. Raman has developed from a young girl of a Gravesend Grammar school into a youth leader of the community. She was involved with the Parliament Week project where a lot was done to get young people engaged with people in authority. She helps to organise events in the community such as sports and social responsibility programmes.
Bella Jackson
Bella Jackson started singing when she was 4 years old. She is an Ambassador for the Against All Odds Still Standing (AOS) charity. She has sponsored two of AOS students in Malawi. She sings for AOS and written & produced a song for Against All Odds Still Standing charity. All the proceeds of her songs go to AOS.
Louis Leeson
Louis has helped to deliver training to vulnerable young people. He has highlighted through film, gun crime incidents in the community and has delivered productions through workshops. These workshops have supported ex-offenders, gang members and unemployed individuals helping to keep them away from highly potential criminal activity and raising esteem to get into employment.
Ciara McEvilly
She has helped at our Brownie Unit for 7-10 year olds for the last two years attending weekly meetings and going on outings with them. She has formed an excellent relationship with the young girls and encourages them to be kind to each other and learn new skills. Ciara is also a regular attender of the Children's Choir which she first joined many years ago. This involves attending practices weekly and then singing at services fortnightly. She now helps with the younger children encouraging them to participate and ensure that they are welcomed. This summer, in August, Ciara is setting off to Borneo with a group from her school, for a month during her school holiday as she is keen to help others less fortunate than herself.
Tinotenda Makwarimba
Tinotenda has been a musician and has been on stage supporting many communnity events and
churches from the age of ten years old. He is an established drummer and keyboard/player. He offeres his
services free to all these events.
Oluwatobiloba Oguntola
I have been a dedicated member of the youth Ngage since then. I became the football project manager and was later promoted to the position of a vice president having perform my duty to the best of my knowledge at all time. I work to help young people make impact in their lives across the community of Gravesham and contributing to the community by helping to organise and run events around the Gravesend/North fleet area.
Through Youth Ngage, I learnt of a campaign against mental health stigma and discrimination run by Rethink and mind charities for Mental Health; called Time to Change. I became a member of the young people’s panel through recommendation by the Youth Ngage Project Director in September 2013. I have taken part in various volunteer events with the group in Gravesham in particular and Kent in general. During the Parliament week In November 2013 Our group started a campaign about reducing the age of voting parting participation to 16 which is now buzzing all around the country.
Karishma Raichada
Karishma Raichada who is aged 17 as she has been doing a range of voluntary work ever since the tender age of 8 years old where she volunteered to do a bollywood dance workshop for Mencap Harrow to teach a one hour workshop to teach people with learning disabilities. She has raised money for a range of charities and has also done volunteering work in Kenya at an orphanage in Mombasa at the age of 14. In April 2015 during the Easter holidays she volunteered at a Ashram in India helping people who are handicapped and also have a mental illness. During her visit to India she also volunteered at a school based in a village called Porbandar, India. On 30th June Karishma flew out to Gambia for one week to volunteer in an orphanage and a primary school.
Jeevan Ravindran
He is the President of the Human Rights Society (in affiliation with Amnesty International). He is organising campaigns and petitions to fight for human rights issues and events such as Freedom Night (held in December 2014) to raise awareness as well as fundraising for Amnesty International. He is also President of the Modern Foreign Languages Society He is leading a group of students discussing languages, and their influence on society and the world.
Maya Schmitt
I was born and grew up in post-Apartheid South Africa and Mandela’s dream. This was an incredible overlap of multiculturalism, faith and identity diversity. This left me always interested in art, culture and its interplay with social issues. This lead me to my work at a foundation in Johannesburg where I raised awareness for the topics of corruption and security in Africa, freedom of speech and land reform with help of the foundations knowledge and connections.
Marsha Thompson
I am a strong advocate against violence against women. Many have had huge obstacles such as having nowhere to go, no family support and no money. I have safely led these women in the direction of women shelters whereby they have received the right level of advice, emotional and financial support and many have gotten their lives back and have learned the true meaning of self-love.