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 In our annual joint Youth Achievement A wards, many inspiring stories were shared about how young people had become a role model to their peers, led a campaign, or changed communities they live in for the better etc. Parliamentarians, Baroness Oona King, Baroness Sandip Verma and Lord Tarsem King (photo right), as well as Nick de Bois MP and Lee Scott MP who presented awards to their constituents, took the time from their busy schedules to present the Youth Achievement Awards in what was a unique opportunity to hear the great activities and reward these valuable accomplishments of our youth today.
Six families from the Stepney Partnership of schools in Tower Hamlets received the Youth Achievement Award for the impact their great work has had on their children’s learning and in the wider community. The event is a platform to encourage exemplary students and their families to continue their good work.
Stepney Schools Partnership coordinator Ben Yeo (1st picture, standing on the right)
‘Big congratulations to six Stepney Partnership families who won an important national award at the House or Lords last night.  The families received their award for the huge impact that parents/carers have had on their children’s learning and the wider community. The Youth Achievement Awards were organised by the Universal Peace Federation with inspiring stories from young people across the UK. We had a real adventure starting with a boat trip from Tower Bridge to Westminster. Families then received their awards from Lord King. Finally, with huge excitement from the families, we had a special tour of the House of Commons from Rushanara Ali (MP for Bethnal Green and Bow). Rushanara was very proud of the families, and we are all very grateful for the time she spent talking to children and parents.’
Adam Matan is the head of the Anti - Tribalism Movement which aims to eradicate tribalism from amongst the Somali people. They plan to achieve this by educating about the problems with tribalism and by raising up young people to be role models and leaders of tomorrow. We were very impressed with ATM’s hard work, vision, professionalism and peace building initiative across the world. Adam shared the injustice and discrimination because of tribalism was preventing his community, as well as other communities suffering the same prejudice, from developing their potential due to revenge, jealousy and obstacles to fulfilling the people’s natural creativity. The Anti-Tribalism Movement aims to educate Somali people about Tribalism and eradicate it from the community in the UK, and in Somalia, promote unity among the Somali people and inspire, empower and energise the future leaders.
Adam Matan: Anti-Tribalism Movement
Patrick German spent a gap year with Youth Service International (YSI) and enjoyed it so much that he stayed for another year to have a longer experience of living in Africa. He shared that his experience of living four months in Ghana had profoundly changed him and had given him the confidence to speak in front of the audience in the House of Lords. The project consisted of After School Programs, construction of the Discovery Centre (which YSI had begun last year), forums with youth on character development, and a trip to Mole National Park. You’ll be able to read a report from one of the team soon on the YSI Utrecht blog. The photos and report of his four months illustrate why a gap year service programme can be so character forming.
Patrick German in Ghana (left) and Explaining His Service Work (right)
Baroness Oona King
Baroness Oona King offered some advice. Remember if you don’t do it, nobody else will. If you come from a ‘disadvantaged’ background and feel discouraged, please remember; do not prejudge the prejudice of others. I was never encouraged to stand for election as an MP. I was told I was the wrong type of colour for the area, plus I am part Jewish that really did not suit the constituency. I just decided by myself and I won.
Quince Garcia, one of the awardees said, ‘I'm co-founder of Roadworks Media, a film production company based in South London. I'm delighted to be here and have been invited by The Universal Peace Federation. As director of Roadworks Media our projects have required us to work with green screen, 35mm film and digital recording cameras with a set and crew that has lead us to exhibit a lot of our work. Our clients have included Google, The Pollocks Toy Store, Wates Constructions and The Forgiveness Project.
Quince Garcia and Julien Bernard-Grau
Today the dream of managing a production company exists, amongst receiving a degree in film and animation and being honoured as an Ambassador of Peace. Julien and I have worked hard and patiently to organise what we are trying to achieve today and that is to set up a youth aid programme. It is called 1st Steps and has the support from 198 Arts Centre, Stronglinx and Sophie PR. Its aim is to enable youths from the ages of 14 - 25 to gain a qualification in a key area of filmmaking. The programme also aims to steer youths from vulnerable backgrounds away from a life of crime and gangs, to help encourage those who lack in self-confidence to take part in the making of a 10-minute film. At the end of six consecutive short films we will organise an event to showcase the work to the public The Rudolf Steiner House Theatre, in Baker Street and amongst other venues that would be keen to screen the work. It has been a great honour to be here amongst you all today, Lords, representatives and speakers. I understand how important my commitments are and what they mean to everyone who surrounds themselves with me.
Nick de Bois MP Presenting Award to Tolu Williams
Tolu Williams has been an active volunteer for many good causes over the last few years including the anti knife crime campaign (STOP), and the Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust (HART). With the goal of improving the lives of all people and aiming towards world peace she continues to work towards her ambition to work in the UN.
She worked with Baroness Cox for about a year including visiting Armenia to help in community activities in the conflict area of Nagorno- Karabakh. When presenting the award Nick de Bois MP said that he was ‘awestruck that at the age of 21 Tolu has done so much. She has inspired us with her attitude of living for others and has set a great example for us all. 'It was truly worthwhile to be here. I am immensely proud to have you as a constituent. I am only sorry that I couldn’t be here for longer. Once again I would like to congratulate you. Really, really congratulations.’
The CEO of the organisation, VIP Minds, Adam Nazar, sits on the Boards of a number of other groups such as Mosaic, a charity founded by the Prince of Wales. He had introduced three friends to the Youth Achievement Awards. One young lady Adam introduced is Anisa Qureshi. She has been active supporter of several charities raising funds for organisations such as Oxfam, NSPCC and READ International. She is currently embarking on the ‘World Challenge’ working towards a project in Mozambique as well as volunteering with ‘The Groundwork Charity’ and is a Board member of VIP Minds.
Anisa Qureshi Receiving Award. Adam Nazar (Left)
Tasif Zaman Receiving Youth Achievement Award from Lee Scott MP
Tasif Zaman expressed a love for politics and formulating policy and his community work with the Redbridge Youth Forum, Redbridge Youth Council and the UK Youth Parliament. Most recently he has been developing the organisation ‘Aspire Youth Initiative’, of which he is the Founding Co-director. Tasif encouraged all young people to be involved in the Youth Parliament. He said it was very special to sit on the green benches of the House of Commons. He received the Youth Achievement Award from Lee Scott MP who expressed how inspired he was by Tasif’s accomplishments, his passion and involvement in politics.
Another person introduced by Adam Nazar was Harun Asif. He takes a ‘Hands-on’ approach in community. He has worked as teacher for Unwind Summer School as well as being a member of the committee for the ‘Salaam Cup’.
Harun Asif: Founding Co-Director Aspire Youth Initiative
Baroness Verma thanked the awardees saying, ‘I would especially like to thank every single young person that came today. Yes you are the future and you are the present now. I think it’s really important that politicians pay attention and listen to what you have to say. It is about people believing in you, you only need that one person to say that I believe in what you are doing. We want to be able to share common purposes, to share that goal. I am so glad that I was here to hear most of your speeches today, and I will look in 10 years to see who has become a leader.’
Tara Love
A recipient of the Youth Achievement Award, Tara Love, who is an A-level student with a strong passion for advocating the involvement of women in politics. She is currently working toward the formal launch of her web-based project ‘girls- in-politics’. She was greeted warmly by Baroness Verma who said she had noted her as a future leader from a previous meeting.
One participant commented afterwards:
‘I would like to express my gratitude for the award yesterday. I think I speak for many to say it was a very inspirational event. As one of the recipients of the award, I left the event yesterday with the motivation to continue striving in my endeavours, contributing to my community. I had the opportunity to network with people who had an interest in my work and I hope to explore those opportunities further.’
Prachi Desai speaking and (on her left) Elisa Brann MC for the Session
May Ikeora (Right)
Neelam Rose (Middle)
Prachi Desai worked as a support worker assisting blind women in achieving their financial needs by training them in their chosen vocation. She later worked with “Ashram Housing Association” UK as a Domestic Violence Community Support worker and have been providing support to women and children who have suffered or are suffering domestic violence. May Ikeora was awarded the Economic Community Of West African States ECOWAS youth ambassador in 2005 for her humanitarian activities. While doing her Master’s in Peace Studies she volunteered with Bradford City Council’s peace mediator service called Community Accord. She has campaigned for child protection through the education of parent groups and against human trafficking which is the topic of her PhD. Neelam Rose is a young entrepreneur, writer and political activist who has led an ‘Anti–Racism’ Campaign and ‘NO to Violence’ campaign. Neelam was an elected member of the Birmingham young people’s Parliament, in this role lobbied for more investment in youth services. She was put on the Youth Leadership Team for Change-makers, where her role included advising which youth projects should receive the support of the Big Challenge funding. She founded UK Swagger at the age of 16, which produces educational and thought-provoking documentary films.
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