Young Activist 2009
Young Activist supports young campaigners, aged 16-24, who are campaigning on a community focused issue with which they have a personal connection. This Award is targeted at young people supported by Foyers, YMCAs and similar organisations, who have limited experience of campaigning but who have the drive and passion to change something in their community.
This award is sponsored by YMCA England and the Foyer Federation.
Winner
Barbara Soetan
‘Visible Women’, Elevation Networks Trust
Barbara became aware of the inequalities which women face through studying the glass ceiling theory. Her campaign aims to inspire and engage female students in higher education to become more competitive in the workplace by effectively channelling their aspirations and career interests into tangible outcomes. The campaign is entirely youth led and wants students to become the future driving force in challenging the under-representation of women in certain industries and senior management positions.
Finalists
Muna Hassan,
‘Khat Awareness’
Muna is trying to raise awareness about the drug ‘khat’. This is a stimulant made from fresh leaves of the Catha Edulis shrub, which is used recreationally by many people from migrant communities. Muna started her campaign due to the personal effects that khat had on her own family. The drug is currently legal and can be bought over shop counters by people as young as 12. Muna is calling for a public health campaign to raise awareness about this drug and push for a legislative change.
Sam Thomas
‘Men Get Eating Disorders Too’, Allsorts Youth Project/Experience in Mind
As a result of his own personal experience, Sam realised there was little support available for men suffering from eating disorders. His campaign aims to raise awareness around this issue. Sam recently launched a website which enables men to get support and a forum for sufferers to communicate with each other. Sam has already received media coverage for his campaign and is hoping that his website will become the main resource for men suffering from eating disorders.
Award judges
Stephen Matthews
Stephen is Head of Policy, Media and Research for YMCA England, supporting local YMCAs in their work with young people in England. At YMCA England, Stephen has helped organise the Changing Your World campaign, a training course that gives groups of young people skills to create their own campaigns. As a volunteer youth worker, he won a millennium award with CAFOD to travel to South Africa and work with their projects.
Steve Hillman
Steve began working for the Foyer Federation in October 2000. Since then, he has co-ordinated the delivery of the Federation’s UK Online Programmes, managed a national basic skills programme, and led on the development of a national learning programme for Foyer residents and staff with the National LSC. As Head of Policy and Knowledge Management, Steve now leads on the Federation’s influencing work across a range of social policy agendas, from housing and learning and skills, to community regeneration and wider third sector issues.
Lindsay Mackie
Lindsay is a Trustee of the Foundation, please read above.
