Borough youth parliament members join London manifesto launch

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Four young people from Hammersmith & Fulham
joined the launch of the UK Youth Parliament's London regional manifesto last Thursday, 14 July, at the Old Library in Guildhall, City of London.

Among them were Sara Habachi, 17, a student at
Lady Margaret School, in Fulham, who was elected Member of the Youth Parliament (MYP) for Hammersmith & Fulham in January, and Yussif Osman, 15, a pupil at Henry Compton School, in Fulham, who is the borough's
deputy MYP.

Sara and Yussif were joined at the manifesto launch by two members of the recently established Borough Youth Forum, Sean Chandler and Katerina Geitsevich, both 18. The forum has been set up by the council's youth service to support the MYPs and give young people a say on local services. MYPs and youth forum members will work towards gaining nationally recognised Youth Achievement Awards.

Issues highlighted at the London manifesto launch included young people's feelings about bans on 'hoodies', police 'stop and search' procedures (on which UKYP members have been involved in consultation with the Metropolitan Police), transport, education and
health. Sara, who is co-leader of the education and
skills committee for the London regional UKYP, spoke about how citizenship can be improved in the school curriculum while Yussif gave a passionate speech about international affairs and the importance of combating prejudice and poverty worldwide. Guests at the event included
representatives from the Metropolitan Police and Greater London
Assembly.

The launch of the London regional manifesto, which will be sent to all London MPs and council leaders, comes ahead of the national UKYP annual sitting at Leicester University from 22 - 24
July, which Hammersmith & Fulham MYP Sara Habachi will attend. Hundreds of young people will take part in fringe meetings, debates and lively
discussion as they decide which key issues they wish to campaign on,
forming the basis of the UKYP national manifesto 2005/6.

The UK Youth Parliament aims to give 11 to
18-year-olds a voice on issues and services at local and national level.
It is run as an independent charity and has an annual national sitting
as well as regular regional sittings (once a month in London).

Hammersmith & Fulham MYP, Sara Habachi, who is
studying four A-levels at Lady Margaret School, said: "It went really
well - the Guildhall was very impressive. I spoke about how we could
make the teaching of citizenship more interesting for young people by
introducing classes or video presentations by young people acting as
peer teachers as well as introducing a short GCSE course in citizenship.

I am really looking forward to taking part in the national event."

Cllr Melanie Smallman, cabinet member for
education, said: "We are always looking for ways to engage young people
and enable them to make their voices heard. The UK Youth Parliament and
Borough Youth Forum provide that important opportunity. Sara and Yussif
have already learned a great deal about the political process as well as
improving their confidence and communication skills. They are both great
ambassadors for the borough's young people."

Andy Hamflett, chief executive of UKYP, said:
"The UKYP London manifesto has two main aims. First of all, it's a
record of all the hard work London MYPs (Members of the Youth
Parliament) have undertaken to listen to their communities and focus in
on the issues that matter to young people across London. It's also a
call to action, a public statement of intent setting out what this
fabulous and passionate group of young people intend to do in the coming
year about the most important issues."

July 16, 2005