httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9oiYeXxLdw
On Monday 23rd December, my fellow Urban Synergy Ambassadors Audrey N’gba, Kofi Siaw and I had the privilege of meeting former Lewisham Young Mayor Jacob Sakil and his advisor Chris Membu at Thomson Reuters. Kofi conducted the interview asking Chris and Jacob questions concerning their roles and the responsibilities they come with, whilst Audrey was helping out with the technical aspect of the interview and I was taking notes in preparation for this article. In the interview with Jacob and Chris, it was clear to see the true passion they have for young people and raising the right opportunities for their future. When asked their opinion of the economics and peace index rank for Lewisham being the least peaceful place to live in the UK, they both agreed that the rank was a misconception. Chris, who has lived in Lewisham borough for over 9 years, said that Lewisham has made significant progression regarding its safety over the past few years. Additionally, Jacob stated several good points about living in Lewisham, such as its ethnic diversity and the Lewisham Young Mayor programme itself, which shows that the local government does recognise the importance of interacting with young people. However, like with most things, Chris and Jacob both realise that there is always room for improvement. When asked what challenges they come across when working with young people, they note that their mind-set can be a challenge as their previous negative experiences can often lead them to become apathetic. Consequently, they may think there are no opportunities out there for them to achieve their goals. This is why the Young Mayor of Lewisham is an important role as it acts as a link between the adults and young people of today to help bring opportunities to the youth and developing Lewisham for the better.
Urban Synergy looks forward to working with the Lewisham Young Mayor in the future and we hope it will provide the youth with opportunities to help reach their aspiring goals.
Jacob Sakil now has his own American influenced food stall selling a variety of food. To find out more follow @AmericanBites on twitter.
You can read more of Maxine’s articles on her blog wwww.blessedinspired-reports.tumblr.com