Transcriber: Anastasia Kovaleva Reviewer: Denise RQ
One of my earliest memories from primary school
was performing at the end of the assembly
as part of the school choir.
We were lined up on stage just in our neat little uniforms
and singing in our awful little voices.
You're probably wondering what on earth this has to do with TEDx
but remember: I'm getting there.
The song we were given to sing was by a late artist
I'm sure you've all heard of, Whitney Houston,
and it was entitled "The Greatest Love of All".
It's the first two lines of this song that are particularly important.
And they are,
"I believe the children are our future.
Teach them well and let them lead the way."
Over the years,
I've heard countless adults say similar words to same effect.
So obviously, we are all on the same page about young people being the future.
But for some reason, I've seen the disappearance of youth clubs,
and the evaporation of the clear service connections.
I've seen tuition fees triple, and youth unemployment skyrocket.
I've seen housing benefits cut for under 25 and job seeking loans limited.
I'm sure you'll understand that as young people we are questioning
the overall sincerity of the people we look up to as a guidance of society.
Do you really believe young people in the future?
Can you honestly say you are teaching us well?
Have we been provided with the tools to adequately lead the way?
Problem with the continuous stereotyping of young people within our community,
particularly of black and ethnic minority parentage
or working class heritage.
These aforementioned factors are creating a melting pot that is bubbling over.
But luckily, it's boiling over as innovation and enterprise.
So the question is: what's really going on beneath the surface?
I've put together a short clip
to show you what's going on with some of my young friends
and what they are doing to address the issues
we are all going through as a community.
Selfies are extremely popular so we thought
the most cool way to deliver this would be by 'selfie-video'.
And being the results of the young people we are
this has been filmed and edited entirely on iPhone.
I hope you enjoy.
[What We're Doing About It...]
[Chirag Patel, Co-Founder of 'The Forte']
CP: Through my business known as "The Forte",
we've created an online trading platform for skills and services for young people.
Through this we help young people promote their skills and talent,
but also discover them as well.
By doing so, we hope to elevate their career prospects,
but also help them develop their own business ideas as well.
BeAnna Davis: A challenge young graduates face,
particularly from Black and ethnic minority backgrounds,
is finding sustainable employment after graduation.
"Young Black Grads" is an organization that works in spite this demographics
to create their own success and opportunity
and pass that development and skill of that working
as important tools for achieving success in career and business and in life.
[Zoli, Independent Artist] I don't feel there's enough opportunities in Tottenham,
and, if there are, they are not publicized in the right place or properly.
I do my art to inspire the young people in Tottenham
and surely you can do something constructive of your time.
This is where it gets a bit awkward
because you probably just watched that and thought,
"Well, all of her friends are doing something about it.
What is she doing about it?"
Luckily, I'm actually doing something about it.
I'm creating an event series called "Art and Entrepreneurship",
and the main aim of this is to showcase
some of the excellent talent we have in our local community.
A few days ago, I ran a workshop
at the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust Centre
with some young boys from Eastside Academy.
All of the artists were extremely, extremely excited
to give back to the younger generation,
and support the young people within our community.
We're also hosting a network event
at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission;
we're particularly excited of working with the collaboration of the Saatchi Gallery.
So I'd have to say thank you to the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission,
the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust,
Eastside Academy, and also the Saatchi Gallery.
But my biggest thank you has to go to the artists. They are brilliant.
I refuse to let them down, ladies and gentlemen,
and we cannot afford to let each other down as a community.
So I urge you. support my event. support my young community,
and invest in your future.
Thank you.
(Applause)