Umunna urges young people to use their vote to make a difference
Chuka Umunna, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Streatham, spoke at an Operation Black Vote (OBV) event this week, encouraging young people to use their democratic rights and make their voices heard.
The ‘Express Yourself’ event promoted young people becoming active members of society and their communities, and also featured performances from young musicians and comedians.
Mr Umunna talked of the positive impact which voting and involvement in the political system can make, calling on young people, in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, to “be the change that you want to see”.
He also spoke of the importance of issues such as climate change to the young generation of voters, which will have a disproportionate affect on many countries in Africa which have strong links with minority communities in the UK.
Recently, Chuka Umunna recruited Lionel Owusu-Afriyie to work as an Intern on his campaign.
Mr Owusu-Afriyie, a graduate of the University of York, joins having worked for the Windsor Fellowship which helps young people from ethnic minority backgrounds find career and educational pathways and become the leaders of tomorrow.
Simon Woolley, Founder and National Co-Ordinator of OBV, sits alongside Lionel on the ministerial board for the REACH National Role-Modelling programme, managed by the Windsor Fellowship.
Lionel Owusu-Afriyie was named as one of “Britain’s most outstanding black students” as part of the Future Leaders 2010 list, a companion to the Powerlist.
David Lammy, MP for Tottenham, was a member of the list’s judging panel. While Lionel hopes to gain valuable experience by becoming involved in Chuka’s campaign, Mr Umunna was himself an Intern for David Lammy in the past.
Chuka Umunna said: “I don’t accept the idea that young people are apathetic, but participation in the democratic process is the key to positive change. If we want to make a difference, we must make sure that our voices are heard.”
Mr Owusu-Afriyie said: “It is important that we as young people realise the immense power we hold and this should be constantly encouraged with events like ‘Express Yourself’.
“Many of us want to be heard and we deserve an influential platform because we are the future. The principles guiding Chuka’s campaign encapsulate this and I want to be part of it.”
