Jemmar Samuels, 19, who featured in our blog post last year about the Advocacy Academy in Brixton – a social enterprise teaching students how to campaign and giving them the confidence to make their voice heard – is to be a member of the British Youth Council (BYC) and speak out about issues affecting girls and young women.
She will hold the post for two years and represent Girlguiding, formerly the Girl Guides – the UK charity for girls and young women – and suggest issues the council should campaign on.
BYC delegates play a key role in Girlguiding’s work to give girls a voice. Last year’s delegation ensured that the council supported campaigns to protect girls and young women internationally.
During a recent induction weekend, the Girlguiding group was joined by author and founder of the Everyday Sexism project Laura Bates, who talked to the group about the importance of campaign work.
Jemmar, who lives in Herne Hill, is now a leader of the Advocacy Academy founded by Brixton resident Amelia Viney. She said: “I’m really excited to be a member of Girlguiding’s BYC delegation. I’m looking forward to being a voice for young girls and women of colour, speaking out and working on different campaigns.”
The British Youth Council is the national youth council of the UK. It connects member organisations and networks of local youth councils to empower people aged 25 and under.
