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United People Global (House of Lords)

It is not usual to start an Academy morning having breakfast at the House of Lords, but Wednesday 13^th March was different! We were invited by Yemi Babington-Ashaye, the Director of United People Global, a charity which aims to make ordinary people powerful in order to make positive change in our world. The House of Lords was the most beautiful setting for this occasion to be held; we felt like true VIPs as we were the only students there amongst 110 other guests  - what a privilege!

There were different people of great influence at the event, one of which was Michael John Hastings, Baron Hastings of Scarisbrick. He hosted the event and gave some motivation for the younger community. He also had a good sense of humour and was an influential individual to look up to for younger people as he was explaining that the future of this world is in our hands. It was very empowering for us as students to be told we are so important!

The guest of honour of course was Yemi Babington-Ashaye, who we would also have the privilege of hosting at our Academy on the 14^th of March 2019. He will be speaking to all of our Year 9 students about his charity, explaining about how younger people can step up and give opinions as anyone can change the world even slightly with just a few words. He was also talking about how ordinary life DOES matter as everyone has power, but we don’t notice because we don’t speak up and use our voice. 

There was one person that works for the United People Global, he told a story about how his own children made him help a woman’s children on the street in Nigeria. This woman hadn’t eaten since breakfast and her twins were coughing and were ill. The man was speaking with his children and they noticed this woman on the side of the street. She was leaning on the wall of a shop and looked incredibly miserable. The children, twins of age 11, told their dad he had to do something but he didn’t know what to do, so he knew if he didn’t do something when they get home the children will be angry. So they went out of the car helped the woman up, even though they didn’t speak the same language, and took her to a safe place with some food. The moral of this story was that you can help someone even if you can’t communicate.

Overall, this was a beneficial trip because we took away a lot of encouraging and inspiring quotes and thoughts. I really appreciate that all of the speakers were positive about the impact young people could have; exactly the sort of people that we can now look up to! We are excited about working on further campaigns with United People Global and making a real change to the problems that we face in our world.

Ayman Year 9