Political hopefuls start vying for votes in schools and youth clubs
THE BATTLE for seats on Hackney Youth Parliament is underway after the candidates standing in this year’s election were announced.
Thirty-two young people are vying to become one of next 20 elected members of the parliament, which represents the views of their peers in the council’s policy and decision making.
The candidates will now be canvassing for votes at schools, youth clubs and events around the borough before the ballot boxes open between October 11 and 14.
They are asking 11 to 19-year-olds to elect them to represent four neighbourhood areas of Homerton, North East, Shoreditch and Stoke Newington for a two-year period.
The results will be announced at the Youth Democracy Fair at Hackney Town Hall in Mare Street on October 15 as part of Local Democracy Week, which will include stalls, workshops and a screening of Youth Parliament documentary, ‘Freedom and Choices: Hackney Youth Parliament Does US Democracy’.
Anita Okopu, outgoing secretary of the parliament, said: “We have come a long way since we were elected in 2008. We have always championed the voice of young people in Hackney and we are really proud of that.
“To everyone up for election this year, good luck, work hard and be proud of who you are.”
This year’s candidates are -
HOMERTON
Denise Akinyemi
Sharmen Begum
Mercy Brown
Rhasan Brunner
Junior Bubi
Kaadine Hughes
Moonisah Parvin
Chey Peterson-Constable
Rebecca Samuel
Jesse Williams
NORTH EAST
Vera Boateng
Bamidele Jegede-Luis
Wasilat Kolade
Matthew Oyetunji
Madina Sanessie
Yoldas Yildiz
SHOREDITCH
Ioteng Chang
Christiana Egere
Daniel Ezuma
Mehria Fazli
Jerin Mannan
Frankie Ogboru
Damilola Oke
Oladeji Raji
Olajuwon Raji
Mahmoudat Sanni-Oba
STOKE NEWINGTON
Nadir Abdullahi
Nicky Famodun
Jermain Jackman
Rachel Piper
Anis Sleiman
Emmanuel Taiwo
For more information - including the candidates’ manifestos – go to www.younghackney.org/elections or contact either Mandy Richards by calling 07527 385680 or emailing mandy.richards@hackney.gov.uk or Cat Garrett on 07527 385664 or cat.garrett@hackney.gov.uk.
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