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.