Youth Opportunity Fund Camden Showcase:
Actions Speak Louder
VENUE: Camden Centre.
DATE: 24 March 2007, 3 - 6 pm
Purpose: Celebrate young people’s achievement and award young people for leading projects funded by the
Youth Opportunity Fund
Arriving in the Camden Town Hall, a lively electric atmosphere descends into the room. Behind me, a group of
teenagers have been waiting eagerly to see performances and prize giving. As you enter, rap music plays in the
background. Distinct murmur chatter threatens to overtake the music.
The day's event starts with a music performance from True Voices from Winchester Project, greeted with rousing
applause. Then the mayor of Camden’s arrival gets a big up welcome from everyone. Up next was the drama
production "It's My Life" by Limelight, which was responded to with riveted faces in an ending that engrossed
the audience.
Soon aromas waft through the air. A long line of young people head to the queue, eager to savour spicy chicken
and roasted dumplings, along with scrumptious brown rice. There is a selection of appetizers, including
coleslaw salads, potato wedges and a variety of drinks. People are engaged in chatter until half an hour later the
next three productions hit the stage.
Bounce, a dance performance from Fresh Academy received deafening applause that almost brought the house
down. The SAS–Mind Body and Soul martial arts performance was gripping to watch with its swift manoeuvres
and body exercises. The Transitions music performance by True Voices stole the show with their rapping and
transitions. People were enthralled by their rapidfire talk and dance movements.
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‘It’s My Life’ play by Limelight. |
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Bounce dancers put through
their paces. |
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The mayor with Bounce dance performers. |
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SAS–Mind Body and Soul martial arts performance; this group was also the winner for the ‘Making a Positive
Contribution’ category. |
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The mayor with a few members of the Youth Opportunity Fund panel. |
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Left to right: Salma, Nick French,
myself and Councillor Jill Fraser. |
After half an hour of entertainment, Councillor Jill Fraser, Mayor of Camden, with Nick French the Head of
Youth and Connexions Service, came on stage to hand out certificates of Achievement to project leaders.
Certificates were also presented to young people taking part in successful projects. There were 6 categories to
be won: Being Healthy, Staying Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Making a Positive Contribution, Achieve Economic Well Being and Most Innovative. The winner of each category would get £500 and a certificate of
Excellence. Click on the categories to see who won.
My sister Salma, and I were awarded a certificate for being Youth Opportunity Fund project leaders. Surma
Centre, my youth club partook in a healthy, ethnic cooking experiment. The objective was to publicise the
benefits of eating healthily and trying dishes from different cultures. In fact our project won the best project in the
Being Healthy category, out of 60 projects!
After group photographs, there was a raffle prize draw with a chance to win an iPod shuffle, and retail vouchers.
Towards the end of the Showcase, evaluation forms are given out. People scrambled for the remaining food.
Many head out, thoroughly having enjoyed the day. A few teenagers are still rapping away to the music, while
others mingle and dance.
I’d like to thank all the people that attended, the Youth Opportunity Fund panel for helping to make it a great
day, Councillor Jill Fraser, Mayor of Camden, and especially to Virgilio Varela, the Youth Opportunity Fund officer for organising the entire day.
