Tizane Navea-Rogers
Introducing you to one of our London based Creative Activists and volunteer, Tizane Navea-Rogers.
Tizane Navea- Rogers, aged 16, joined Think Act Vote in early August, 2011. Since 2009, Tizane has been a Red Cross First Aid Trainer, teaching basic First Aid Skills to primary & secondary students, teachers and parents across Hackney. She has also been participating in the Model United Nations Program for two years running. The forum, is a simulated UN debating conference where young people discuss current affairs affecting the world today. She has just finished her GCSE’s and is planning to study Politics, History, Spanish and Psychology A-Levels at 6th form college in North London. With a deep interest in debating and public speaking, Tizane hopes to pursue a career in politics. She lives with her mum in Islington, London.
?!X: What’s the Future You Choose?
TNR: A utopian society may be seen as a fantasy but aspirations towards a more democratic and just society is a hope that can never be discarded. I want to live in a world where the chasm between the rich and poor is narrower and where the most powerful countries take responsibility and help the less fortunate countries in more meaningful ways both economically, in trade, and, in their engagement with human rights.
Also, I belong to the future generation, who, even before entering the work market, will be lumbered with gigantic debt and inherit massive housing issues within a crippled global economy. I think it’s a terrible disadvantage we do not deserve. I want a world where this injustice is eliminated and that, we, as the next generation will have the same opportunities as the last generations. I want to be part of a workforce that attains success through our skills and abilities rather than through privileged connections and free University education would be essential for this to happen.
In short, as Eugenie Teasley put it: “The future I choose, in which everyone is given an equal opportunity, to flourish and to thrive”.
?!X: What’s a ‘think’ to create this future?
TNR: Read this article on Change.org to understand what kind of future our youth is currently facing. Also this BBC News Article is, I believe, as relevent as ever. It reports on how the class divide is wider now than 40 years ago. It is an issue that is widely debated, but, either dismissed as a simple economic consequence, rather than seen as a sign of our poltical system’s failure. I believe that the class divide is inefficiently addressed in legislation, and child poverty should be targeted more urgently. If we ignore it, we are ignoring it at our peril. The recent Riots in the UK are something none us want to ever see.
?!X: What’s an ‘act’ to create the future you choose?
TNR: Actually, in respect of the UK/London Riots, that have caused turmoil in this country in the last couple of days, I think there will be much more of a community spirit now. Acts of solidarity are being demonstrated within different communities, as they take stock and reflect on the carnage that they witnessed. There have been incidents of locals coming together and cleaning the streets, or, contrastingly, communities such as the Kurdish/Turkish, who despite the usual prickly realtions with eachother (!), joined forces to chase the mobs down the street. Not only did they protect their shops, but our community too! So my ‘act’ for the immediate future would be to, maybe, support them (and other businesses who were affected), and shop locally, or shop at other independent stores, or volunteer at your community Centre or simply say ‘hi’ to your neighbour. London can be quite an impersonal city but now more than ever, we need to support each other and love our community, to help us get through this difficult period.
?!X: What’s a ‘vote’ to create the future you choose?
TNR: In this economic climate, it is getting harder and harder to get a job. So for young people its important try and be proactive; there are so many organisations that can support you. For example, recently I went on a day course at the international law firm Allen and Overy. It was through FutureVersity, and didn’t cost anything. It gave me great insight into what it is like to be a lawyer and how to become one. I met many very inspiring people there and made contacts with fellow students.. FutureVersity do many courses, varying from marketing to computing to hair dressing. Also, another good idea is to research volunteer databases like Vinspired and Do-It Volunteering. That way you can get work experience, and help out your community (AND the world, whilst you’re at it!). I found Think Act Vote, through my constant research of whats available out there. And in terms of the question, and, for those who are older or in government, a ‘vote’ for the future could be to stop the cuts to education, university courses, youth clubs, and bring back EMA! It would really help.
?!X: What’s your favourite song and why?
TNR: Rage Against The Machine- Killing In The Name.
This was the soundtrack to the student protests last year. At the demonstration (against the education cuts), after hours of standing in the freezing cold, some of the other teenagers blasted this tune out of their speakers and we all started dancing in Parliament Square! Also this great, rebellious tune stumped the consecutive successes of X-Factor winners being Christmas No. 1
?!X: Can you share with us up to 5 weblinks that you find interesting and inspiring?
FutureVersity – Loads of free courses for young people
Do-It Volunteering – Really good volunteering database
Vinspired – Another volunteering database; how I found Think Act Vote
Follow Tizane on Twitter @tizanenavea
Inspired to tell us The Future You Choose? You can here.
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