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You(th) are the future.
Today, I wanted to write about us, youth. Young people are the greatest agents of change in a society. To be young is definitely one of the most beautiful times in a person's life. You are full of energy, dreams and have so many aspirations. But there are many challenges too. We live in a busy world, many things have changed, including views and expectations. Some adults think that today's youth are a generation addicted to technology, that do not want to work and only focus on having fun. These stereotypes seem to be deeply rooted in some cultures, appearing to us time after time. And the...
Stemming the tide of junk food
Hi. My name is Dev Sharma. I’m 17, I live in Leicester and I am Co-Chair of the Bite Back 2030 National Youth Board. Bite Back is a youth-led movement campaigning to improve child health in the United Kingdom, and transform a food system that is rigged against us. I led BiteBack's campaign to ban junk food advertising online – which was highlighted in the Queen's speech. I started campaigning with BiteBack because I was tired. Tired of profits being put before my generation's health. Young people already face hurdles to just getting a good job, going to university, or climbing the social...
8 Ways to Save our Seas... and Cash
Speaking another language
From birth, I have spoken English, and English only. It wasn't until recently that I realised the world isn't always going to auto-translate things for me, simply because I was ignorant enough to believe it would. The truth is, as a white, British, native English speaker, it's never been expected of me that I go out of my way to study another's dialect. Fortunately, throughout my life, my parents have repeatedly stressed to me the importance of having a second, or even third language under your belt. My father, with his broken essential-phrase-book dialects, has managed to befriend people from...
Changing the script: The gender problem in the tech industry
While the 20th and 21st century have seen massive improvement for gender equality, with previously unheard voices, perspectives and stories hitting the media. The #MeToo movement brought hidden issues to the surface and created the space to look at the reality of being a woman in the West despite the progress we’ve made. The UK’s mandatory gender pay disclosure brought to light how senior positions are still dominated by men. Every year it seems we learn more about inequality, but lack the ability to make real change happen quickly. This is understandable as change always takes time, but our...
Stress free
I wish I could tell you how to stop stressing, but in all reality I will fail to inform you, as our lives are so different from one another. What I may consider to be a blessing, someone else will consider it to be a curse. Hence, all I can possibly say to you is, just think about where you stand, where you desire to be, and how this moment in life will help you reach your dreams. Take your stress and turn it into the lesson of a lifetime, and find the new opportunities to grow and develop as a person. Let go of all your stress and worries, forget about overthinking and procrastinating. It's...
Why youth participation matters
In every country across the world, decisions are being made every day. As young people, we are used to hearing about these decisions, but are we used to participating? For most of us, the answer would be no. Yet I do not think this is due to a lack of interest, but rather a lack of opportunity. The potential of what young people can offer is unlimited. This rising generation is made up of innovators, problem solvers, and leaders who are willing to offer solutions to the most pressing issues. It is important for platforms to be created for young people, to widen opportunities for impact. Young...