Black youth celebrate their success for the 3rd year running
“It’s been a wonderful celebration. It’s really important to see the positive side of youth and all the good things that they do. The 3rd annual BYA Awards has once again shown how much talent we have within our communities” said Kay Oldroyd founder and director of BYA as she summed up the evening.
On Saturday 19th November 2011, young people from around the UK were honoured at the ceremony held at Jury’s Inn Hotel in Croydon. They were acknowledged for their outstanding contributions to society in various industries, challenging the stereotype that black youth are disengaged and under-achievers. (view photos here)
The BYA Awards were created to provide a platform of recognition for young people between the ages of 8 – 25 and of black African / black Caribbean heritage nationally.
Over 150 people attended the event including last year’s winners and special guest Maurice Reeves who was accompanied by a BBC film crew who were making a documentary of his life since his shop ‘Reeves Corner’ was burnt to the ground during the August riots. Mr Reeves presented the sports award saying that he was “delighted to be amongst such wonderful people” and shared his story of his love for Cricket. He also recognised that attending the awards further supported the fact that the uprisings of August were not the true face of Croydon’s youth and that the awards were an encouraging feature of hope for young people.
Now in its 3rd year, the evening was hosted by Mikel Ameen the younger brother of ‘Harry’s Law’ actor Aml Ameen. Mikel kept the audience laughing with his unique style of entertainment and comedy. Other welcomed presenters included MTV’s Baselounge host Darae Palmer; rapper turned author Swiss of ‘So Solid’ who commented afterwards that it was “a fantastic, inspiring and much needed event”; ‘Chinara Events’ director – Carol Stewart; ‘PJ’s Community Group’ directors Claudine Reid MBE and Pat Reid; UK Diversity Manager at ‘Pearson Plc’ – Abu Bundu-Kamara; Chief-in-Editor at ‘Inspirational Woman Magazine’ – Lisa Mundembe; Author – Gwenton Sloley and ‘LSTC’ director Tony Harrison. All agreed that it was a phenomenal celebration and were proud to be part of it. (view photos here)
Following the presentations, there were lively performances from some local upcoming artists. One of them had recently got through to the London auditions of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’. Going by the name of ‘Baddaboom Tee’ she said “I was surprised but really pleased to hear that I’d got through to the live audition in December. Performing at BYA Awards was a fantastic experience and has given me the confidence to go in front of a big audience”.
One young guest smiled as he said that he had attended BYA Awards every year and each one had been as uplifting as the one before. He went on to further explain that he felt today’s society and media had branded young black people as “hoodies, yobs and asbos” but BYA had proven time after time that black youths can and do achieve and are not all the stereotypical “street rat”.
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