Shanea, aged 18, is using her voice to bring peace to her local community of Newham. SiLENT is supporting her to engage with young people who are in need of support at this time.
For Shanea the issue of knife crime and violence is personal. When she was younger, Shanea witnessed a young teenager being stabbed in her neighbourhood. At first all Shanea could hear from her kitchen window was someone screaming, and her first thought was to run outside and see if she could help. Shanea was the first responder on the scene. Unsure as to what to do, she took the young man’s hand and began to talk to him. She recognised the boy as a local lad. Soon after she was joined by her neighbour who was first aid trained and an ambulance was soon on the scene. Luckily the boy survived but the experience is something that Shanea says “will stay with me forever.”
Initially angry and frustrated by the incident, Shanea eventually saw it as an opportunity to make real change in her community. Taking a holistic approach to the issue of youth safety and knife crime, Shanea decided on a range of actions going forward. This included brining in first-aid training to her entire sixth form at St Bonaventure’s school. As a result of Shanea’s efforts, all pupils were taught how to deal with stab injuries, which could potentially save someone’s life. Shanea has also used her creativity to create a social enterprise initiative titled “Your Life, More Life” bringing young artists, creatives, and academics together who share a vision of peace and unity in their community.
Prior to the lockdowns, Shanea also spent her time going out into her community attending talks, workshops, and conferences to further educate herself on the issue of Youth Violence, and share her important experience and insight. She adds “Newham has been labelled the murder capital, of the murder capital. It became important to me that I educated myself on violence, why there was so much violence on my streets, what violence is, what the root causes are, and how we can heal our communities and move forward.”
The project, which was set to launch over the summer of 2020, was cancelled due to COVID-19. But with lockdowns taking place, the young in her community were increasingly feeling targeted – and seemed to be suffering most as a result of unemployment and poverty. They needed more support than ever.
With Million Minutes’ help Shanea was able to adapt quickly and meet young people where they were at, through the creation of online communities. She has brought young people together to research issues impacting their community and these groups are now starting to find solutions. Shanea is also working closely with her local council to create their first ever Youth Advisory group. What was once seen as a massive set-back, has now been a blessing to Shanea, who says: “This year has allowed me to sit back, reflect and plan more. It’s also allowed me the time to connect with others and join in with other campaigns and movements that are committed to bringing peace, change and justice to our communities locally and globally.”
Her passion to make a change saw Shanea receive the 2019 Jimmy Mizen ‘Promoting Solidarity and Peace’ award at Million Minutes’ Celebrating Young People Awards.