Dartford Youth Council is very proud to announce that our members Kweku and Krish have been elected to join the UK Youth Parliament as deputy members, following a democratic election within the Kent Youth County Council.
Our members Kweku and Krish were some of the latest to join as part of our digital recruitment project last year where we gained a great number of aspiring members from different schools across the borough, at a time where diverse youth voice was critical in shaping and improving the lives of young people.
Deputy Member of Youth Parliament for Kent, Krish Rana comments about his DYC journey so far: “As a resident of Dartford, I saw the fundamental need to unlock the borough’s great potential and as an ambitious young man, the desire to empower and bring about change in local, young people’s lives.
“Thus, I initially registered for my local youth council (of which I was informed in my weekly school assembly) to bring about small yet meaningful changes in my local community.”
Both members participated in our ellenor Hospice fundraising walk, where we collectively raised an impressive total of £325.
They both then stood in elections to represent Dartford in the most recent Kent Youth County Council elections and successfully gained positions, later to be elected as DMYPs.
The UK Youth Parliament provides opportunities for 11 to 18-year-olds to use their elected voice to bring about social change through meaningful representation and campaigning. They enable young people to use their energy and passion to change the world for the better. To learn more about the UK Youth Parliament, visit their website (https://www.byc.org.uk/uk/uk-youth-parliament).
Krish added: “I am very excited to embark on this new journey, that will offer me insights into the workings of parliament and more importantly, the chance to express the voice of my peers, on a greater platform.”
Kweku Asafo-Adjei DMYP, Deputy Member of Youth Parliament for Kent and DYC/KYCC Member said: “I am so overwhelmed with joy by the fact that I will be able to have a glimpse of what life is like in government.
“As a young student in Kent, I distinguished the fact that I need to do not only Kent but Dartford good and show that people that are from a BAME background can achieve highly. I therefore signed up to the local youth council and that has taken me to higher heights not only to represent Dartford on a county level, but to also represent Dartford and Kent on a national level.
“I am grateful for all support that the DYC has offered me and I am delighted to go on this journey and speak for the young people in Dartford.”
Dartford Youth Council Chairman Ricky Taing commented: “It is a great honour to have Krish and Kweku not only serve the Dartford Youth Council, but also represent us in the Kent Youth County Council and ultimately, the UK Youth Parliament.
“Having served as outstanding local youth councillors, they will now also allow us to empower the voices of our constituents on a much larger, national platform.”
The Dartford Youth Council is a group of young people aged 18 and under who get involved within their community, work alongside the Dartford Borough Council, making a difference through campaigning and volunteering and gaining skills that could benefit them for the rest of their lives.
We are very excited to see the impact Krish and Kweku will make in their new roles and would like to congratulate them on this great achievement.