Afrikindness Teen Leadership Academy Marks UK Parliament Week 2025 With Powerful Youth Voices and Civic Learning

The Afrikindness Teen Leadership Academy celebrated UK Parliament Week in a remarkable civic event hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, bringing together over 70 young people, parents, councillors, and community members for an evening dedicated to leadership, learning, and youth empowerment.

The Teens Academy—a one-year programme with 40 young people—focuses on six transformational modules:

1. Self-Awareness & Identity
2. Social & Emotional Intelligence
3. Leadership Skills
4. Public Speaking & Communication
5. Empower Project
6. Community Impact & Project Delivery

Celebrating UK Parliament Week Through Youth Leadership

This year, Afrikindness received a full set of educational resources from the UK Parliament, enabling young people to participate in hands-on activities, including mock debates, a voting session, understanding the roles of MPs, and exploring decision-making, representation, and civic responsibility.

The highlight of the event was the warm welcome from the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Dan Cohen, who opened the evening, engaged with the teens, issued UK Parliament certificates, and later joined the Walk of Pride—an inspiring display of artwork created by our young leaders to showcase their identity, culture, and what they are most proud of in Leeds.

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Youth-Led Presentations on Race, Racism, and Education

Two of our research ambassadors, Temi Owolabi and Ruoeda Alamo, delivered outstanding presentations on the Teens Academy research project: “Race, Racism and Education”— a collaborative community research initiative between Afrikindness, St John University of York, and Liverpool John Moores University, funded by the Institute of Social Justice.

Their work highlighted how young people experience race and identity in school settings and how their voices can shape positive change. The evening also spotlighted what the young leaders have learned so far across different modules.

Youth Voting

As part of Parliament Week activities, the teens cast votes on the biggest challenge facing young people today.

From four categories, the highest vote went to Racial Bullying, Discrimination and Inequality in Schools, a topic the young people felt has the greatest impact on their mental health, identity, and safety.

They will now draft a youth petition proposing meaningful solutions and recommendations for decision-makers.

The young people’s votes clearly speak: they are most concerned about racial bullying, discrimination, and inequality, while also highlighting the importance of mental health, online safety, and responsible digital engagement.

Debate: Phones in Schools?

The young people also held a Parliamentary-style debate on:
“Should mobile phones be banned in schools?”
With young leaders acting as the Speaker of the House and MPs, they debated passionately.

The final vote?

AYE — Phones should NOT be banned.

Walk of Pride: Art, Culture, and Identity

The Lord Mayor ended the evening by joining the young people in a special Walk of Pride, where he viewed artwork designed by the teens to express their culture, their identity, their values, and the stories they are proud of. This moment brought pride and joy to many families, reinforcing the message that young people’s identities should be celebrated and seen.

A Day Filled With Learning, Excitement, and Leadership

The UK Parliament Week celebration was not just an event—it was a learning experience rooted in:

• Civic awareness
• Public engagement
• Leadership development
• Cultural pride
• Social-emotional learning
• Youth voice and agency

This forms a key part of Module 3: Leadership Skills in the Teens Academy curriculum, helping young people experience leadership in real-life civic spaces and understand how democracy works.

UK Parliament Trivia and Award

As part of the UK Parliament Trivia and Award, the teens took part in a one-week trivia challenge designed to deepen their understanding of the UK Parliament, with eight questions exploring how it works. One of our teens stood out, speaking confidently about Parliament, its different arms and their roles, and was announced the winner. She received a gift voucher in recognition of her knowledge, confidence and engagement.

Impact & Feedback

The feedback from young people, parents, and volunteers has been overwhelmingly positive:

Young people shared that:

• They felt heard, valued, and empowered.
• It was the first time many had met the Lord Mayor in person
• They gained confidence in speaking, presenting, and sharing opinions.
• They now understand Parliament, voting, and civic duty much better.

Parents shared that:

• The event was “inspiring” and “eye-opening.”
• They saw new confidence in their children.
• The Academy is helping their young people grow emotionally, socially, and academically.

Looking Ahead

Afrikindness is committed to equipping young people with the leadership, emotional intelligence, and civic awareness needed to shape a kinder, more inclusive society.
With Module 3 underway, and more transformative workshops ahead, we remain excited to continue creating spaces where young people can learn, lead, and shine.