5 Minutes with Diana
We caught up with Diana, a local young Camden resident and Youth Futures Fund panellist. She took us on a journey exploring her experience on the Youth Futures Fund panel 2023 and shared words of wisdom on why the panel chose the organisations to fund and her future dreams and aspirations for young people in Camden.
Diana Yosef - a 6th form student, who’s studying Biology, Maths & Chemistry who has a passion for the arts including dancing and singing.
“Being a panellist has really opened my eyes to the challenges young people face, it makes me feel a part of a community ”
What was your experience like being on the Youth Futures Fund panel?
I wanted to find out more about my Camden community and before joining the panel I didn’t know much. The panel has been really insightful and meeting new people has been very informative for me. It helped me understand what challenges young people face, like every young person has different experiences. It was also good to hear about the similar lived experiences in the group and come together to understand each other better. I loved how everyone was patient and really listened to each other, everyone felt safe and comfortable to voice their opinions. Understanding was key for us in choosing the funds direction as we wasn’t just thinking of ourselves but the wider young community in Camden. It wasn’t about a good day for young people but how we can create a good life.
How was your experience of applying to be a panellist on the Youth Futures Fund? What intrigued you to take part?
I first applied for a panel role at Camden Giving last year, I was always eager to join a panel as I’ve had people I know join panels prior to me, who have always spoken highly of their experience. I was under 16 when I first applied so couldn’t join then, but the team reached out to me again this year as I was 16. The team are really supportive at Camden Giving and I found the process really accessible. I always wanted to give back to my community this has helped me do that. Being paid for this has also meant this has been my first job and I’m truly grateful for this opportunity and experience.
“Learning about the inequalities that exist in our communities, really resinated with me. Learning about the inequalities in funding and people making those decisions made me want to commit more and prove that young people can make decisions too”
What are some of the challenges in your view of being a panellist on the fund?
One challenge is decision making and working as a team to make those decisions. We had different opinions in the group, but we worked together to overcome them. Knowing that the organisations we didn’t fund, will be ok, helped ease the pressure as we had so many brilliant applications. Saying that we were very confident in the decisions we made. Being able to visit the various projects really helped with our decision making, being able to see the people behind the application and ask questions was really helpful.
How do you think the grants from the Youth Futures fund can support young people? What impact do you hope it will have?
I want to see more opportunities for young people, every organisation we met said there wasn’t enough funding. We need more funding for organisations to be able to provide better opportunities for young people and think long term, be able to work together and build partnerships beyond just having activities. Yes activities are important but we want to create better life’s for young people and this means, better mental health, meaningful & creative opportunities and jobs going beyond just having fun. I hope the fund will expand the reach of the organisations to engage more young people, bringing them together to create a safer Camden.
Diana with Angela, Adam & Sabir on a visit to one of the Youth Projects, prior to making their funding decisions
What are your key-takeaways from being a panellist?
There’s hope for the future for young people, funds like this will support young people to better their lifes. I’ve got so much from my experience as a panellist from building my confidence, being open minded, feeling a part of a community and being able to work in a team to make very important decisions. I would like more young people to get involved with opportunities like this, don’t give up, there is hope.
“Be open minded, learn from your experiences and get involved in opportunities. Whatever challenges your facing there’s always a way out”
Lastly, but definitely not least: If there was one message you could share with those organisations who received the fund, what would it be?
This process has showed me how important it is to get young people involved in decisions. Let your work be in partnership with young people, let their voices be around the table. Plan your work with them. Communication is so important.