ENTERPRISING TEN YEAR OLD SWOOPS EASTSIDE YOUNG LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD AGAIN

Kamal Imafidon from Stratford has been named Eastside Young Leader of the Year 2007 as voted for by a panel of London City Airport judges.

Launched by London City Airport in 2005, the Eastside Young Leader of the Year Award is now in its third year. Competing for a chance to be named London City Airport Eastside Young Leader of the Year, students are invited to submit projects based on different topics each year. For the 2007 award, students were asked to submit a project and a presentation on how the airport could ‘go greener’.

After much deliberation, the panel of airport judges selected ten-year old Kamal Imafidon as Eastside Young Leader of the Year 2007. Kamal’s environmental ideas for the airport included implementing a staff ‘walk to work’ day; emailing staff their wage slips and car sharing. Kamal is no stranger to the Award, having won in 2005 and receiving runner-up status in 2006.

This year the Award was co-sponsored by BA CityFlyer and in conjunction with the airport Kamal was the lucky first prize winner of an all-expenses paid holiday for four people. Kamal and his family will travel from  London City Airport to Madrid with BA CityFlyer which offers an eleven times a week service. Prizes were also awarded to Kaleem Brown for second and Jay Letang-Wilson for third place. Kaleem was the winner of flights to Edinburgh and Jay won flights to Zurich with BA CityFlyer. Accommodation, food, activity passes and airport transfers were provided by London City Airport. 

Elizabeth Hegarty, London City Airport Community Relations Manager, said “EYLA provides such a brilliant and unique service that we are proud to continue delivering the London City Airport Leader of the Year project.”

Kamal Imafidon, Eastside Young Leader of the Year 2007, said “I was really shocked and surprised when I found that I had won again. My mum was so pleased too. It makes me happy knowing that I have made my mum so proud of me. We are all really looking forward to our holiday in Madrid”.

The Eastside Young Leaders Academy (EYLA) is a community group which provides additional educational and emotional support for African and Caribbean males aged from eight to 18 years, particularly those identified as being at risk of social exclusion. Students are referred to EYLA by local schools, faith groups, Social Services and youth agencies.