We are raising our voices! We want to be heard!
Every poem, Every story, Every sentence, Every word!
We have something to say! We have something to share!
We are raising our voices...'cause deep down we care!
GIRL 1: My boyfriend's way better than both of yours and you know it!
GIRL 2: No way!
GIRL 3: Says you two...
GIRL 1: He treats me so good!
GIRL 3: My boyfriend spoils me!
GIRL 2: My boyfriend makes me feel so special…
GIRL 1: My boyfriend…says I'm so mature for my age!
GIRL 3: My boyfriend buys me any present I want!
GIRL 2: My boyfriend says no one understands him like I do...
GIRL 1: My boyfriend says not to tell anyone about us, because they might try to tear us apart!
GIRL 3: My boyfriend says my parents won't understand
GIRL 2: My boyfriend takes me our driving and my friends get so jealous!
GIRL 1: My boyfriend is so much older than me and I think that's really cool…
GIRL 3: My friends worry, because sometimes he gets really angry…
GIRL 2: I don't like the things he wants me to do sometimes, but he says I owe him for all the nice things he does for me…
GIRL 1: He says I should be thankful for having an older man to show me the way…
GIRL 3: But sometimes, I just feel scared…
GIRL 2: But sometimes, I just feel scared…
GIRL 1: Sometimes, I just wanna feel like a kid again!
(Whispered) Time's Up, Time's Up, Time's Up, Time's Up...
We are daughters.
Sisters.
Cousins.
Aunts.
Girlfriends and HUMAN BEINGS.
We come in peace, but we mean BUSINESS.
And to those who would dare try to silence us... We offer you two words...
TIME'S UP
We say...
TIME'S UP
For harassment and abuse of any kind
TIME'S UP
For pay inequality
TIME'S UP
For the abuse of power
So let's work together!
Women...
And Men!
Boys...
And Girls!
To create a united, committed and safe environment for all…
TIME'S UP!
Boy 1: Shut up man! You never! You never!
Boy 1: Why you lying for? Nah nah nah nah nah!
Boy 1: You lost fair and square! That's it!
Boy 1: You can't even argue!
Boy 2: Hey boss man!
"Boss Man" : Yes please?
Boy 2: Can I get a portion of chicken?
Boy 2: Extra fries. Extra extra fries!
"Boss Man" : We only do one size.
Boy 2: No extra fries! Yes!
Boy 3: You alright? Honey? You alright?
Boy 3: Girl don't know what she's missing…
Boy 4: Yo, what time do you call this?
Boy 1: Shut up man, we're here now ain't we?
Boy 2: Sup guys
Boy 4: Taking bare long man!
Boy 2: Nah, you know I needed to eat!
Boy 3: What's the rush? I was checking out the talent you know!
Boy 3: Some fine ladies here!
Boy 4: Shame none them think the same about you though!
Boy 3: Nah, its calm. I got a piff little ting you know?
Boy 2: The one you got hold of at Ty's party?
Boy 3: Nah, not her. She was nice though. You know, I should DM that.
Boy 3: And see what else I can get!
Boy 1: Wait…
Boy 1: Was it the one who sent you those nudes last week?
Boy 1: She was fine!
Boy 3: Ugh! Not her, she's a sket! Sends anything to anyone! Here take a look!
[Boys look in awe at the nudes]
Boy 4: Is it Vanessa? Not Vanessa!
Boy 4: You're not back with that psycho again are you?
Boy 3: Seriously? Are you joking?! No, not her, she's nuts!
Boy 3: She gets all mad at me just because she saw some pictures I sent to some next ting on Insta!
Boy 3: I mean, what's her problem?
Boy 1: But didn't you go mad when you saw her chatting to her brother's friend that time?
Boy 3: Yeah, I did! She's my girl! She shouldn't be disrespecting me like that!
Boy 3: I won't put up with that nonsense!
Boy 2: Yeah, too right fam! These girls need to know who's the boss!
All: Yeah!
Boy 4: But you lippsed that Jessica girl in Year 9, after you scored twenty points for slapping her ass!
Boy 3: Yeah, I did. She was nice, bit too frigid for me though.
Boy 3: But she didn't want to do anything else! I mean, what was that all about?
Boy 3: Stoosh anyway! I'm not gonna waste my time there!
Boy 4: So is that why you and Vanessa broke up? She found out that you lippsed that Jessica girl, yeah?
Boy 2: Nah! They broke up because Vanessa heard that he got hold of a girl in Romford!
Boy 1: Nice!
Boy 4: So…who's this new girl then?
Boy 3: Nah, you lot don't know her, but she's bare dank you know! And like, she proper wants me!
All: Aww, yeah!
Boy 4: Wanna go kick some ball?
Boy 3: Yeah, let's go down there.
[Chatter from the boys]
Boy 4: All the time, you want food…every single time!
Boy 2:You know I'm hungry!
Boy 4: Fam, can you not go at least an hour without eating?
Boy 2: Of course not!
Boy 1: Hello? Mummy? Hi, how are you?
Boy 1: Yeah, I've had a really nice time with my friends, thank you!
Boy 1: Yeah erm, mum, is it okay if I ask you for a favour?
Boy 1: It's gotten really cold, and I'm like all on my own now… is it okay if you come and pick me up?
Boy 1: Oh that'll be great! Thank you mummy.
I'll see you soon! Love you, bye!
Boy 4: Fam, you still want food, every single time!
Boy 2: You know, I need food, you know it. I can't even live without food!
Boy 4: You're wasting my time, every day man!
Boy 2: Here you go, I know you're that desperate, eat it up!
Boy 4: Tramp!
Boy 3: Hello? Vanessa, please, no no! Don't hang up!
Boy 3: I really need to talk to you…
Boy 3: Look, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I can't stop thinking about you…
Boy 3: Please just listen! Please look I...I'm...sorry. It was only a kiss.
Boy 3: She didn't mean anything to me.
Boy 3: What are you doing later? Okay, well you can't really be busy all day tomorrow…
Boy 3: Really? Okay then...what about the day after? Just let me show you that I've changed!
Boy 3: Please! I'll be the best boyfriend ever, just let me show you that I've changed!
Boy 3: I promise…
Boy 3: Hello? Hello Vanessa? Hello?
You see me sitting here but you never notice me.
You hear my cry for help but you never listen.
You just... carry on walking by, rushing home to see your beloved family.
But the thing is, I have no place to call home.
No family to rush home to...
No warm food to greet me at the table...
No bed to call my own...
But there is one thing I cling on to with all my might… HOPE!
HOPE that someone WILL notice me!
HOPE that one day I will have a place to call my own!
HOPE that someday my life WILL be better!
That's all I hope for… wouldn't you?
I've been told are pretty for dark-skinned girl but is that really a compliment?
Is that your real hair? Are those your real eyelashes?
I don't believe they are her real eyebrows!
She probably just lies to impress everyone.
You should bleach your skin, it'll be better!
How are you black but have pink lips?
How can you be black but be so flat?
I am FILLED with anxieties...
(In Portuguese) I've been told I'm pretty for a dark skinned girl. But is that really a compliment?
(In Portuguese) Is that your real hair? Are those your real eyelashes?
(In Portuguese) I don't believe they are her real eyebrows! She probably just lies to impress everyone.
(In Portuguese) You should bleach your skin, it'll be better!
(In Portuguese) How are you black but have pink lips? How can you be black but be so flat?
I am filled with anxiety.
I try to hide it and become this completely different, confident person...
I might look happy, but on the inside i'm hurting...
Why can't I just be me?
Look at her she's so pretty
Look at her, she's so beautiful
Look at her, she has big boobs.
Look at her, she's so funny.
Look at her, she's so popular.
Look at her, she has a big bum.
Look at her, she's so loud.
Look at me. I'm so different...
I remember the first time someone called me ugly.
I was eleven years old and it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.
I never knew such a silly word could have such an impact on me.
I was a very quiet kid in school, which made me a very easy target for bullies.
It seemed like no matter how much I tried to get away from those mean kids...
...it just didn't work no matter how much I tried to be invisible.
My attempt at being quiet made the bullies target me more.
Eventually the words 'Fat,' 'Ugly' and 'Weird' were words I heard every day.
When you hear something every day, you eventually start to believe it.
By the time I was thirteen I was finding it hard to look in a mirror.
Rather than see my bright smile and developing curves or my bright eyes...
I was finding it hard because I could keep hearing the words 'Fat,' 'Ugly' and 'Weird.'
Instead I saw my flabby belly, my double chin
and my crooked teeth and my hips that stuck out way too far...
I wanted to look like the popular girls at school!
That all the boys liked, the skinny pretty girls on TV.
They were happy, right?
Food became my worst enemy. I felt guilty every time I ate a burger, every snack I had.
By the time I was fourteen, I stopped eating my lunch and dinner whenever I could.
If I had to eat, I would make myself sick to get rid of the food.
I thought I had to hide how I felt for my mom and sister.
As my weight came off... I didn't feel as happy as I thought I would be.
Those mean thoughts we're still floating in my head it turns out it didn't need to change.
But the way I saw myself.
I knew something was wrong, when I started to need to go to the school nurse all the time...
...because I felt so dizzy in the morning math class.
I was bruising like a peach.
I felt weak and tired all the time.
I needed to make a change! I was tired of feeling angry at myself for eating my favourite foods.
And tired of having to sneak around my family and friends backs.
And the gross taste in my mouth after being sick
Now sixteen, I worked up the courage to tell my older sister about my eating habits.
The relief I felt was like a breath of fresh air. She gave me a big hug...
...and begged me to get the help that I needed.
There are so many resources available for those who are being bullied or insecure or have an unhealthy
relationship with food. After talking with the doctors I was diagnosed with
bulimia, an eating disorder or ED, and Body Dysmorphia Disorder which causes
myself to see my body in a negative way than other people would.
And this is me now. I'm 21 years old, and with the help of supportive friends
and family and therapy - I've learned to cope with the negative thoughts about my
body. I'm so happy with my body in mind, and I've learned to celebrate the
beautiful parts of me.
SEB: Do you want me to read it out?
MEL: We know what it says.
SEB: Yeah but I thought it might help get us started!
DAMI: We've got to choose a subject about issues that affect young people.
SEB: (reads) You have to choose a subject that relates to young people and the problems they may face.
SEB: (reads) Your presentation must be no less than ten but no more than twelve minutes long.
SEB: Ten minutes- that's a long time.
DAMI: Not if you know what you're talking about.
SEB: But we don't know what we're talking about.
MEL: No, not yet. That's what we need to decide.
SEB: Hmm...We could do drugs, what about legal highs?
DAMI: Afsay's group are already doing it.
SEB: So? We'll do it better!
MEL: What about pregnancy?
SEB: No, I think you should wait until you leave school and get married.
MEL: You know what I mean. Idiot.
DAMI: Well...maybe we could...
SEB: Nah, There's about three groups doing it already.
MEL: Well maybe they're doing it because it's important.
DAMI: I know one I bet no one's doing-
SEB: Go on then-
DAMI: FGM.
SEB: FGM? That's good. I mean that's a good idea.
MEL: Do you even know what it is?
SEB: 'Course I do.
MEL: What is it then?
SEB: Well... I think I may be confusing it with something else.
DAMI: Female Genital Mutilation.
SEB: Oh yeah, I've heard of that.
MEL: What is it then?
SEB: I didn't say I was an expert- I just said I've heard it. I mean "Female Genital Mutilation - it sounds a bit grizzly.
DAMI: It is. We saw this film about it at drama - they get girls about…
MEL: Stop!
DAMI: What?
MEL: We don't want to hear this.
DAMI: But he asked me-
SEB: Actually I didn't. I just said…
DAMI: How are we gonna present it to a class if we can't even talk about what it is?
MEL: And that's a good reason not to do it.
MEL: Who said we were doing this anyway?
DAMI: But it's very important.
MEL: So's drugs, so are legal highs, so are solvent abuses but we're not talking about those.
DAMI: But this happens to hundreds of thousands of girls and young women - there's about sixty thousand girls at risk in this country right now.
SEB: Really that many?
DAMI: Yeah, that many.
SEB: That's terrible.
MEL: It's just numbers. It's an estimate. You can't say its for sure.
DAMI: It's a scientific estimate.
MEL: So you haven't actually counted them then?
DAMI: No of course not! Have you gone round and counted all the pregnant girls at school?
MEL: Actually I have.
DAMI: No you haven't, you liar.
MEL: Of course, you don't believe me, but you believe something you've read on the internet.
DAMI: I didn't read it on the internet! Miss Smith told me at drama club.
MEL: And where'd she get it from?
SEB: Will you two stop it? We're need to choose a project and this is just wasting time.
MEL: It's her. This whole FGM idea is a waste of time.
SEB: I don't know - we need to know more about it. Like, who does it happen to? Who does it? Why does it happen? And where does it happen?
MEL: Africa.
SEB: Really?
DAMI: Not only Africa. Well, it does happen there but it happens in loads of other places too.
SEB: Ok, so without getting too gruesome, what is it that they do?
DAMI: They cut away parts of a girl's vagina -
MEL: Lalalalalalalala-
DAMI: You see, this is the problem! No one wants to listen, so it doesn't get addressed.
MEL: But you want us to stand there in front of the whole class and talk about vaginas?
SEB: Hmm, I can see that being a bit of a problem.
DAMI: Well I don't have a problem with it.
SEB: Neither do I - but some of the idiots in our class might. I mean, can you imagine how Lee and his little squad would react?
MEL: Exactly!
DAMI: Well they need to grow up.
MEL: You need to wake up.
SEB: Can you two stop? Can we at least have a civilised conversation about this?
DAMI: Thank you.
MEL: Huh!
SEB: And then we can make a decision.
MEL: How can we make a decision if we can't even agree?
SEB: Well we can vote. But first we need to know more about it - Do you have any questions for Dami?
MEL: No.
SEB: Well I have- why?
DAMI: What do you mean why?
SEB: I mean why does it happen? I mean it sounds pretty painful and horrible…
DAMI: Its...its not even a religious thing, it's more cultural. It's like a custom or tradition.
DAMI: Some people believe that if a girl doesn't have it done...
DAMI: Then she won't be clean and she won't be able to get a husband.
DAMI: That way, she can't be controlled, or she can't control her sexual urges.
SEB: Hmm... Ok, so what would be the point of our presentation?
DAMI: To stop it happening. Maybe not now, but this is the last generation it occurs in.
MEL: But...if you're running around telling people that their traditions are wrong, they're going to get angry.
MEL: They might even continue it, even though you say its wrong!
MEL: Its a waste of time and you know it.
DAMI: Well, if you don't want to, then I will find someone who will!
EAT MEDIA SLEEP
EAT MEDIA SLEEP
We repeat. We repeat the same unproductive process everyday.
Constantly staring at the device we hold in our hands. Every second of every day.
Never paying attention to what surrounds us.
Clothes, shoes, make-up – that's all we care about.
Bella Thorne, The Kardashians and Kylie Jenner...
We invest our entire lives into another person's life.
Never paying enough attention to our own or to what surrounds us.
Comparing ourselves to others, and feeling bad about ourselves...
We look to others to see the beauty in us...
But all we see are the flaws.
Looking at ourselves for too long means we forget to pay attention to what surrounds us.
We never stop to look around.
And notice what's there.
We miss out on so much with our head only facing the ground.
We could bump into an old friend, engage in a conversation!
A real conversation, face to face!
Lets not turn into zombies!
Stop for a second, wake up, put the phone down…!
You might find something truly amazing out there!
Beatrice Kajiama: He was a good boy. Not just because I'm his mother, but everyone said so.
He was funny, he was a humble boy, yeah. And he listened to me, we did chat a lot, for a long time.
We heard about this knife thing, but it was like I was seeing it outside of my life.
I didn't think it would come close to me...
Now that they need to carry a weapon, they think that the weapon is stronger than them – no way.
You need to think 'LIFE'.
When the news came, the first thing people say is 'these boys – maybe they are part of gangs?'
This is where I was concerned. Anything you do, as young as you are is recorded somewhere.
My son didn't have anything to do with the Police. Never.
Not one day did the police knock at my door to say my son has done this…no
You need to learn Maths, English or Science – 'oh I don't like that'. You like it or not, they will teach you, that's the way the system works.
This thing about life, she's right, they need to know.
There's something missing, somewhere in our children, we don't teach them.
Some people, they clearly think it is a joke.
Carrying a knife, they want to show other people that 'I'm strong'.
You are not strong. You are not strong carrying a knife.
Carrying a knife is not the solution. Because you are taking someone's life.
Depression is a tough battle that people seem to lose, but I know one fact, you don't want it to be you.
Although it's hard now, you have to keep on going, to make yourself proud.
Mental illness is a massive issue but it is somewhat neglected. Society doesn't want it, so it seems to reject it.
Even though a person may not have a physical pain, they are being torn apart inside, by the thoughts, driving them insane.
Next time you see a person, someone who is struggling… Ask them - "are you doing ok? I'm here if you need to talk, anytime of the day"
A person with depression wishes to hear these words, as they think they are forgotten.
So we need to show them, they are not. By us, or by the world.
In the century since women were FINALLY allowed to vote for their own Prime Minister, Women across Britain are making giant steps towards equality.
Today, We have a female Prime Minister
A female Home Secretary,
A female Met Police Commissioner,
And our monarch, the longest reigning in British history, is a woman.
In 1922 Carrie Morrison became the first female solicitor in the UK
In 1958 Hilda Harding became the UKs first female Bank Manager for Barclays
In 1962 Elizabeth Lane was appointed the first female judge in a County Court
In 1977 Karen Harrison became Britain's first female train driver
In 1982, Josephine Reynolds became the UK's first female fire-fighter
Mary Perkins, founder of Specsavers, is Britain's first female self-made billionaire
In 1991 Helen Sharman became the first British Astronaut
In 2017 an un-named women became the first female British Army officer bound for frontline combat
JK Rowling is the first ever billion-dollar author
Don't judge us because of our size! Don't judge us because of our height!
Don't judge us based on our gender!
Judge us on what we do… because we can do ANYTHING!
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