The Young Journalist - March/April 2021

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ISSUE 2 THE YOUNG Now is the time to talk about it Maddie Godsell-Tagg When I think back to the first lockdown, memories of a last-minute leaver’s day, dreams of a prom abandoned and a summer stretching ahead of me with many social outlets off limits, all come straight to mind, leaving me with a void in my teenage years. I collected my GCSE’s without taking the exams, completely unsure of whether I’d been graded fairly and despite my name being written all over the envelope, the results still didn’t feel like my own. Had I actually earned them? I remember feeling so lost and hopeless, and here we are, nearly a year later with the potential of a repeat scenario for current exam years. Since our exams had been cancelled, I experienced minimal virtual school, so I’m going through it now for the first time with my A-levels, and the pressure is immense and the days are exhausting. I find them all blending; we wake up, we do our work, we go to sleep, then we wake up and repeat. © Lindengate Gardens I would love to sit here and type about how I’m thriving in lockdown, finding myself more productive and not having a single bad day but © Lindengate Gardens then I’d be lying. I’d be adding to this false reality that 45% of my peers see all over social media and I’d be responsible for creating this idyllic fantasy when really, the effects of this pandemic have affected us all, and now is the time to open up and talk about it. Based on a survey I conducted, 77% of my friends have noticed a decline in their mental health, demonstrating the importance of self-care during these unprecedented times, and emphasising how finding a balance between school work, socialising and downtime can significantly help. For some, downtime will be unplugging from social media or sticking to routines, and for others it’ll be spending more time with nature or developing new hobbies. For me, personally, I find walks to be my escape, for the days when I’m stuck in a negative mindset or overwhelmed with school deadlines and projects. The Lindengate Mental Health Charity (www.lindengate.org.uk) located in Wendover (see page 6 for more details), has provided over 1,500 visitors of all ages, in the past 7 months, with a calming and safe environment that ‘offers specialised gardening activities.’One of their programmes ‘Rest & Reflect’ aims to encourage a healthy coping mechanism for those struggling particularly during the current times. This free drop-in service is open on Mondays from 9am to 12pm and on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 1pm until 3pm. (check website for changes due to weather et cetera). It is vital that you find a coping mechanism that works for you and remember, in the same way we got through the first and second lockdown; we will get through this one too. You will see your friends again, you will be allowed in the same room as your extended family, we will have physical contact and we will experience some form of normality again. Just all-in good time. Be patient. 2 Beaconsfield Giving Together our is future part of the Community freedom of Together speech
JOURNALIST Live Aid: Online music charity event Josh Sarl I refer to my article reviewing the current covid difficulties within the music industry. it is important to outline just how advantageous music is, even on a global scale. Why are we not paying more attention to reviving such a troubled industry? In July 2020, ‘Seshampton’, was founded by a group of students at Southampton University and schools in Amersham and Beaconsfield. With their passion and love for ‘disc-jockey-ing’ (DJ-ing) and underground music, they wanted to provide entertainement during lockdown. They broadcasted livestreams in aid of charities and in December 2020 one charity event raised money for two organisations: Evergreen Africa and The Salvation Army. The support given was exceptional. Despite showcasing talent in a night of entertainment, the event was also a useful platform, in raising issues such as poverty in Africa. One of the charities that Seshampton donated money towards was ‘Evergreen Africa’- providing sustainable aid to the Wanale Ridge, Uganda. I spoke to the founder of the organisation, Paul Voltzenlogel. Paul outlined the main principles of the charity: education, healthcare and incomegeneration. With 25,000 residents on the Wanale Ridge in Uganda, being considered as a community in ‘extreme poverty’ by the UN, the charity’s work and involvement is urgent due to the village’s poor hygiene, lack of income for locals and insufficient education. Despite Paul’s pressing concern for, not just the Wanale Ridge, but for all impoverished African communities; he is hopeful for the future and for the prospects of the charity. Need for sustainability was an outlining point. Evergreen Africa’s sustainable market schemes, working alongside their main projects, ensures local funding can be generated and retained so that the village can prosper without need for external aid. This market sells coffee, bananas, passionfruit and other regional produce to the locals and by the locals. ‘It engenders amongst the community a feeling that they’re doing it themselves’ commented Paul. Paul stressed how Covid-19 affected the Ugandan community, as an extreme lockdown was called by President Yoweri Museveni. Paul, describing the impoverished community as living ‘handto-mouth’, emphasised the financial impact of the lockdown on the people. Evergreen Africa successfully managed to continue funding the village, providing essential items. Paul recognises the astute work of the charity as ‘saving lives’. His initiative of saving lives leads back to our initial point, as now we can see the absolute need for aid in Uganda, but also on a global scale. I personally commend the generosity of Seshampton, and their exemplary example for others to follow suit. You can continue to donate to Seshampton’s two chosen charities on their donations page: www.beaconsfieldtogether.co.uk/evergreen To young advertise journalist@communitytogether.co.uk please call 07786 735 711 or email marketing@beaconsfieldtogether.co.uk 3
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The Young Journalist - March/April 2021

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