Nick 'Roars not whispers' to end poverty

Nineteen-year-old Dundee University student Nick Henderson has been awarded the runner up for the prestigious Arnold Kemp Young Scot of the year award. Nick has been nominated by a group of his peers who are involved in an Oxfam Scotland Roars not Whispers project. The joint Oxfam and Scottish Youth Parliament project, aims to give young people the training to make changes in their communities.

Working with his colleague, Jackie Chuen, in Dundee he has set YEP Dundee, (Youth End Poverty). The project focuses on poverty and aims to expand young people's knowledge. Working with schools Nick asked school children to come up with an image of what they thought poverty was, working with these images they got young people to explore their perceptions of poverty.

Speaking of his work in Dundee Nick said, " I saw Roars not Whispers advertised in university and thought it would be good to develop my skills. I became one of the peer leaders for Dundee and was trained with other young people from around Scotland. It was intense, but taught us how to work in a team. Part of the Roars not Whispers project is to get the peer leaders to come up with ideas that are important to them. YEP Dundee was our initiative and I am pleased at how well it has been received. "

Sarah Davies, Roars not Whispers Project Manager added, " I am delighted that Nick's hard work has been recognised. Nick's tireless efforts have been a real inspiration to everyone and he is a fantastic ambassador for the Roars not Whispers project. We aim to help young people develop the skills that can bring about change. Someone like Nick is a credit not only to the Roars Not Whispers project but also to the city of Dundee."

More information about the YEP Dundee project can be found at www.bebo.com/YEPdundee

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