THE four young people who will represent Croydon in the Youth Parliament this year have been chosen.
Among the issues they have pledged to tackle are bullying, disability discrimination, human trafficking and public safety.
Nearly 7,000 youngsters across the borough went to the polls last week to choose their representatives in the organisation , which represents 11 to 18-year-olds to local and national decision makers.
The newly elected Members of Youth Parliament (MYP) are Jesus Ghafarokhi and Benie Kumanda; their deputies are Bethany Monk and Michael Sookhan.
The quartet will spend the next year attending youth parliament debates, organising campaigns, cajoling MPs and councillors, and listening to young people across the borough.
Mr Ghafarokhi, 16, who attends Thomas More Catholic School in Purley, said his priorities include promoting neighbourhood watch schemes and tackling road safety, bullying and human trafficking.
Regarding the latter, he said: "People don't really know about it; it is something that is kept under the rug but it is really severe and can completely ruin someone's life."
Beni Kumanda, 15, said she hoped to tackle negative attitudes towards people with disabilities and help provide more activities for them including youth clubs.
The Year 11 student, who attends Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College for Girls, said: "I want people to treat those with disabilities just the same as they treat others.
"I have a stammer and people tend to judge me just through my stammer.
"I go to a speech therapist who gives me some skills that I use [to control it] so that no one else can see."
New deputy MYP Bethany Monk, who attends Oasis Academy Shirley Park, said she hoped to reduce crime and stamp out bullying, partly through pushing for more youth clubs. For a full report on the election and more from the new MYPs see this Friday's Advertiser
