Does politics make a real difference? At 31, Josh Babarinde has become the Lib Dems’ first Black MP. But this is not his first success story.
The MP who began by fixing phones
Does politics make a real difference? At 31, Josh Babarinde has become the Lib Dems' first Black MP. But this is not his first success story.
It was as head boy of his school in EastbourneA town on the southeast coast of England. that Josh Babarinde first realised he could make things happen. He persuaded the teachers to let him run a non-uniform day for charityAn organisation that helps people in need. It does not make money as a business does. Most people who work for charities are volunteers. This means they are not paid..
Babarinde became MPMember of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK. for Eastbourne at the last election. He won the election even though one of his teachers from school was running.
Babarinde was raised on a council estateIn the UK, housing estates where people, often on low incomes, rent heir homes from the local authority, rather than a landlord. by his White mother. His father was NigerianFrom Nigeria, Africa's most populated nation. . At 18 he won a place to study politics at the London School of EconomicsAlso known as LSE. A world-leading university that specialises in social sciences. .
When he left universityWhen people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree. he volunteeredOffered to do work without being paid. as a youth worker in east London.
There he saw young people being drawn into crime because they could not find jobs. So he decided to do something about it.
Babarinde realised that a lot of people who damaged their phones waited months to get them mended. He taught himself how to repair phones. Then he found young people to join him.
His company, Cracked It, started small. It went on to mend phones for staff at large offices such as the US EmbassyThe workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country. . Within five years he had employedTo have someone work or do a job for you and pay them for it. nearly 200 young people.
Two thirds of his employees ended up back in education or found another job.
Does politics make a real difference?
Yes! Without politics nothing would run smoothly. We need politicians to decide what is best for the country. Without them, Britain would not have the NHSThe National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948. or any help for the poorest people in society.
No! Most politicians are really only interested in themselves. Politics is not a passionSomething you love doing. , but just a job. People who want to make society better should become campaignersPeople who call for change. Activists. , charity workers or business leaders.
Keywords
Eastbourne - A town on the southeast coast of England.
Charity - An organisation that helps people in need. It does not make money as a business does. Most people who work for charities are volunteers. This means they are not paid.
MP - Member of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK.
Council estate - In the UK, housing estates where people, often on low incomes, rent heir homes from the local authority, rather than a landlord.
Nigerian - From Nigeria, Africa's most populated nation.
London School of Economics - Also known as LSE. A world-leading university that specialises in social sciences.
University - When people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree.
Volunteered - Offered to do work without being paid.
Embassy - The workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country.
Employed - To have someone work or do a job for you and pay them for it.
NHS - The National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948.
Passion - Something you love doing.
Campaigners - People who call for change. Activists.
The MP who began by fixing phones
Glossary
Eastbourne - A town on the southeast coast of England.
Charity - An organisation that helps people in need. It does not make money as a business does. Most people who work for charities are volunteers. This means they are not paid.
MP - Member of Parliament. There are 650 MPs representing people in different areas of the UK.
Council estate - In the UK, housing estates where people, often on low incomes, rent heir homes from the local authority, rather than a landlord.
Nigerian - From Nigeria, Africa's most populated nation.
London School of Economics - Also known as LSE. A world-leading university that specialises in social sciences.
University - When people leave school, they can go to university to study more and get a degree.
Volunteered - Offered to do work without being paid.
Embassy - The workplace of a group of government officials who represent their country in another country.
Employed - To have someone work or do a job for you and pay them for it.
NHS - The National Health Service, the publicly funded healthcare system in the UK. The NHS was founded in 1948.
Passion - Something you love doing.
Campaigners - People who call for change. Activists.