Student up for award (From Watford Observer)

Student up for award

4:50pm Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Former Watford Boys’ Grammar School pupil David Newton has been nominated for the Young People of the Year (YOPEY) contest in Cambridge where he is about to start studying.

The 19 year old from Goodyers Avenue, Radlett, has just returned from overseas volunteering trips to Canada and Kenya and is preparing to study theology at Cambridge.

He is now in the running for the top prize of £1,000 in a competition that awards those who are positive role models.

David spent the winter in north-west Canada, working for Christian organisation, Soul Edge, where he took a discipleship course, working in a small town and a native Indian reserve.

He explained: “Unemployment and alcoholism is rife. Children walk the streets at night in -20C because their parents don’t want them, and school drop-out before final year is near 100 per cent.

“We also spent most nights on the streets talking to the youth and trying to show them a way other than alcoholism.”

He then travelled to northern Kenya, volunteering in camps helping those displaced by tribal violence.

He said: “We did a whole variety of things, from just talking to those affected by the violence, to digging out foundations for a children’s home, to getting more intensely involved with specific people.”

Despite enjoying the trips, David said they left him feeling disheartened and angry about the lack of change money made in Canada and the corruption faced in Kenya.

He added: “Giving money no longer seems enough, but the question is what else is there to do?”

Mark Allchorn, deputy head of Watford Boys’, which David left in 2007, described him as “outstanding and inspirational”.

It was Mark who nominated David for the YOPEY award, after witnessing his widespread involvement in community projects.

Before travelling abroad, David helped run a youth club at his church, Christ Church, Radlett, and also volunteered with Watford New Hope Trust. He even encouraged other students to contribute to the community by raising thousands for charity and persuading pupils to sleep out as if they were homeless.

Mark added: “We have a number of boys who are involved in the community life, but David took this to a new level.”

David’s mum Anne added: “David likes to get actively involved in social issues and charity rather than just talking about it. I’m very proud of him.”

YOPEY was set up in Hertfordshire by former journalist Tony Gearing four years ago.

He said: “We are looking for sponsors for the next round of Hertfordshire YOPEYs. If anyone can help I’d love to hear from them.”

For more information, visit www.yopey.org or telephone 0845 838 2640.

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