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Community Leader of the Year Winner: Christina Adane
Words Faith Wilcox
Community Leader of the year! Her efforts have not gone unnoticed at the tender age of 18, she is the one to watch in years to come. With youth on her side Christina is a force to be reckoned with.
At the WOTC New Faces Awards, held on Wednesday 8, Christina was honoured with the award Community Leader of the Year. Her fighting spirit for the underprivileged started many years ago, watching her mother crying in front of the TV whilst news coverage of the Ebola crisis in Africa was being displayed. Her inquisitiveness and knowledge of inequality stems from her parents, from thoughtful debates to questioning the status quo. This has led Christina to be an inspiration to the next generation of community leaders.
Corresponding with Christina briefly upon receiving her award she shared a few words.
“Thank you so much for this recognition! I appreciate it.
‘I am honoured to receive this award in light of the important work that must continue in empowering communities to stand together and support each other.”
Christina an activist and student continues to fight for equality in the arena of school meal for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. For 1.6 million students free school meals are life savers rather than just a routine. Christina continues to inspire many of us through her compassionate fight for equality. It’s her fight that led her to win the Diana Legacy Award 2021, dedicating her thank to her Mum amongst other important people in her life. Christina acknowledges the power of community in tackling social issues such as food poverty.
When entering schools’ children are on a somewhat equal level playing field, same uniform, teachers. However, children on free school meals have a disadvantage, not receiving nutritious meals. Christina with Bite Back Campaign targets the dichotomy between the UK being one the richest economies in the world, but children lack access to one nutritious meal a day is abysmal.
Adane appears to be a newcomer on the scene; however, she has started her activism from the tender age of 11 years old. Christina showed her passion against inequality. This led to start a pyjama and baking fundraiser for the Ebola crisis in Africa in her school.
Adane has taken her resilience as the Co-chair of the Bite Back 2030 organisation. The organisation aims to address the food poverty inequalities between student on free school meals and those that don’t receive this. Adane highlights that the system is “broken” and the next generation have a right to healthy food. She is determined to ensure that all students have a fairer chance at attainment through free healthy nutritious meals for those in need.
Inspiring thousands nationally, Christina gained 430,000 signatures on behalf of 1.4 million children who receive free school meals. After the governments veto extending free school meals during the pandemic. Christina saw this as problematic, previously addressing children’ right to food this sparked her petition.
Looking back Adane has highlighted, the faceless anti-apartheid having strength and rooting within a global community.
This continues to have foundations in Bite Back 2030. Christina often makes sacrifices between being the average teenager and fighting for equality. It does not come without great commitment and dedication. Her passion for the movement continues to motivate her, her youth adds as an advantage commanding an audience.
Looking ahead into the future, we envisage Christina advocating on behalf of millions of children nationally. Possibly on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Christina is on our watch; we look forward to seeing her continue to conquer social inequalities in this generation.