New Stars Shine

Hello! Courtesy of Chanelle Manton photography Courtesy of Chanelle Manton photography Last week I went to an interesting panel named 'Aids Activism', the idea behind this was a Q+A and a open panel discussion on HIV, the movements that have been done around this and discussing the stigmas connected with HIV/AIDS, especially as last week was World Aids Day, it seemed fitting. Sussex, Stop AIDS and LGBTQ+ organised the event, which took place at the Sussex University campus (came with free wine!) with a fantastic panel of speakers including: The speakers + organiser Hugh Stirling and members of the Youth Sussex Stop Aids and Ellie Priest (member of LGBTQ+ community (Courtesy of Chanelle Manton Photography) Courtesy of Chanelle Manton Photography Edwin J. Bernard Edwin is the global co-ordinator of the HIV Justice Network, based in Brighton but with an international reach, which focuses on ending the inappropriate use of the criminal law to regulate

Hello again! Christmas Lights in Brighton! (Duke Street) With the build up to Christmas it only seems necessary to dedicate one post to the 'Three Phases' of Christmas in my eyes, so I will be discussing how to organise your crimbo, from decorations to the gifts. I started getting prepared for the holidays the same way the retail world does, once halloween was over! It is my favourite time of the year. I love the spirit it brings, adore the giving nature of others, and the whole season is filled with jumpers, hot cocoa and cuddles! Phase One: Prep! Mulled wine goodness! The best way to begin your holidays is to make a list, one with the people you will be purchasing for, and a list of items you want this year for Christmas. If you've been following my previous articles, this year I've decided to ask for donations to my Justgiving cause 'Help the Refugees'. (Link below for those interested!) However in terms of my fellow friends and family I

Hello friends! As you are all aware, two years ago I embarked on an adventure of a lifetime, to Zambia, to support Restless Development for three months. Well, I'm off again! This time heading to Calais,  in the new year to help a fantastic charity called ‘Help the Refugees’ and ‘L’Auberge des Migrants’. We want to start 2017 off the best way we can, and this charity helps the most vulnerable people currently reaching Europe’s shoes. From the donations we hope to raise we are able to provide refugees that much needed water, sanitation, food, medical aid, education, valuable and basic living conditions. This is something that if affecting hundreds and thousands of refugees across the world, with a bigger increase in migration over the last few years comes a much bigger demand for volunteers.  I think getting hangovers the first day of the New Year is overrated, so helping out abroad is the next best thing. This is where you can get involved! I am asking for a

Helloo friends! I wanted to discuss advertising as a whole in this blogpost. Mostly because it is part of my study at university, but also because it has sparked up a flame inside of me which I wanted to spread with you all! The original Victoria Secret Advert When we think of advertising we first think of models, we think of how consumables are displayed and what effect this has on society. Take a Victoria Secret advert as an example, one in particular (see image 1) depicts a woman as having 'the perfect body'. This 'impossible standard' is something that degrades women, makes them feel worthless. As if we can never be good enough, never 'perfect' like the photoshopped women constantly shown in all forms of advertising. This is the way we are bringing up the generation, to believe that they will never be perfect. Contrary to this, advertising also opens a world we can utilise to our advantage, taking the example I used earlier it's important to no

Hello friends! I have been at university for nearly a month now, I honestly do not know where the time has gone, but now I am doing my first assignment! (Way too soon!) It is very surreal to be studying again after three years off. Firstly I have completing forgotten how to function like a normal young adult, secondly I realised how much I enjoyed spending time with adults much older than me (at least those with less drama and can hold their alcohol without looking like a blubbery baby), and thirdly I didn't know just how much I really love learning. I am studying environment and media studies. In a sense it means I basically study mediums and then look at our earth and try to fit it all in and make sense of it. Harder than it looks I promise! A majority of university students seem to take what they have learnt and do what they are told, whether its to sit an exam, what to write, what to think etc. I can't do this. I can't comprehend this lifestyle. For example; i

Hellooooo friends! It's been one crazy month! An update on this bizarre and incredibly long September; Mother and I switching puddings.. 9th -  MY BIRTHDAY!! 21, finally can rent a car...and drink alcohol worldwide (yippee...) Celebrated with my mother dearest doing some retail therapy, then dinner at my favourite restaurant with the family. Ended with a slight make out session in my car with an old friend of mine...who has a girlfriend. Very awkward.. Work collegues.. 10th- NIGHT OUT! So I rarely venture into the depths of basement clubs, pounding bass and drunken sluts, but it was a work party, and my birthday night out, which called for nothing less than an absolute abomination of alcohol and drunken craziness... Long story short, I made out with my night supervisor...and my front of house manager. Good adulting on my part. Ended with my head in a toilet bowl passed out. 11th- WORST DAY EVER! I think there is a sudden shock when you go from being 18,19,20 t

Hello! SPOILER ALERT!!!! So today I am nerding out with one of my secret loves, gaming! I have recently purchased a huge collection of PS4 games, along with a PS4 (bit late to the party I know!) And thought it best to give you a run down of the best PS4 games I have played. I am a gamer that loves the story, I know that each player is different in what they like to watch and game, but I am a big RPG fan, and a huge storytelling fanatic. So my top ten are brilliant for these kind of people. I want to start by adding, I recently brought No Man's Sky, I assumed from all the excitement it would be an incredible game to purchase, unfortunately not, I was thoroughly disappointed. It was the pure lack of storyline, the complete let down of promotion, you basically play a character, explore the first world  (No spoilers...trust me..) to find the materials to fix your ship, then explore.  However if you enjoy mindless wandering and the sights and creatures you can discover, then by

Hello! Apologies for being so distant, it has been a crazy few weeks of preparing for university and working. My sister has recently moved to Worthing, which is close to Brighton, and I am most excited! We celebrated her arrival, as well as her 23rd, with a day out in the city, drinks, food, book shopping and lots of fun. More to the point is the reason I am writing today, I wanted to discuss passions. When you were younger what did you want to do when you were older? I went through life deciding different paths, which is perfectly normal, until I went to Africa and then decided that doing good is what I wanted to do. It's not a career like most aspirations, it definitely isn't money oriented, but I don't care. I want to wake up in the morning and go back to sleep at night knowing that I've made some good decisions that day. However for now, I am a receptionist, who works a 40 hour week, going shopping on her day off, and more mundane things. I no longer am dan

Helloooo!   What drives you? What inspires you? What makes you sit up and listen? Discussing mission statements in the office! I attended a Focus Group in the Restless Development office in London this afternoon, it was about reshaping Restless, what attracts their target audience (young people), and how to attract more. The office, based in London It was an interesting afternoon, spent with like-minded people, some who have never heard of their work, and others, like myself, who are quite accustomed to their agency. I thought it was incredibly interesting, I have always admired Restless and the work they do, but once you start analyzing, and having the chance to debate and disagree, it sparks a flame in a group of young people that is influential to all.  Focused minds analyzing work We started the session off with a video on the agency's statement, what they believe in. This we analyzed together, discussing what makes the video eye-catching, and what

Helloooo friends! Nick Hurd and I after a discussion on child marriage. I hope you have had a wonderful summer so far, Britain has even had the fortunate spell of sunshine for a whole weekend! (Thats a big deal!) I have had a busy few weeks, and it led me to think about my future. Which is something everybody has to do at some stage, for some it is in the shower or in bed late at night. For me it is on a train.  Since I was sixteen I have been volunteering, I have a fire for it, a passion. I won't go into it in the article but feel free to read my previous one (My Greatest Achievements). Girls in Education I have been with Restless now for over 2 years, it has been a rush of a journey, it constantly pushes me to be a better person, to inspire more people, to encourage, to teach, to develop myself and others around me. It is constantly making me stronger, louder, and more determined than ever. I recently went to the Girls Education Forum, which was just brilliant.

Hello friends! Back again with another list (I love god-damn lists). I was recently in the big bad city of London visiting a friend, and then in the quiet, conservative city of Oxford. These are two very different places, however one thing they have in common is how people act. Or dress in a sense. After living in Brighton I realised that people just don't care what you wear, its all about self-expression.  For years and years my life has been about looking presentable for others. I am bored of it. I want to wear comfy trousers and colourful unmatching tops. It is difficult when you are constantly being judged as a woman on what to do and not do, what to wear and not wear. After being in those cities I realised that my style has differed massively. In Brighton I suit bright yellow and blue trousers, in London I look like the sunshine they have never seen- I LOVE it.  It is time to accept who you are, this is your skin, your personality, your body for your whole life, th