Principle work experience 2023: blogs on current issues

Each year we at Principle Consulting welcome students from Uxbridge College who are learning English as an additional language for work experience. Here, three of the students who joined us this year have blogged about their time with us and political issues that are important to them.

Each year we at Principle Consulting welcome students from Uxbridge College who are learning English as an additional language for work experience, where they have an opportunity to learn about politics and campaigning in the UK. They also join us for a tour of Parliament.

We believe that all young people should be empowered to make a positive difference on the issues that affect their lives, their communities and broader society, and this programme is part of that.

Here, three of the students who joined us this year have blogged about their time with us and political issues that are important to them.

Eliana

I am a student at Uxbridge college who is studying ESOL level 1. The reason I am doing this work today is due to the issues this country is facing now such as knife crime, pollution and climate change, and mental health.

Will the next generation be able to walk safely to schools?

Knife crime has been on the rise in the UK in the recent years. Teenagers are being stabbed by knives or sharp weapons and every 11 minutes someone get stabbed. As a teenager I do not want to be worried that someone could walk up to me with a knife or that someone that I know or one of my loved ones will be hurt. Therefore, something must be done.

Will they get the same view of the earth that your got or are getting?

I love mother nature, I love pure air and I love animals, but I do not love pollution. I do not love to see animals becoming extinct because of the work of humans. We as citizens and human beings should not allow these changes to happen. I will get louder and louder until I see a change.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Many people (and not only in the UK) struggle with mental health issues. I believe this is something would should change. I think these types of topics should be talked about more in classrooms, and students should be aware that they are not alone even if they feel like they are.

“Do not be ashamed of your story. It will inspire others” – Brené Brown, researcher and storyteller

Saman

I am a Kurdish Iranian and I left my country because of political activity against the Iranian regime. I did that because they are killing our people every day just because many of us want to have an independent country, study in our own language and have job opportunities. We have fewer rights than other people in Iran. Since I came to England my entire life has been changed – it is so different here. I have my rights and I can do what I want and go where I want.

Housing

There are so many people that aren’t able to get a house because of the high costs, so many people are sleeping on streets. This is very tragic and if the Government prevent it with financial assistance and build more permanent new housing, they could help people settle and stay their homes.

Education

Education is the most important thing in every country. In the UK, education is free for people under 18 years of age, but adults must pay to keep studying. That is unfortunate because while studying they cannot always work and earn enough money to pay for housing, so in my opinion government must prevent financial hardship – everyone must get free higher education.

Anastasia

I came from Ukraine in 2022 and right now I am studying in Uxbridge College. In my country, I really loved studying history at school and I also was interested in politics there. But why am I interested in politics in the UK?

Firstly I’m new in this country and it is an amazing opportunity to delve into the history and values of this country. In my opinion, some of the most important political issues in this country are ecology, drug policy and health.

For many years people have just used resources from our planet and they don’t think about what it can lead to. Deforestation, environmental pollution, wars and animal cruelty (including in zoos) – these are the biggest problems in our lives today. We are all living organisms and we all must take care of everyone. Because of these problems we are killing animals, sea life and nature. It has led to global warming and hurricanes. Many people don’t believe that zoos are bad for animals and for us, but most of the animals who are in zoos are hunters – they are wild and aren’t adapted  to life in a cage. 

Drug policy is also important. People cannot always control themselves when they take drugs and the human body isn’t adapted to drugs – it can be dangerous for their health and difficult for people who are close to people with addiction. 

Last, health is important. Many people don’t go to hospitals because they think that no one will help them there. When people finally do come to the hospital they have to wait a very long time which is terrible. And treatment in private hospitals is so expensive that people who have a small wage cannot pay for that.

In the end I want to say that politicians should pay attention to everything in the country, though, and there are not less important and more important issues. All people’s problems must be solved!