National Diversity Award 2013
Headline Sponsor
The National Diversity Awards 2012 Winners
Positive Role Models
Zita Holbourne
Paris Lees
Michael Burton
Liam Mackin
Bekezela Nsingo
Winner of the Positive Role Model Award for
Race
Winner of the Positive Role Model Award for
LGBT
Winner of the Positive Role Model Award for
Age
Winner of the Positive Role Model Award for
Disability
Winner of the Positive Role Model Award for
Gender
Michael’s passion, enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to help change the lives of students who often have had troubled pasts is truly inspiring. Students need role models to be able to understand more about life and how they can achieve their goals. Michael uses his own life experiences to help shape the lives of those he teaches.
Liam is a 17 year old with Ahlstrom Syndrome meaning he is deafblind. Liam has shown determination and initiative, embracing opportunities for self guided learning, and
demonstrating reliability and commitment. Liam is a calm, confident and well prepared individual who shows a lot of enthusiasm and charisma.
He has done a lot for his community including raising an estimated £150,000 for charity. At the age of 14, Liam had two poetry books published in print, large print, Braille and audio all of which were sold at the same price, something that has never been done before or since.
Bekezela Nsingo is a social Entrepreneur originally from the remote Insiza district in Filabusi. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The African Mothers Foundation International, an international development organisation headquartered in Wales. The organisation helps women rebuild their battered lives through various developmental projects. Bekezela has supported thousands of girls, mostly the forgotten children of Zimbabwe through her Keep Girls in School Campaign. She has built two libraries in remote areas where children’s illiteracy was ruling and has also campaigned for electricity to be installed at a secondary school. Most of the student’s Bekezela assists come from poor families and many are orphans.
From her early days at Brighton's LGBT switchboard to her current post in lobbying organisation Trans Media Watch, Paris has achieved so much in the last few years. Instrumental in important debates with Channel 4, which have lead to a more sensitive portrayal of trans people she is also the editor of the newly launched META magazine, Britain's first trans magazine, in which she and her contributors critically engage with sometimes controversial and often cutting edge debates. She is a fitting and inspirational role model.
Zita is a working mother, artist, poet, PCS trade union representative and a founding member of Black Activists Rising against Cuts – a national campaign established to respond to the disproportionate impact of cuts on black workers, service users and deprived communities. Zita is a champion for equality and diversity and a committed human rights activist. She has 20 years experience specialising in this field and has been a member of the TUC race Relations Committee for 8 years. She also founded a black member structure in a predecessor union called ‘Ethnic Majority’ to bring black members together and fight
underrepresentation and
discrimination.
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