I’m mercy and glue BAE I’m 19 years old a Christian a sister a daughter an
a Christian a sister a daughter an
a Christian a sister a daughter an English Lit undergrad I think stories
English Lit undergrad I think stories
English Lit undergrad I think stories are powerful tools and those are some of
are powerful tools and those are some of
are powerful tools and those are some of the many chapter headings of mine
the many chapter headings of mine
the many chapter headings of mine I love being all of these things and as
I love being all of these things and as
I love being all of these things and as I discover my own voice
I discover my own voice
I discover my own voice I love seeing other people discover
I love seeing other people discover
I love seeing other people discover their own voices so as much as I share
their own voices so as much as I share
their own voices so as much as I share about myself there is a chapter in my
about myself there is a chapter in my
about myself there is a chapter in my story that I only revealed publicly
story that I only revealed publicly
story that I only revealed publicly recently in May this year I chose to
recently in May this year I chose to
recently in May this year I chose to step out of the closet the viral closet
step out of the closet the viral closet
step out of the closet the viral closet that is it made it sure I chose to start
that is it made it sure I chose to start
that is it made it sure I chose to start living openly with HIV so it was at this
living openly with HIV so it was at this
living openly with HIV so it was at this time that I have the honor and privilege
time that I have the honor and privilege
time that I have the honor and privilege of accepting my Dianna’s Legacy Award
of accepting my Dianna’s Legacy Award
of accepting my Dianna’s Legacy Award for all the work that I’ve been
for all the work that I’ve been
for all the work that I’ve been fortunate enough to do over the past two
fortunate enough to do over the past two
fortunate enough to do over the past two years however as much as as great as
years however as much as as great as
years however as much as as great as last May was and always will be it came
last May was and always will be it came
last May was and always will be it came with a huge price so let’s look at HIV
with a huge price so let’s look at HIV
with a huge price so let’s look at HIV actually is HIV stands for human
actually is HIV stands for human
actually is HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus is simply a virus
immunodeficiency virus is simply a virus
immunodeficiency virus is simply a virus that attempts to attack the immune
that attempts to attack the immune
that attempts to attack the immune system people living with HIV so face
system people living with HIV so face
system people living with HIV so face huge battles in both stigma and
huge battles in both stigma and
huge battles in both stigma and discrimination and I’m too thankful that
discrimination and I’m too thankful that
discrimination and I’m too thankful that I’ve been a part of and will continue to
I’ve been a part of and will continue to
I’ve been a part of and will continue to be a source of change to stop this
be a source of change to stop this
be a source of change to stop this there’s some more unreal to me that I
there’s some more unreal to me that I
there’s some more unreal to me that I have to stand here and attempt to
have to stand here and attempt to
have to stand here and attempt to reassert and reclaim my humanity in
reassert and reclaim my humanity in
reassert and reclaim my humanity in order to try and avoid being defined by
order to try and avoid being defined by
order to try and avoid being defined by a virus alone my ask is that we remember
a virus alone my ask is that we remember
a virus alone my ask is that we remember to acknowledge the H in the human
to acknowledge the H in the human
to acknowledge the H in the human immunodeficiency virus one of the
immunodeficiency virus one of the
immunodeficiency virus one of the challenges of live having lived a double
challenges of live having lived a double
challenges of live having lived a double life with HIV is that all the work that
life with HIV is that all the work that
life with HIV is that all the work that I previously did
I previously did
I previously did I didn’t no no no anonymously this meant
I didn’t no no no anonymously this meant
I didn’t no no no anonymously this meant that I when I was in situations that
that I when I was in situations that
that I when I was in situations that didn’t welcome a conversation about HIV
didn’t welcome a conversation about HIV
didn’t welcome a conversation about HIV I didn’t feel comfortable with it so I
I didn’t feel comfortable with it so I
I didn’t feel comfortable with it so I think young people should be willing now
think young people should be willing now
think young people should be willing now more than ever to discuss the topics
more than ever to discuss the topics
more than ever to discuss the topics that are taboo in our society receiving
that are taboo in our society receiving
that are taboo in our society receiving the award reminded me that young
the award reminded me that young
the award reminded me that young people’s voices
people’s voices
people’s voices a powerful necessary and their hurt
a powerful necessary and their hurt
a powerful necessary and their hurt so this earlier on this year I attended
so this earlier on this year I attended
so this earlier on this year I attended a conference called spark 17 in Lesotho
a conference called spark 17 in Lesotho
a conference called spark 17 in Lesotho it was there amongst around 30 other
it was there amongst around 30 other
it was there amongst around 30 other young activists that were brought
young activists that were brought
young activists that were brought together from around the world that I
together from around the world that I
together from around the world that I discovered the table we always talked of
discovered the table we always talked of
discovered the table we always talked of getting heceta can simply be a table
getting heceta can simply be a table
getting heceta can simply be a table that we as young people build for
that we as young people build for
that we as young people build for ourselves we don’t have to be a
ourselves we don’t have to be a
ourselves we don’t have to be a generation that is overlooked we already
generation that is overlooked we already
generation that is overlooked we already are and will continue to be a generation
are and will continue to be a generation
are and will continue to be a generation that isn’t in starting conversations
that isn’t in starting conversations
that isn’t in starting conversations where powers where silence holds the
where powers where silence holds the
where powers where silence holds the power to breathe in difference I also
power to breathe in difference I also
power to breathe in difference I also believe in Princess Diana’s belief that
believe in Princess Diana’s belief that
believe in Princess Diana’s belief that young people really do have the power to
young people really do have the power to
young people really do have the power to change the world and I think we should
change the world and I think we should
change the world and I think we should all be active in looking at the people
all be active in looking at the people
all be active in looking at the people around us and asking ourselves do we
around us and asking ourselves do we
around us and asking ourselves do we have people around us that are
have people around us that are
have people around us that are consistently looking for how to change
consistently looking for how to change
consistently looking for how to change the injustice ease that we live in
the injustice ease that we live in
the injustice ease that we live in Generation Y Millennials what do we
Generation Y Millennials what do we
Generation Y Millennials what do we think about them a 2012 study found that
think about them a 2012 study found that
think about them a 2012 study found that Millennials are more civically and
Millennials are more civically and
Millennials are more civically and politically disengaged then that Iraq
politically disengaged then that Iraq
politically disengaged then that Iraq counterpart generations of Generation X
counterpart generations of Generation X
counterpart generations of Generation X and baby boomers at the same ages I
and baby boomers at the same ages I
and baby boomers at the same ages I disagree with this as earlier we’ve
disagree with this as earlier we’ve
disagree with this as earlier we’ve talked about how generations like us and
talked about how generations like us and
talked about how generations like us and older ones are incomparable in so many
older ones are incomparable in so many
older ones are incomparable in so many ways however what I find the most is
ways however what I find the most is
ways however what I find the most is that people feel that we’re entitled I
that people feel that we’re entitled I
that people feel that we’re entitled I can’t stand here and say that I’m not
can’t stand here and say that I’m not
can’t stand here and say that I’m not entitled I’m sure I’ve been entitled to
entitled I’m sure I’ve been entitled to
entitled I’m sure I’ve been entitled to loads of things in my life and felt that
loads of things in my life and felt that
loads of things in my life and felt that way
way
way isn’t everybody entitled at one point
isn’t everybody entitled at one point
isn’t everybody entitled at one point one thing I do believe I’m entitled to
one thing I do believe I’m entitled to
one thing I do believe I’m entitled to is the right to the power to change the
is the right to the power to change the
is the right to the power to change the world so I’m asking you again do you
world so I’m asking you again do you
world so I’m asking you again do you have people around you who will stand in
have people around you who will stand in
have people around you who will stand in the face of injustice and say there is
the face of injustice and say there is
the face of injustice and say there is enough is enough
enough is enough
enough is enough so obviously I’m an activist and an
so obviously I’m an activist and an
so obviously I’m an activist and an advocate I believe that I can sum up
advocate I believe that I can sum up
advocate I believe that I can sum up activism in three different ways firstly
activism in three different ways firstly
activism in three different ways firstly I think it means to be passionate I
I think it means to be passionate I
I think it means to be passionate I always remind myself that if I’m not
always remind myself that if I’m not
always remind myself that if I’m not passionate about something I shouldn’t
passionate about something I shouldn’t
passionate about something I shouldn’t be doing it
be doing it
be doing it hired Wilson a fellow British prime
hired Wilson a fellow British prime
hired Wilson a fellow British prime minister once said that he who rejects
minister once said that he who rejects
minister once said that he who rejects change
change
change is the architect of decay are you the
is the architect of decay are you the
is the architect of decay are you the person that is accepting decay in your
person that is accepting decay in your
person that is accepting decay in your community or you’re the person that is
community or you’re the person that is
community or you’re the person that is bringing about change wholeheartedly
bringing about change wholeheartedly
bringing about change wholeheartedly we must not be the generation that sees
we must not be the generation that sees
we must not be the generation that sees the needs of others and says that’s a
the needs of others and says that’s a
the needs of others and says that’s a job for someone else to do I’m okay
job for someone else to do I’m okay
job for someone else to do I’m okay where I’m standing so someone else can
where I’m standing so someone else can
where I’m standing so someone else can do that
do that
do that secondly I believe changes to be
secondly I believe changes to be
secondly I believe changes to be committed to in order to be able to
committed to in order to be able to
committed to in order to be able to build a culture with sustainable and
build a culture with sustainable and
build a culture with sustainable and proactive change you have to have been
proactive change you have to have been
proactive change you have to have been consistent in your journey to that
consistent in your journey to that
consistent in your journey to that change
change
change rome wasn’t built in a day and Martin
rome wasn’t built in a day and Martin
rome wasn’t built in a day and Martin Luther King’s legacy is still fighting
Luther King’s legacy is still fighting
Luther King’s legacy is still fighting for racial equality in America the
for racial equality in America the
for racial equality in America the suffragettes did not see change after
suffragettes did not see change after
suffragettes did not see change after just one protest changes about getting
just one protest changes about getting
just one protest changes about getting those around you to stand with you and
those around you to stand with you and
those around you to stand with you and those at the top to listen to you lastly
those at the top to listen to you lastly
those at the top to listen to you lastly I think changes about being authentic I
I think changes about being authentic I
I think changes about being authentic I know that when I go into a project or a
know that when I go into a project or a
know that when I go into a project or a campaign with authenticity and integrity
campaign with authenticity and integrity
campaign with authenticity and integrity at the heart of it I’m able to bond with
at the heart of it I’m able to bond with
at the heart of it I’m able to bond with someone over the human experiences that
someone over the human experiences that
someone over the human experiences that we were shared such as loss joy any
we were shared such as loss joy any
we were shared such as loss joy any other things that you can think of why
other things that you can think of why
other things that you can think of why do you miss I’m able to build
do you miss I’m able to build
do you miss I’m able to build connections and bridges and spark global
connections and bridges and spark global
connections and bridges and spark global change by saying hey I might be in a
change by saying hey I might be in a
change by saying hey I might be in a different country but I went through
different country but I went through
different country but I went through that experience I know how you feel and
that experience I know how you feel and
that experience I know how you feel and I know that we can change that so next
I know that we can change that so next
I know that we can change that so next I’m going to talk about three of my
I’m going to talk about three of my
I’m going to talk about three of my fellow Award holders these three people
fellow Award holders these three people
fellow Award holders these three people are all incredibly normal people who
are all incredibly normal people who
are all incredibly normal people who simply saw something in the world that
simply saw something in the world that
simply saw something in the world that they wanted a change something that they
they wanted a change something that they
they wanted a change something that they weren’t happy about something that they
weren’t happy about something that they
weren’t happy about something that they felt the world was lacking in and they
felt the world was lacking in and they
felt the world was lacking in and they decided they were going to do something
decided they were going to do something
decided they were going to do something about it I’ll start with faith Dickinson
about it I’ll start with faith Dickinson
about it I’ll start with faith Dickinson at just nine years old
at just nine years old
at just nine years old faith began a charity curdles for cancer
faith began a charity curdles for cancer
faith began a charity curdles for cancer after her auntie was diagnosed with
after her auntie was diagnosed with
after her auntie was diagnosed with breast cancer
breast cancer
breast cancer Fifth’s auntie told her of how june
Fifth’s auntie told her of how june
Fifth’s auntie told her of how june treatment she often got cold so folks
treatment she often got cold so folks
treatment she often got cold so folks just designed a blanket to bring her
just designed a blanket to bring her
just designed a blanket to bring her comfort warmth and love today faith has
comfort warmth and love today faith has
comfort warmth and love today faith has made over three and a half thousand
made over three and a half thousand
made over three and a half thousand blankets for people living with an
blankets for people living with an
blankets for people living with an illness or a disability across the world
illness or a disability across the world
illness or a disability across the world she’s literally sent them to so many
she’s literally sent them to so many
she’s literally sent them to so many different countries I’m not even gonna
different countries I’m not even gonna
different countries I’m not even gonna list
list
list but she is absolutely incredible she’s
but she is absolutely incredible she’s
but she is absolutely incredible she’s also raised over $30,000 to ensure that
also raised over $30,000 to ensure that
also raised over $30,000 to ensure that these blankets remain free to those who
these blankets remain free to those who
these blankets remain free to those who need them the most faith simply believes
need them the most faith simply believes
need them the most faith simply believes that everyone deserves a cuddle
that everyone deserves a cuddle
that everyone deserves a cuddle unless that sounds so simple and so
unless that sounds so simple and so
unless that sounds so simple and so innocent is something she wanted to see
innocent is something she wanted to see
innocent is something she wanted to see in this world and it’s something she’s
in this world and it’s something she’s
in this world and it’s something she’s definitely achieved and is continuing to
definitely achieved and is continuing to
definitely achieved and is continuing to achieve faith is also an active member
achieve faith is also an active member
achieve faith is also an active member of her community and her cuddle Club
of her community and her cuddle Club
of her community and her cuddle Club talks have inspired people in her local
talks have inspired people in her local
talks have inspired people in her local area to fight local and global injustice
area to fight local and global injustice
area to fight local and global injustice next I’ll talk about Maya Maya gazelle
next I’ll talk about Maya Maya gazelle
next I’ll talk about Maya Maya gazelle is an incredible person I love her so
is an incredible person I love her so
is an incredible person I love her so much she’s an ambassador for the
much she’s an ambassador for the
much she’s an ambassador for the children’s society and having a write in
children’s society and having a write in
children’s society and having a write in the UK in September 2015 not speaking a
the UK in September 2015 not speaking a
the UK in September 2015 not speaking a word of English
word of English
word of English her passion and determination for making
her passion and determination for making
her passion and determination for making a difference has carried her through
a difference has carried her through
a difference has carried her through having recently began a degree this year
having recently began a degree this year
having recently began a degree this year in aviation engineering at Brunel
in aviation engineering at Brunel
in aviation engineering at Brunel University in London in addition to this
University in London in addition to this
University in London in addition to this she travels across the UK to represent
she travels across the UK to represent
she travels across the UK to represent young refugees and migrants and discuss
young refugees and migrants and discuss
young refugees and migrants and discuss the hidden dangers that they face were
the hidden dangers that they face were
the hidden dangers that they face were an incredible role model and someone we
an incredible role model and someone we
an incredible role model and someone we should all aspire to be it’s all about
should all aspire to be it’s all about
should all aspire to be it’s all about using your experiences the words that
using your experiences the words that
using your experiences the words that you’ve faced just to help others lastly
you’ve faced just to help others lastly
you’ve faced just to help others lastly I’ll talk about Jemima browning having
I’ll talk about Jemima browning having
I’ll talk about Jemima browning having been inspired by her younger brother
been inspired by her younger brother
been inspired by her younger brother who’s got Down syndrome Maya began a
who’s got Down syndrome Maya began a
who’s got Down syndrome Maya began a single highly successful stingrays
single highly successful stingrays
single highly successful stingrays swimming club she wanted a place where
swimming club she wanted a place where
swimming club she wanted a place where he could access sports in a fun and
he could access sports in a fun and
he could access sports in a fun and simulating environment and Jemima has
simulating environment and Jemima has
simulating environment and Jemima has really provided that not just for him
really provided that not just for him
really provided that not just for him but for so many others Jemima is also
but for so many others Jemima is also
but for so many others Jemima is also started a project unify in her school to
started a project unify in her school to
started a project unify in her school to encourage young people to take part in
encourage young people to take part in
encourage young people to take part in social and sports activities in addition
social and sports activities in addition
social and sports activities in addition to this Maya’s been appointed to the
to this Maya’s been appointed to the
to this Maya’s been appointed to the European youth activation committee to
European youth activation committee to
European youth activation committee to represent the pile impacts in the UK so
represent the pile impacts in the UK so
represent the pile impacts in the UK so I believe that our generation can do all
I believe that our generation can do all
I believe that our generation can do all it sets out to do if it wants to but I
it sets out to do if it wants to but I
it sets out to do if it wants to but I believe that complacency is one of the
believe that complacency is one of the
believe that complacency is one of the biggest factors in preventing this
biggest factors in preventing this
biggest factors in preventing this Benjamin Franklin once said that well
Benjamin Franklin once said that well
Benjamin Franklin once said that well done is better than well said be that
done is better than well said be that
done is better than well said be that person who’s gone above and beyond to do
person who’s gone above and beyond to do
person who’s gone above and beyond to do what others won’t do because you can
what others won’t do because you can
what others won’t do because you can it’s not because you have to do it or
it’s not because you have to do it or
it’s not because you have to do it or you should do it or a look good on your
you should do it or a look good on your
you should do it or a look good on your CV or you’ll gain some brownie points
CV or you’ll gain some brownie points
CV or you’ll gain some brownie points because I’m such a humanitarian no make
because I’m such a humanitarian no make
because I’m such a humanitarian no make up the change you want to see in this
up the change you want to see in this
up the change you want to see in this world because you want to see it done
world because you want to see it done
world because you want to see it done secondly I think that our generation
secondly I think that our generation
secondly I think that our generation should do all it can to enjoy the
should do all it can to enjoy the
should do all it can to enjoy the benefits of a diverse world visit the
benefits of a diverse world visit the
benefits of a diverse world visit the world around you see how the issues you
world around you see how the issues you
world around you see how the issues you feel so passionately about are worked
feel so passionately about are worked
feel so passionately about are worked out in different countries what are the
out in different countries what are the
out in different countries what are the challenges that they face
challenges that they face
challenges that they face how have they created change how can you
how have they created change how can you
how have they created change how can you recreate change how can you build with
recreate change how can you build with
recreate change how can you build with them on what they’ve done
them on what they’ve done
them on what they’ve done how can you collaborate I know that when
how can you collaborate I know that when
how can you collaborate I know that when I walked into a different room and
I walked into a different room and
I walked into a different room and entirely across the world and said hey
entirely across the world and said hey
entirely across the world and said hey growing up with HIV this is what I dealt
growing up with HIV this is what I dealt
growing up with HIV this is what I dealt with and when someone says hey me too we
with and when someone says hey me too we
with and when someone says hey me too we can work together to build collaborative
can work together to build collaborative
can work together to build collaborative change I also don’t think we should be
change I also don’t think we should be
change I also don’t think we should be held back by our own doubts don’t
held back by our own doubts don’t
held back by our own doubts don’t discredit yourself on the basis of not
discredit yourself on the basis of not
discredit yourself on the basis of not being who you think you need to be for a
being who you think you need to be for a
being who you think you need to be for a role put yourself forward and apply for
role put yourself forward and apply for
role put yourself forward and apply for it I didn’t think I’d ever be doing a
it I didn’t think I’d ever be doing a
it I didn’t think I’d ever be doing a TED talk but here I am so lastly I think
TED talk but here I am so lastly I think
TED talk but here I am so lastly I think it’s really important to discover who
it’s really important to discover who
it’s really important to discover who you are by discovering who you are what
you are by discovering who you are what
you are by discovering who you are what you value what you’re most passionate
you value what you’re most passionate
you value what you’re most passionate about you’re able to create change that
about you’re able to create change that
about you’re able to create change that you really truly believe in and by
you really truly believe in and by
you really truly believe in and by creating change that you believe in
creating change that you believe in
creating change that you believe in other people will believe in that too
other people will believe in that too
other people will believe in that too also I think it’s really important to
also I think it’s really important to
also I think it’s really important to remember that the five people the five
remember that the five people the five
remember that the five people the five people you have around you are the ones
people you have around you are the ones
people you have around you are the ones who influenced you the most who are you
who influenced you the most who are you
who influenced you the most who are you letting in on your circle who’s giving
letting in on your circle who’s giving
letting in on your circle who’s giving you advice who’s encouraging you
you advice who’s encouraging you
you advice who’s encouraging you personally I became the chair of the
personally I became the chair of the
personally I became the chair of the children’s HIV association’s youth
children’s HIV association’s youth
children’s HIV association’s youth committee in the middle of my a-levels
committee in the middle of my a-levels
committee in the middle of my a-levels and very early on in my activism to
and very early on in my activism to
and very early on in my activism to suddenly be the voice of one and a half
suddenly be the voice of one and a half
suddenly be the voice of one and a half thousand young people locally and
thousand young people locally and
thousand young people locally and globally was a really scary thing
globally was a really scary thing
globally was a really scary thing however I can’t think those around me
however I can’t think those around me
however I can’t think those around me enough for pushing me to do what I could
enough for pushing me to do what I could
enough for pushing me to do what I could do I just didn’t know it I’m what I
do I just didn’t know it I’m what I
do I just didn’t know it I’m what I needed to do so thank you for listening
needed to do so thank you for listening
needed to do so thank you for listening to me today I hope I’ve been able to get
to me today I hope I’ve been able to get
to me today I hope I’ve been able to get you to think about the changes that you
you to think about the changes that you
you to think about the changes that you in this world remember that sometimes
in this world remember that sometimes
in this world remember that sometimes it’s just okay to be an ally a soldier
it’s just okay to be an ally a soldier
it’s just okay to be an ally a soldier is not on the frontline 100 percent of
is not on the frontline 100 percent of
is not on the frontline 100 percent of the time being a young person is about
the time being a young person is about
the time being a young person is about taking in everything that you can and
taking in everything that you can and
taking in everything that you can and putting out as much as you can into the
putting out as much as you can into the
putting out as much as you can into the world to make it better but that doesn’t
world to make it better but that doesn’t
world to make it better but that doesn’t mean that you should risk your own
mean that you should risk your own
mean that you should risk your own sanity for it so I’ll leave you with one
sanity for it so I’ll leave you with one
sanity for it so I’ll leave you with one parting question what could you achieve
parting question what could you achieve
parting question what could you achieve tomorrow if you did something today
”
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