“I feel like teachers dont listen to what we have to say and it gets us aggravated. I feel like one of the tutors presented it to me it made me feel like I can be part of like a family, that you will be welcomed and people will understand what I am going through. Feeling part of a family is something that drew me in. The staff and the team are incredible people. They are great positives for Voyage and I feel like if we didn’t have the amount of support we receive from the team it wouldn’t be as effective. With the knowledge I got from them, I can how that I’m not just a (black) girl I am knowledgeable and I can tell people about the things I wand to be changed. I just want to be in a position where I can make change. This programme has helped direct me.”

“I live in a ‘diverse’ community but no one wants to get to know each other which is really stressful. I’m stereotyped because I am black and female and African. When I’m put in these situations I need to understand how to deal with the stigmas around black people. Especially the stereotype of young black boys I have a little brother and it worries me a lot I have to tell him not to do certain things to keep him safe which causes a lot of unnecessary stress. Voyage helped me a lot and I can educate other people if I see someone in an unjust situation.”

“Now I really want to go in to the medical field. When Street Doctors came, it made me like it really more and I want to be a doctor.”

“When they teach you something, they will always bring in a guest speaker. You’re not just gonna sit here an be on your computer.”

“Thanks to the “Know Your Rights” workshop, I learned that if police officers aren’t in uniform, they have to show a warrant card. In the past if anyone had showed me something that looked like a badge, I probably wouldn’t know the difference.”

“One of the biggest things I see in my area is the pressure to be in Gangs. I see a lot of this because young people have nothing to do when they are kicked out of schools. When I joined Voyage, the team pushed me to do even better than I was doing. The advice they gave us was about not following friends and living up to stereotypes that are around about black people. I feel like schools don’t teach you that.”

“Knowledge, experience, places you visits and the people you meet. It’s really empowering and I know so much more!”

“Voyage gives young people amazing experiences that have the power to transform mindsets and reset futures. Im so grateful for being involved and for the amazing projects and programmes I have been a part of. Big Up Voyage.”

“The Voyage team really make you think about our lives, fears and the choices we make. I am forever grateful for Voyage coming into my life. I see things differently now.”

"I joined Voyage because the team inspired me to think differently about myself, my community and my future. The team reflect my ideal version of what my education should look like.”

“I loved the residential. It was great way to begin because it was an ice breaker. We weren’t really with our friends, we were with new people and so it helped us form a new relationships. When I first came it was daunting but everyone was really nice!.”

“I wanted to be part of Voyage because I was curious about what it could provide for me and what I could give back to my community in return. I learned about Stop and Search laws and now I want to advise people about what to do when they feel like they are unfairly stopped by the police.”

“One thing I will take away from Voyage is that everyone has a talent and a skill but you just need to learn how to embrace it and you shouldn’t hide it away from people if you’re embarrassed. I also learned to welcome other people’s ideas.”

“I felt really inspired when the Voyage team came into my school Immediately it seemed like ME and THEM! The way they talked and held themselves with confidence. I wanted that to be me. I really liked the staff team. It felt like a family thing. If I have a problem, I fell like I could go to any of the tutors.”