Introducing our fourth Community Ambassador: Zak Addae–Kodua

We are thrilled to introduce our fourth Community Ambassador, Zak Addae–Kodua. Zak is the founder of Xconversation CIC, a podcast platform that conducts lived experience interviews and runs programmes and workshops in schools, prisons and the community.

In this new video interview with Community Ambassador Lead Tiwa King, Zak talks about his work to support young people at risk of entering the criminal justice system and those transitioning out of custody and how he got inspired to support the Foundation. He cites his positive experience as a grantee, seeing many other social enterprises, charities, entrepreneurs and others in the local community get the help they needed and how everyone’s positive work can make a huge impact.

“When you grow up in Newham there’s no other place like it. I can’t explain it, like if you’re from Newham, if you know you know. Seeing my friends growing up who are super talented, with major ambitions and qualities, I feel like you think wow, what happened? This person could have been a movie start, a super athlete, a musician, or the greatest businessman ever.

“However, the opportunities aren’t there. Or sometimes life’s challenges get in the way of someone’s aspirations or projected future. Even though we have these challenges in Newham, in East London, Waltham Forest, Hackey, Tower Hamlets, all these areas, people still get left behind.

“So I feel if we can identify talent and support talent through life’s challenges and allow them to focus on their talent and ambition, I feel like we could have so many more successful people and have so many more success stories rather than having the negative stories.”

Our Community Ambassadors are volunteers who share our vision of providing access to equitable opportunities and fair regeneration throughout East London. Our ambassadors are the face of the Foundation for Future London’s work through advocacy, strong representation and positive championing of the Foundation.

To learn more, see our Community Ambassadors page.

Film: Chris Baker

Presenter: Tiwa King

Interviewee: Zak Addae–Kodua

Thank you to our venue The Conduit for hosting our recording session.