Video: Community Ambassador Jazal Babar with Ambassador Lead Tiwa King

Our newest community ambassador, Jazal Babar, goes deep in conversation with singer, social entrepreneur and programme lead Tiwa King about his life, his journey and why he’s passionate about making a difference in East London and championing our work.

In this conversation, he shares his journey as he navigated his way to education at Cambridge University, the start of his young career in ESG, creating a life he was told wasn’t possible for people like him.

“My personal journey is a big reason why I’m here. I think growing up as a first-generation migrant in East London, during a period when the borough was not getting investment in the same way that it is now, I think it’s difficult for young people to envision what success might look like or what a role model might look like. I was one of the first in my community to go to Cambridge, and I know that shouldn’t be the case.”

Jazal wants young people to know they can follow their dreams and achieve a life beyond their expectations: “Young people in East London have so much potential. They don’t know people around them who have done things they’re too nervous to do.”

We learn what sparked Jazal’s passion for creating change:

“It goes back to that feeling that somebody had when they were told all their lives that they couldn’t do something, that it would be too difficult to do or there would be too many steps to climb up, to then achieving something and experiencing the happiness, contentment and fulfilment that comes with this, which they can then share with their community.”

How mentorship has played an essential role in supporting him, and why young people – and people of all ages – need this guidance to help overcome barriers through social and economic inequalities: “I think you always need people in your corner.”

And why he applied to become an ambassador for the Foundation for Future London:

“This is an opportunity to celebrate the amazing work that’s being done in East London. We’ve had a dominant narrative for a long-time surrounding East London and the investment that’s been pouring into the boroughs, and I think there’s no better time than now to complicate that with nuance.  We’ve heard stories about people getting pushed out, gentrification, and all the changes that have happened in the past decade and beyond. But I think where FFL comes in is through complicating that narrative and providing a model of genuine investment that is sustainable, equitable and pours into the community for generations, changing perceptions.

And I think that’s why it’s so important for me to be an ambassador here at this moment.  We need to change the narrative around East London.  We need to show that positive and sustainable investment does exist.”

Learn more about the Foundation for Future London’s Community Ambassador Programme.

Film: Chris Baker

Presenter: Tiwa King

Interviewee: Jazal Babar

Photo credit: Chris Baker

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