ASIAN
YOUTH CONFERENCE DEBATES MONEY, DRUGS & SEX!
(20 September 2003)
 Money,
drugs & sex were the three topics hotly debated at the second
Asian Youth Conference, organised by Asian Voice newspaper, that
took place on Saturday 20th September 2003 at the House of Commons.
More than a hundred representatives from Asian youth groups, business
and the community gathered to debate issues like the funding of
higher education, drugs in the Asian community and the issue of
Asian female role models.
EDUCATION!
EDUCATION! EDUCATION!
 Fittingly,
the House of Commons played host to the first debate on the funding
of higher education - a topic close to the hearts and minds of academically
driven Asian parents and children. Welcomed by Keith
Vaz, MP for Leicester East, the conference heard from Dr Rudi
Vis on the issues that concern him as an MP for the ethnically diverse
constituency of Finchley and his own experience of education.
 Dr
Vis who opposes his party's views on top-up fees highlighted
his concerns about how such fees affect women who earn less than
men; the choice of subject with many students opting for professions
that will pay more, the progressive taxation that is created and
the total lack of encouragement of mature students. "Are mature
students supposed to pay off their student loans from their pensions?"
he asked.
 This
was followed by discussion about the role Asians play in the Professional
work environment. Sonjoy
Chatterjee, CEO of ICICI Bank gave his perspective on the changes
in the banking industry, while Nishma Shah of Deloitte & Touche
highlighted her role as a diversity advisor for the group. Mr Chatterjee
indicated the subtle shift from "Asian values" to "Western
values" that Asian professionals have to adopt in order to
succeed in the west. His advice to attendees was to:
-
Be Heard
-
Be literal and speak frankly
-
Use the same language with everybody
-
Deal with conflict and criticism, disagreement can be a positive
force
-
Give and receive continuous feedback
 "The
Asian Youth Conference provides a valuable forum for the communication
of ideas, issues and concerns affecting young British-Asians everyday.
As well as putting our views and needs onto the political agenda,
the conference actively promotes the self-promotion of Asian culture
and values through examining wider topics such as education and
employment, public image and the role of Asian women in society,"
said Rakesh Lakhani.
 25
year old Rakesh is one of a new breed of young Asians forging a
career in Public Relations. In a sector where much business is undertaken
in pubs and bars after hours, Lakhani was undoubtedly concerned
about the cultural pressure to conform. Should Asians assimilate
(i.e. give up one's one culture to adopt another) or acculturise
(i.e. use parts of both cultures) he asked?
He
later added, "in an age where political apathy is becoming
commonplace in today's Britain, it is refreshing to see that the
Asian Youth Conference is gaining both recognition and interest
amongst the Indian community.
"Without
a collective conscience we cannot move forward as a community. The
conference offers second and third generation British Asians a chance
to unite and engage in a progressive debate on issues that affect
us on a daily-basis" Rakesh added.
DRUG
PROBLEM? ……WHAT DRUG PROBLEM?
 The
afternoon debate about the impact of drugs in the Asian Community
raised a number of issues for young and old alike. Shobha
Parmar, of NAVJOT, an Asian voluntary organisation outlined
research carried out in Brent & Harrow. One of the interesting
facts to emerge was that the problem of drug taking was higher among
young Asian women than men in the region. "Mis-users are enslaved
by their habit," she said "with one in four progressing
from cannabis to heroin". Asian Parents are too busy earning
money to pay attention to their children. We cannot emphasise enough
the need to talk and listen and seek help," she stressed.
NAVJOT
has also detailed a series of measures needed to bring the drugs
problem out into the open among the UK's South Asian community.
Described by many as a "hidden addiction", Mrs Parmar
reiterated the need for Asian parents to open their hearts and minds
to the root causes of drug addiction.
 Chilan
Shah, in a dramatic role-play outlined how young Asian boys
are succumbing to dealing in drugs at an early age. The impact this
has on the Asian community - which until now has strenuously denied
that there is a drug problem - the neighbourhood and the future
generation of young Asians. He outlined how current "knee jerk"
reactions like shipping of errant children to India, Pakistan or
Bangladesh is counterproductive and how Asian business minds have
woken up to the vast profits to be made in this illegal and illicit
trade. Academic pressure, escapism, rebellion, bullying and peer
pressure were all listed as reasons why the take-up of drugs is
on the increase among affluent young Asians.
The
debate then broadened into issues of substance and alcohol abuse,
addiction and the prevalence of cigarette smoking.
ASIAN
FEMALE ROLE MODELS
 The
afternoon session, chaired by Nina
Sodha, strategist for Abbey National, featured two female entrepreneurs:
Manisha
Dahad, co-founder of DAWN - the hub for dynamic Asian Women
- and Dr
Nermeen Varawalla, a former gynaecologist who spoke about her
career path from Mumbai to London.
 Nigel
Umar Beejay a Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist at Newham
Healthcare NHS Trust, Barts and the London NHS Trust was enthused
by the open forum discussion. "I think the 2nd Asian Youth
Conference was a resounding success", he stated. "It involved
Asians from all walks of life and provided a forum where their knowledge,
opinions and concerns could be shared with representatives and role
models and representatives from prominent Asian business. "
 "Contemporary
topics and concerns discussed included the groundbreaking roles
Asian women play in the economic, political and cultural spheres
of Britain, the brave and heartfelt confrontation of the prevalence
of substance abuse and dependence in many Asian communities, and
strategies for enhancing the development of linkages between young
Asians and career pathways such as mentorship programs. All in all
it was a fantastic conference and sets the standards for the future."
Discussion
continued well past the close of the conference and many left feeling
heartened by the forum. "I remember leaving the conference
feeling reassured that I am not alone," said Rakesh Lakhani.
"I think the conference proves that there is no such thing
as the disenfranchised Asian youth."
Click
here for Asian Youth Conference Speaker
Biographies.
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