Zakwan Chowdhury

Zak has shown an uncontested passion to address and tackle the issue of bullying. Zak began with the Youth Act in 2003 and has gone on to become a director of the iPoweri campaign, as well as help set up and lead ABM (Anti-Bullying Massif). Zak and his peers in the ABM transformed the culture of their school and many others throughout London and the rest of the UK. They brought the issue of bullying and the need to confront it into the open, offering positive and effective solutions with help.

Zak has contributed to his anti-bullying cause by taking on leadership roles within organisations and being willing to devote untold hours over the past 4 years, always in addition to his studies. He has planned and delivered events, educational workshops and created useful materials to inspire and include others trying to reduce bullying. Within the last year he has fronted a huge, international anti-bullying conference and led a delegation to 10 Downing St in order to present a petition signed by hundreds calling for more support for trainee teachers on how to tackle bullying.

His involvement with Action work and iPoweri attracted the attention of staff at the DFES and successive ministers of education. Recognising how powerful it is when young people take the lead and offer hope, Zak and his peers were invited to run workshops at national events and were then filmed to respond to the national need for solutions to bullying.

Zak has brought the issue and need to confront bullying out into the open, providing effective solutions and practical help. Once ABM was set up, the rates of reported bullying in his school went down and those who were bullied had a new valuable source of advice and support from sympathetic peers. Zak has spoken to Head teachers, senior staff and addressed peers in other London schools spreading the effectiveness of his work and through publicity of the ABM in national publications, he has inspired others to replicate the work of ABM. The ABM is now a sustainable project with a new cohort of 8 students who have replaced Zak's group – all of whom are now at college. Young people are now instrumental in creating an impressive service, offering help to hundreds of other students.

Zak still contributes to London-wide and national anti-bullying groups. His services to promote best practice for young people have assisted them to combat bullying, both nationally and internationally.

The international anti-bullying conference he organised included delegates from South Korea, Turkey and the USA. He is also planning a ‘world tour’, covering 26,000 miles from Bristol to Singapore in a camper van, through 18 countries to promote his cause. Through this, Zak and his team will be sharing anti-bullying, anti-violence and empowerment strategies through workshops and shows.

“We have met numerous impressive young people....Zak is one of the most outstanding because of his empathy, commitment and the way he has developed his skills over the years to become a national leader in the field of anti-bullying.”

Tony Breslin, Chief Exec. The Citizenship Foundation

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