Since last December, Strive's UK franchise, Leap, has been dishing out the Harlem philosophy here in Harlesden. Racism of course plays a role in high black unemployment but there are some forms of cultural behaviour that you can control. Students get fined for bad behaviour but the course trainers have an added obstacle, the UK benefits system that allows people not to work. They have more choices and they can choose not to work. It's graduation day and this class is now seen as fit for employment.
Guest of honour is the visitor from Harlem.
Only 30 per cent of blacks on the government's New Deal courses go into employment, yet 70 per cent of these newly empowered students are set to find work. Their trainers have won over 1million in government funding but they need more money and more employers to take their graduates on. Thanks, I feel I have the strength to go anywhere and do anything I want.