Model behaviour
Raleigh alumna, Simone Alexander, is used to turning heads. As a finalist in the Top Model of Colour 2008 contest, Simone has battled against 3,640 entrants to become one of the 26 finalists in this year's competition. The winner will be announced on November 8th.
Simone is currently enjoying what she describes as a ‘whirlwind of wonderful and happy times', having overcome personal issues in her past with the help of youth and education charity, Raleigh. In 2006, Simone was involved with Raleigh's youth partnership programme which aims to help socially excluded young people in the UK to increase their confidence, motivation and skills.
Simone said: "I took part in Raleigh's programme after facing a very difficult time in my life. I felt like I needed to do something to build myself as a person. I was one of the older members on my programme and at first thought ‘what am I doing here?' but it was the right place for me to be at the time."
Raleigh's youth partnership programme consists of a residential course in the UK, giving participants the opportunity to take part in a 10-week Raleigh expedition overseas. Simone said: "After much planning and preparation, I took part in a Raleigh expedition in Costa Rica and Nicaragua where I worked on three different projects to support local communities. The whole experience was one which I learnt so much from. Being on the Raleigh programme gave me much needed confidence and showed me a way to deal with inner problems. It changed my life forever."
Simone continued: "So much has changed since my involvement with Raleigh. Since I finished the programme in 2007, I have turned my life around. I have started a small bag business and I also coach young people with difficulties. I am now married, living in Cyprus, and am one of the Top Models of Colour in the UK. I never dreamt any of this was possible!"
Raleigh Chief Executive, Stacey Adams, said: "Simone is an inspiring example of a young person taking control of their life and turning it around to achieve their full potential. Raleigh programmes aim to equip young people with the skills they need to move forward in their lives."
Ends
For further information, please contact:
Anne Grenyer
Press and Campaigns Manager
Raleigh
Tel: 020 7183 1298
Email: anne.grenyer@raleigh.org.uk
Notes to Editors:
Raleigh
Raleigh is a youth and education charity. Since 1984, our expeditions have inspired 30,000 people from all walks of life, nationalities and ages to be all they can be, helping them develop new skills, friendships and make a difference to communities and environments across the world.
We all have an expedition within us. Find yours at raleighinternational.org
Raleigh's Youth Partnership Programme
Raleigh works closely with youth agencies across the UK, such as Groundwork and Foyer Federation, so that together we can help young people from all walks of life benefit from a Raleigh expedition. Working together as partners, our programme forms part of an overall approach to engaging disadvantaged young people and giving them the opportunity to get out there and be all they can be. Our aim is to:
- Increase young people's confidence, motivation and soft skills, such as teamwork, interpersonal skills and problem-solving
- Enable young people to take responsibility for their own lives and engage them with the idea of lifelong learning, enabling them to move into further training, education and employment
- Encourage young people to volunteer and understand their impact on local and global communities and environments
