Cardiff Youth Council (CYC) held its latest General Meeting on the evening of Wednesday 18th June at the SPARK building on Maindy Road – a vibrant space that reflects the energy and commitment of its young members. The meeting saw key elections take place to shape the youth voice in Cardiff for the year ahead.
The first election was for the Chair and Vice Chair of CYC. Three candidates stepped forward to lead the Council: End Hopkins, Emily Gao and Ashika Pennadam. After a thoughtful and democratic process, members re-elected Emily Gao for a second term as Chair, recognising her dedication, experience, and continued passion for championing young people’s voices. Ashika Pennadam was elected as the new Vice Chair, bringing fresh perspective and energy to the role.
The second election determined who would represent Cardiff as the next Member of the UK Youth Parliament (MYP). Four strong candidates put themselves forward: Zachariah Koymis, Maya Jadoon, Joseph Pasley and Roha Rafiei. Following another round of speeches and voting, Maya Jadoon was elected to the prestigious role. As MYP, she will represent the concerns and ideas of Cardiff’s young people at a national level – including in the UK Youth Parliament debate at the House of Commons.
The evening was a celebration of youth democracy in action, with all candidates demonstrating courage, leadership and a commitment to making a difference.
Congratulations to Emily, Ashika and Maya – and thank you to all those who stood and took part in the elections. Cardiff Youth Council continues to thrive thanks to the passion, voices and vision of its members.