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Mother Sheila Henry, sister Tameka Small, father Charles Small, and Dipo Ajani, chair of the Njoya Foundation

The family and friends of a young man killed in the 2005 terrorist attacks in London, have launched a foundation in his memory to empower young black boys

Christian Njoya Diawara Small was killed by the bomb detonated on the Piccadilly line in central London.

Since his death, his family and friends have insisted on keeping his legacy alive and launched the Njoya Foundation on 7 February.

The Foundation was created to support voluntary and community groups through a series of grants to empower boys of African and African-Caribbean descent between the ages of five and 15.

Grants of between £50 and £500 are to be made available for boys to participate in heritage and community activities as well as projects that promote education, the environment, and health in the local community.

At the launch, Njoya’s mother, Sheila Henry, said Njoya’s vibrant personality had left a lasting legacy that needed to be further built upon.

She said: “It’s nearly one year and 18 months since Njoya left for work and was tragically killed.

“For a young soul he packed such a lot into his life. As a child he was always very focused and determined. He managed to pack in so many things including his schoolwork, athletics and salsa.”

MASTER’S DEGREE

Before completing his master’s degree, Njoya visited Ghana, western Africa. He fell in love with the continent and extended his stay to visit Senegal, Mali and other West African countries.

A collection of emails that he sent to his family and friends is to be collected in a book - Wake up and Smell the Fufu. The book is to be published this summer.

Sheila explained that Njoya’s free spirit was an inspiration to others.

She said: “He felt he could pick up and do anything - the world was his. That is something we have to instill in our young people - the world is for everybody. When it was time for him to travel he did so because he felt the world was his.”

Njoya’s father Charles said: “He was a child of the universe. We have a lot of people talking and not enough people doing. We need to be out there doing things for our young people.”

Chair of the foundation, Dipo Anjani, said that the organisation was needed to support small empowerment organisations, as well as to change stereotypes of young people.

“The encouragement that the foundation will give, will lead to a positive self image and help young boys recognise that I am a person of African heritage.”

For more information on the Njoya Foundation, visit www.njoyafoundation.org.uk

Published: 14 February 2007
Issue: 1256

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