Natalie Suliman
Hardknock is able to give all young people not excluding anyone an opportunity. I myself am an artist that finds great comfort in writing about things that are important to me and things that make me happy. I have loved creative arts from a young age, so no matter what has happened in my life God gave me a passion for music and dance to hold on to. Hardknock for me defines inspiration and proves creative arts to be a great method and a way forward. We were all designed for a purpose and I challenge you all to find your purpose for life. Through my life I have held on some great sayings firstly, “we reap what we sew” so like Hardknock, try and sew good seeds because you will reap good harvest. Secondly, “we walk by faith and not by sight”. The things unseen are far better than the everyday things we see. At the moment I am currently writing and recording my music also I am featured on other people’s album whilst doing this I still maintain my position as a positive role model in the community. I am currently on the Steering group for the commission of Racial Equality and on the board for the Independent Advisory group. If you know the founders, you will know Hardknock has been birthed through struggle, pain and experience but most of all passion.
James Aidoo
My name is James Aidoo and I am 18 years of age. As I’ve grown up on a council estate in North London I’ve never really been too far away from the reality of the capital city. From a young age I saw that many of the older lot on my estate were seen as hero’s for various reasons. When I grew up a bit later I then realised that life is a lot bigger than what is going on in your area I also realised that as a youngster you’ve have two choices to grow up and be what you're supposed to be or grow up and be like those who have already been. I like the idea of being a spokesperson for Hardknock as I feel that it will be a spanner in the works for young people’s lives. So in a nutshell I’ll say my message to young people is have love for where you started but remember that is the start point and mainly God put us here for a purpose so it’s about living and fulfilling.
Currently I am a youth and play worker and I enjoy this line of work very much as It gives me the opportunity to facilitate in any way I can and give back to those who are in the same boat as me. As I have a passion for music I was previously perusing my mc/rapping, which I enjoy very much, and as I saw that my talent is God given at the moment I am seeking the lord and trying to let His light shine in a dark place in anything I do whether it be through my youth work, music and anything else I’m involved in.