Kaya, 23, set to stand for Labour in elections
WITH a Jewish mother and a Zimbabwean father, Kaya Makarau Schwartz believes she may have the perfect credentials to stand for Labour in the local elections in Archway’s multi-cultural Junction ward.
Kaya, 23, who works as an intern for several charities, was born and brought up in the area and studied politics and international relations at Kent University.
Her mother Monica is chief executive of refugee mental health charity Nafsiyat in Finsbury Park and the daughter of a Holocaust survivor.
Kaya’s father Moses came to Britain as a student aged 18 to find a new life, and now works as a co-ordinator at Homes for Islington. Kaya went to Zimbabwe with her father to visit his family when she was young but hasn’t been back since because of the political turmoil.
Among the issues in Archway that worry Kaya are homelessness, lack of housing, and anti-social behaviour on the streets.
“Being young myself, I’m particularly concerned with the lack of jobs and youth facilities. Anti-social behaviour and lack of anything to do go hand in hand,” she said.
Kaya is also worried about the growth of gambling arcades in the area.
“Archway has definitely improved in the past few years,” she added. “You’ve got better shops and schools than you had when I was very young. And now our local schools are among the best in the borough.”
Kaya is not an ardent New Labour fan, although she believes they have done some good things, such as introducing the minimum wage.
The elections will take place in May next year.
PETER GRUNER