Leadership / Leading for a cause

PresenterThe footballer who forced his government to feed hungry children.

AdeliyiFight for your black friends. Defend your black colleagues.

PresenterAnd the young student who got her community active and fighting for their rights. We'll show you what qualities these young leaders showed in fighting for something they believe in. Marcus Rashford in action for Manchester United. Not the obvious person you'd expect to help fight hunger and poverty. The Covid pandemic: children in the UK were sent home from school and many poorer children no longer got free school meals. Marcus wanted to help get food to those that need it the most. He wrote a letter to the government, calling on them to end child poverty. Unlike many in the British government, Marcus had come from a poor background.

RashfordYou know, what families are going through now I once had to go through that same system and it's very difficult to... to find the way out, but... now that I'm in this position that I'm in, it's... it's very important for me to... to help the people that are struggling and... that was the main reason why the letter was... was written.

PresenterPublic support for the footballer grew. He became a leading voice in the campaign to end child food poverty. He got the British government to carry on giving free food to those that needed it, with the support of thousands of people. How did he do it?

NgoasongThe personal connection that Marcus Rashford has to the cause is very important, because of his strong belief and conviction that child poverty is not something that should be allowed in society, and because he has experienced it, he knows that this is a cause that can... is as important and even bigger than football.

PresenterSo Marcus Rashford's personal connection to the cause is important here. And we can see how that motivates him.

NgoasongAlthough there is so much you can get from being a footballer, there is a bigger cause in society in this case child poverty that is bigger than football and he sees that as a vision and feels that he has a position in power to be able to influence that.

PresenterSo, Marcus Rashford sees the bigger picture. He knows there are many children experiencing hunger like he did and this drives his leadership.

NgoasongMarcus Rashford feels he's got a role to play in fighting child poverty, because he's in a... a position as a professional footballer and he has the vision. And the honesty and simple way in which he communicates and drives that vision pulls people around him and creates a team spirit within the community, such that even politicians are challenged to try to do more.