My Motivation for Running! Friends and future friends, my name is Johann Barbé, I am in my third year studying Geography and African Studies. I am writing to you today because I would LOVE to be your CoPresident of Activities and Events next year. These three years at SOAS have been the best three years of my life; this is hugely due to the people I have met as well as to the diversity and uniqueness of SOAS and its events. I have enjoyed and learned so much from being here and I want make your experience as good, and even better than my own. Benefits of my Experience • Having lived in the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Belgium and the UK has helped me to become more familiar with different cultures and therefore different people, making me an approachable and welcoming person. • As captain of the Rugby Team and recently founder of the Reggae Society, I have learned how to manage, while having fun, different groups of people and increased my knowledge about leagues, dealing with/increasing the budget, being in touch with other universities and organizing events! • Although I value the importance of academic studies, I strongly believe in “Work Hard, Play Hard”! I am a very hard worker and also always ready to find more entertaining activities especially in London. All you need is a good organisation! JOHANN BARBÉ #1 ACTIVITIES & EVENTS My aims as CoPresident of Activities and Events I believe that, to have a voice in London and the UK, SOAS needs to firstly become more reliable and united under the same banner! Unity will come from a good relationship between the Union and the students, and this is what I propose: United and Reliable Within SOAS: 1) Improve the visibility of societies, events and sports teams by: • Improving the efficiency of the website (i.e. include all events in a calendar, description of societies) by creating a NEW POSITION in the part time job officers. • SOAS shows/festivals including dance, music and political/informative societies. 2) Have a plan ready before first term starts (fresher’s fayre and term events). 3) Raise awareness on the easiness of joining, running and even creating societies and sports teams. 4) Help societies and sport teams to find a sponsor (corporate if possible) and adequate budget (for material appropriate to societies). 5) Improve the accessibility to sport facilities; have training grounds in London! 6) Ensure that all sports teams are recognized in a league and promoted. 7) Link courses/lecturers/staff to societies, events and sports teams. 8) Unite societies and sports teams through joint events and meetings with their presidents. 9) Maintain standards and aims set by current Union members (most related to Events and Activities). SOAS’ Voice and Connection Outside! 10) Promote SOAS’ activities and events to other universities and encourage societies to do so. 11) Raise awareness on SOAS’ struggle against cuts through different activities such as the Carnival of Resistance and regular talks with the help of the AntiCuts group. AND FIGHT TOGETHER! 12) Establish connections with lifestyle magazines and websites promoting events and places to visit, eat and gather in groups such as Time Out, Top Table, Yplan (application) VoucherCloud, Student Beans and many more!