Jean Pereira

Jean is 24 and working as a Special Projects Paralegal at Practical Law Company (a legal intelligence organisation).

Her career ambition is to qualify as a commercial lawyer and ideally within the employment law field.

Her SAP, School Swap, brings together and educates students from different areas in East London to tackle some of the root causes of the UK riots head on by breaking down barriers, conquering the postcode wars of East London and fostering cohesion and integration amongst different but adjacent communities.

Jean most admires The Rt Hon Stephen Timms, leader of the constituency of East Ham. Stephen maintains a high level of integrity by being a politician who genuinely strives to make a change in his constituency. This is demonstrated through his dedication to ensure all constituents’ queries are responded to, something which Jean personally has been extremely impressed with. The gratitude of his constituents is clear, with Stephen currently having the largest majority of any sitting MP. Though, despite being Labour's Vice Chair for Faith Groups, Stephen was unfortunately stabbed by a young individual from his constituency who had been inspired by al-Qaida. Nevertheless, despite this attack Stephen is not bitter and remains committed to his constituents. His fairness in dealing with various issues, and creativity and assertiveness in solving them, is incredibly inspiring and it is these qualities that have restored Jean's faith in politicians.