UK’s Hussain Manawer becomes Kruger Cowne’s Rising Star after performance of a lifetime
22nd November 2015
After a year-long search and an impressive shortlist made up of 30 young future leaders, Kruger Cowne and partners One Young World and Spaceship Earth Grants announced yesterday (21st November 2015) as part of the One Young World closing ceremony, the champion of the programme – 24 year old Hussain Manawer from Illford, Essex. Having delivered a 3 minute speech at the programmes final in front of an international audience made up of 1300 delegates and online spectators, Hussain wowed the panel of judges and the public with a performance of a lifetime.
Launched last year at One Young World in Ireland, the Rising Star programme consisted of a year-long search to find one inspiring individual, who will become the voice of the next generation, culminating in the chosen champion being catapulted onto the world stage and into space in 2018. Travelling beyond the 100km mark by XCOR Aerospace’s Lynx® Spacecraft and presented with the opportunity to experience the world from an entirely new perspective, as the Rising Star, Hussain will provide new insight to global discussions on some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Having received applications from over 90 countries, the programme’s 3 finalists – Keren Jackson from Ireland, Freeman Osonuga from Nigeria and Hussain Manawer from the UK – each took to the stage on Friday 19th November to address varying topics, from mental health awareness to global warming.
The final appeared as part of a specialist session at the One Young World Summit, and saw prominent judges Sir Bob Geldof, Gina Nelthorpe-Cowne of Kruger Cowne, David Jones, co-founder of One Young World, Fatima Bhutto, Suphachai Chearavanont and celebrated astronaut Ron Garan all cast their vote. Ensuring the public also had a say, friends, families and countries were invited to support their candidate via a public social media vote.
With his enthusiastic performance, Hussain pressed hard the issues surrounding mental health awareness, leading to a standing ovation and an influx of social media support.
Hussain Manawer’s achievements already include being amongst the elite few who became Olympic torchbearers for the Olympics London 2012. Whilst studying at university, the up-and-coming media mogul climbed Kilimanjaro, raising thousands of pounds for charity. At present, as well as interviewing a host of influential public figures on his online channel Hussain’s House, the talented poet takes time out of his schedule to visit schools across the country, speaking to young people on issues such as cyber bullying and the importance of self-expression through the arts.
Presented with the trophy, a model Lynx spacecraft which is replica of the shuttle that will catapult him into space, Hussain’s acceptance speech acknowledged issues around mental health, as well as calling on the young generation to acknowledge the differences in religious radicalisation and peaceful practice.
Now set to sign with one of Europe’s leading talent agencies, Kruger Cowne, as part of the Rising Star offering, Hussain will be managed and positioned to develop powerful connections and given a platform to engage with a global audience and develop solutions to some of the world’s most pressing issues. The agency will look after the young poet for branding, licensing, publishing and speaking engagements.
