“About a year or two ago I actually started being vocal and stuff. Before I was just one of these persons who just didn’t care [you know] just living my life because I thought nothing really ever concerned me.”
At 21, Akola Thompson has lived through things that persons double her age are yet to experience. She has an active presence on social media and is a weekly columnist in the Guyana Chronicle. I was hesitant about speaking to her, but what won me over was the fact that she speaks openly on issues so many persons shy away from.
“When we had the issue with [Minister] Volda Lawrence and the councillor Winston Harding and when she labelled the [alleged] sex abuse case as being a family matter, it got me so angry. And I didn’t see a lot of people talking about it. Then I saw Red Thread was holding a protest and I contacted somebody and found out the time. I actually left one of my UG classes and I went and that is how it started,” she said in reference to her advocacy.