'I don't want anyone else to die like my brother'

Published on Wednesday 2 September 2009 09:43

THE brother of a boy who died after being hit by a truck is standing in the Scottish Youth Parliament elections to campaign for better road safety outside schools.

Seventeen-year-old David Bendo was killed in February last year after being hit by a lorry outside Tynecastle High School while he was on his lunch break.

His brother John, 14, hopes that if he gets elected into the youth parliament representing Edinburgh West he can improve safety for young people outside schools and at construction sites, as his brother was killed while building work was under way to replace Tynecastle High.

The teenager, who is a pupil at St Augustine's RC High School, says he feels "strongly" about road safety following the accident, and also took part in a city-wide public speaking competition on the issue earlier this year, coming second.

The S3 pupil, who has come up with a manifesto outlining his election pledges, said: "I came up with the manifesto based on things that I feel really strongly about. My big brother was killed in an accident and I want to make schools safer and construction sites safer.

"Road safety is one of the big things I want to change because I know what it feels like and it was really hard."

The youngster also hopes to gain votes by giving young people a voice if he is elected. He wants more groups and clubs to be created that actually interest young people, and also wants to paint teenagers in a more positive light than they are often portrayed.

He said: "I want young people to have more of a decision about what could affect them.

"I just wanted to get involved because young people get a bad name and I want everyone to realise that young people are not all chavs and that we do want to achieve things."

Support is already building for the youngster's campaign at his school, with posters being put up, flyers being handed out, messages going in the bulletin and John himself visiting classes to plug his manifesto.

Isobel Gilmour, principal teacher of guidance at St Augustine's, said: "John is the first candidate we have had at the school so it makes it even more special for us.

"His main aims are more choice in decisions that affect young people, more groups and activities to be set up for young people, and to get local newspapers to highlight the good that young people achieve.

"He also wants construction sites to be kept safe where there are young people nearby, especially at schools. This is obviously a really personal one for John."

The Bendo family fled strife-ridden Albania in 1997 and started a new life in Scotland, moving to Edinburgh in 2005.

John's father, Laze, added: "We are very proud of him for doing this because he is so young."

David's old school, Tynecastle High, set up the David Bendo Cup in April last year in memory of John's brother.

The cup was donated to the school by St Nicholas Church in Sighthill, where David was a youth group member.

The Scottish Youth Parliament elections will be held from 7-11 September in high schools, libraries and other locations in Edinburgh Central, Pentlands, South and West.