Leila : No, I guess it isn‘t, but it‘s a brilliant job. I would recommend it to all young people
because you can really make a difference – that‟s why I love it so much. I started
campaigning for disabled people when I was at university actually. One of my
best friends was disabled and she used a wheelchair. I noticed that she was
having lots of problems just trying to get from one classroom to another, or from
the library to the cafeteria. There were steps everywhere and hardly any lifts or
ramps to help disabled people get from one floor to the next.
Nadia : Wow. That‟s awful.
Leila : Yes, I know, so my friend and I decided to try to make changes in our university.
We asked the teachers to talk to the people who were in charge of the university
about the issue and they did.
Nadia : What happened next?
Leila : Well, after about a year, we got four new lifts and lots of ramps. The university
also promised to think about disabled students when they build new parts of the
campus or change existing buildings.
Nadia : That‘s excellent.
Leila : When I finished studying, I got a job at a charity which helps disabled young
people find jobs. That was really interesting.
Nadia : But, now you campaign for equal opportunities for a wider range of people – not
just people with disabilities – is that right?
Leila : Yes, that‘s right. Now I work for an organisation called Open Eyes which
campaigns in lots of different areas. We try to ensure that people who are
different to other people, in one way or another, still have the same chances in
life.
Nadia : That sounds like great work to be doing, but is there anything you don‘t like
about your job?
Leila : Well, I don‘t like it when you think you‘re going to succeed, but, in the end, you
don‘t. And, of course, not all of our work is exciting. We have to do paperwork
too, you know!Drill 2
Use these words to complete the defnitions.
activist campaign highs and lows ramp1 The ............................. of something refer to successful and unsuccessful times.
2 To ............................. is to work in an organised way to change things.
3 A / An ............................. is a sloping surface joining two places of different levels.
4 A / An ............................. is someone who tries to change things.
Listen again. Choose the correct word or phrase to complete the sentences.
4 The presenter says that Leila has been working with charity organisations for almost two / ten
years.
2 Leila says that she comes from Alexandria / Cairo.
3 Leila‘s friend at university was having problems in the classroom/going to class.
4 Leila asked teachers / other students to change things at her university.
5 In her first job, Leila helped disabled people find jobs / study at a university.
6 In her current job, Leila helps people in one area / many areas.