Boris Johnson: Forget Africa, tackle urban jungle on gap year

The Mayor mocked wealthy students who "do a gap yah in Tanzani-ah" and said they would achieve more tackling poverty and gang crime in the capital.

His comments came as he launched City Year London, a volunteering scheme for young Londoners that has been imported from America. Red-jacketed volunteers will spend 10 months as mentors in five primary schools in deprived areas of Islington, Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

Mr Johnson, who was presented with his own red jacket at a City Hall reception last night, told the 50 participants: "I hope that across London and across Britain, young people will look at all of you and be impressed by your example. I hope they are going to do something original and different and think: I'm not going to do a gap yah in Tanzani-ah, I'm going to help young people in my city of London, where there is poverty and deprivation — that I, as a young person here in this city, can help to address.'" It began as a pilot scheme this year, offering opportunities to young Londoners, many of whom had tough upbringings of their own.

It has attracted millions in funding from City firms and the Mayor's charitable fund. Volunteers receive expenses plus a £1,000 grant at the end of the course. The five participating schools are Hugh Myddelton and St Luke's in Islington, Sebright and Whitmore in Hackney and St Anne's in Tower Hamlets.

In America, the volunteers' work in the classroom and at after-school clubs has raised attainment and cut discipline problems. The scheme was set up in London by the Private Equity Foundation, which works with Britain's young people not in education, employment or training. Foundation chief executive Shaks Ghosh said: "We were looking for a charity which would empower young people from all backgrounds through the simple act of giving back'."