Amani Simpson: Championing hope and opportunity for young people

Seven years ago, Amani Simpson became widely known in youth circles after releasing Amani, an autobiographical film recounting how he survived being stabbed and left for dead as a teenager. The film has since gained over four million views on YouTube. He now leads youth initiatives through his CIC, AVIARD Inspires, and serves as a school governor, college trustee, and board member of a leading Christian media production company. A Christian, he recently released Paying It Forward, documenting The AMANI Project, a mentoring programme for teenagers seeking a second chance, delivered in partnership with Goldman Sachs and Hogan Lovells. A husband and father, Amani spoke to Keep The Faith about his life, faith and his hopes for young people.

KEEP THE FAITH (KTF): Your new documentary Paying It Forward centres on young people finding belief, direction and second chances. What inspired you to produce this project and what kind of response has it generated?
AMANI SIMPSON (AS): Paying It Forward was inspired by my own lived experience of what my mentor did for me when I was 16; stepping away from a season of criminality; and looking for hope and a tangible opportunity that things could be different. I know what it feels like to be written off. I also know what it feels like when one person decides not to define you by your worst decisions. That intervention didn’t just support me in the moment; it changed the direction of my life.

The response has been humbling. Hearing the stories of young people, their parents and members of the community, who have sent me heartfelt messages about the impact the programme has had on them – but also now being able to follow the mentees’ journeys through the documentary and to hear their voices directly – is something I don’t take for granted. Watching them see themselves on screen and realise that their story matters has been powerful.

KTF: Your debut short film Amani has had over four million YouTube views. How did sharing such a vulnerable part of your teenage years impact your life and the path you have taken?
AS: It has fundamentally changed the direction of my life. I don’t take for granted that people see me as a role model, and, to an extent, even a celebrity. But that can definitely get to your head if you aren’t being driven by purpose and what Yahweh has actually asked you to do. I’ve had to make a conscious decision to do as much work as I can in private, in order to put myself in the best position for public life.

So, I decided to go to therapy, and it was a game-changer. I did therapy before I became a dad, and I went back and spoke to my parents. I was able to see things from their perspective in a way I hadn’t before. It allowed us to draw a line under certain parts of our story and begin creating new memories in unity. My daughter will now grow up seeing a unified relationship between me and my parents, and that is not something I take for granted.

KTF: Surviving being stabbed seven times is a life-altering experience. What role did faith play in bringing you through that difficult time, and how do you now interpret that moment in the context of faith, purpose and God’s hand on your life?
AS: When I got stabbed, it was a really dark time and experience. I remember my life flashing before my eyes. My mum came to the scene and was crying and praying in tongues, and all I could reach for was God, because that’s how I had been raised.

I remember saying: “I wish there was something else I could be proud of. I wish there were things I could achieve that I haven’t achieved yet. Can You give me another chance? And if You do, I will live to serve You and steer young people away from darkness.” That was my promise. Afterwards, I had depression, anxiety and PTSD. I had thoughts of revenge. But, because I knew about forgiveness and understood the power of God’s hand on your life and the purpose that can come from pain, I was able to let it go. That journey eventually culminated in me being baptised in 2014, but in the lead-up to that, I had a lot of questions.

KTF: Easter is a season of redemption, resurrection and new beginnings. How does the Easter message connect with your own journey of recovery, restoration and second chances?AS: The Easter message, for me, is deeply personal. Redemption isn’t just a theological word; it’s something I’ve experienced many times. There have been so many moments in my life where I’ve been restored, where I’ve been redeemed. Easter reminds us not just of resurrection, but of suffering. Sometimes, we focus so much on the victory that we forget what Jesus actually went through. I was listening to a sermon recently that unpacked in detail what Christ endured, and it hit me again that He didn’t have to do it. He could have called down a legion of angels. He could have ended it. But He chose to endure it for us.

KTF: You work closely with young people, some dealing with the same challenges you once did. What are their biggest struggles and how are you able to help them?
AS: I think one of the biggest challenges young people face now is the narrative that tells them who they are before they’ve had a chance to decide for themselves. From the economy, to housing, to jobs, to knife crime, exploitation, grooming, mental health struggles and everything in between, these narratives are constantly placed on young people. And, when you begin to internalise that as your identity, it can have a serious impact on how you see yourself and your place in the world.

So, I’m very intentional about counteracting that narrative. I’m actively working to introduce positive, asset-based messages that remind young people that more is possible for them.

KTF: In Paying It Forward, belief plays a central role. How do you help young people believe in themselves when life has repeatedly told them they won’t succeed?
AS: I think self-belief and confidence are built on the ability to reference moments in your life where you’ve achieved something. Even small wins matter. So, part of what I try to do is create spaces where young people can be celebrated and can achieve, because when that happens, confidence grows. And when confidence grows, momentum follows. And once momentum builds, your worldview starts to shift. You begin to think, ‘Maybe this is who I am. Maybe I am capable. Maybe I can do more.’

When you bring those things together – celebration, opportunity, consistent relationships, affirmation – it begins to rewire how a young person thinks.

KTF: As patron of The Amani Project, what impact are you most proud of, and what does meaningful change look like when working with young people at risk?
AS: I’m proud of the fact that we’ve supported 101 young people through the programme, but, more than the number, I’m proud that for many of them we are the first rung on the ladder. We are the ones who lean in when others have rejected them. I know the value of that because I experienced it at 16. Everywhere else, my reputation had gone before me. But one college teacher leaned in and said: “I don’t care what anyone else has said about you. I’m going to judge you on who you decide to be from today going forward.” That shift changed everything for me.

When we offer that same posture to a young person who feels like the odds are stacked against them; it gives them permission to dream. It empowers them to try. It supports them as they begin carving out a future they can be proud of.

KTF: In what ways do you feel churches could better support young people?
AS: I think the Church is uniquely placed to be a safe haven for young people who are looking for more. But it has to be done in a genuine “come as you are, we will meet you where you’re at” kind of way.

There needs to be more real conversation and vulnerability in church spaces. What’s needed are leaders and communities willing to journey with young people, flaws and all. Showing that, by the grace of God, you are who you are. Not pretending perfection, but modelling growth. That’s what we need more of in church.

KTF: You are now a husband and a father. How has family life reshaped your priorities and your faith?
AS: I’ve been married for just under 10 years and I’ve been with my wife for 18 years, so she really is my queen and my life partner. Being blessed with a baby girl completes our family. I feel deeply honoured to be given the responsibility to steward my family.

The work I do in the community is great and inspiring, but the work I do in private with my family is far more important. I don’t want my daughter to grow up not knowing me because I was busy raising everyone else’s children. I don’t want my wife to only see me working, not making time for her and not sharing the load at home. That reality has forced me to prioritise differently and to think in systems, to delegate well and to manage the multiple responsibilities I carry as best as I can.

KTF: Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the next generation of young people you serve, and the kind of society you want them to grow up in?
AS: I would love to see a world marked by peace, equality and nurture. But I’m also very conscious of what the Bible says about the End Times. So, alongside that desire for peace, I want to see young people raised up as soldiers in the army of the Lord. Bold in faith. Willing to reclaim territory. Willing to share the Gospel. Willing to walk alongside those who need hope, encouragement and resources.

I want young people to grow up believing that more is possible for them, no matter their starting point in life. Seeing the impact my film has had tells me there is space for more stories to be told – stories that give hope, shift narratives and challenge mindsets.

Visit www.amanisimpson.com
Paying It Forward can be viewed on YouTube