The Croydon community gathered on Friday 27th September, to honour the memory of Elianne Andam, a 15-year-old girl tragically lost to knife crime on her way to school, marking the one-year anniversary of her death.
During the event, a mural was unveiled in Elianne’s memory, featuring her portrait alongside ceramic tiles engraved with adjectives chosen by her loved ones to describe her. The mural, created by local artist Alec Saunders, is located outside the Whitgift Shopping Centre on Wellesley Road.
The mural site also includes a bench once used by Elianne and her friends, donated by Old Palace of John Whitgift School, where Elianne was a student. A stone plaque, crafted by stonemason Ivan Cudby, and a wall plaque with Elianne’s photo and a message from her family are also part of the memorial, along with planters filled with wildflowers.
To support the local community and promote safety, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield has commissioned HERSANA CIC, a non-profit organisation that supports Black women and girls affected by gender-based violence, to deliver Bystander Intervention Training. This training, in honour of Elianne’s legacy, aims to equip businesses, community groups, and the public with the skills to identify and safely intervene in instances of anti-social behaviour, sexual harassment, and misogyny.
Elianne’s cousin, Denzil Larbi, Minister of West Croydon Baptist Church, shared a heartfelt statement at the event, saying: “Elianne’s brutal murder has shattered our family... Tragically, we are not alone... Knife crime continues to devastate communities.” He added, “Elianne’s memory will endure... Her spirit, her joy, and her compassion are woven into the fabric of our lives, every single day.”
The unveiling was organised with contributions from many local partners, including Elianne’s family, the Metropolitan Police, Mayor Jason Perry & Croydon Council, Sarah Jones MP, John Whitgift Foundation, and Croydon BME Forum, alongside artist Alec Saunders, stonemason Ivan Cudby, and community organisations such as HERSANA CIC and Croydon Bid.
Jason Perry, Mayor of Croydon, said: “The loss of Elianne has rippled across our community... Elianne’s passing must continue to remind us of our duty to protect our young people. Violence against women and girls has no place in our society.”
A family member of Elianne added: “Elianne’s death has left a hole in all of our hearts, a hole that can never be fixed... This memorial has been made with so much love, which reflects the type of person Elianne was. The community needs to come together to put an end to knife crime once and for all.”
