The Migrants Organise Community Leadership Academy kicks off again in London this September.
The academy is a nine month action-based programme, focused on building the power of migrant and refugee leaders to take public action within communities. Campaigns and actions are shaped by leaders and depend upon the issues facing their community, whether it’s tackling racism and hate crime, campaigning for refugee resettlement or increasing the voter turn-out of migrant and refugee communities. The idea is to find an issue that matters to a group, and then build common ground to organise actions across different communities.
We’re looking for new leaders to join us- apply before August 30th or email ffion@migrantsorganise.org for more info. As more than ever, this country needs an organised movement of migrants and refugees, and allies, who are powerful enough to ensure our politicians – and the public – build a welcoming society.
Want to hear more? Read on to hear from Marta Sordyl, a Migrants Organise member who developed volunteers within the Polish community in South London to lead their own actions and events to strengthen participation in local life.
”My name is Marta Sordyl and I can proudly say that participating in Migrants Organise’s Community Leadership Academy has been one of the best experiences ever!
I came across about the training in 2015 just when I had started working as a Polish Community Development Worker at Stockwell Partnership. At first I was very keen on finding out more about what this training could do for me on a professional level, but soon after I discovered that the Migrants Organise is a very special place to be in.
After one or two first sessions my curiosity towards learning new skills and more about theories and practises of Leadership has developed into gaining more insight into myself as a community organiser. I felt like all the jigsaws in my head about my role, myself and working with the fantastic Polish community started to form a clearer picture of what and how I could put in place project I was working on.
Mentoring session provided by experts helped me to design interesting activities and run community action projects more effectively. All the support given by fantastic session facilitators, not only highly knowledgeable but also experienced, contributed a lot to how I feel about myself these days as I became much more confident community leader since joining the Academy.
For me this is also the place where I have met the most inspiring and dedicated campaigners from all over the world- Somalia, Syria, Romania, Bulgaria, Democratic Republic of Congo to name but a few. Meeting these brave, creative people full of compassion toward others, who like myself had their own reason behind joining the Academy, encouraged me to do more and standing up brave behind what I believe.
I would recommend the Community Leadership Academy to anyone from migrant backgrounds working with migrant and refugee communities in London, especially to people like me who once had had a vision, commitment and willingness to do things, but not necessarily knew how to apply this into action.
And for sure- you won’t find out what this might bring for you until you will try yourself!”
********************************************************************************************************************************
Will you join us? Click here to apply by August 30th. If you have any questions or need more info contact ffion@migrantsorganise.org or call 07963 438073
Migrants Organise is platform where migrants and refugees act for justice. If you would like to shape next year’s campaigns and hear more about our work please contact ffion@migrantsorganise.org (if based in London) or jessica@migrantsorganise.org (if outside of London)
