Is it possible for one individual to make a change in today’s world? According to the testimony of nine keynote speakers at a conference in London on June 4th 2005, there was no doubt as to the answer.
The conference, held at the Initiatives of Change centre in London, was on the theme of ‘People making a difference: from the personal to the global’. Personal accounts and anecdotes from Africa, Asia, Latin America and Britain attested to the theme that change, at the national or international level, must first start within the mind and heart of the individual. The speakers told astonishing stories of how they were putting change into practice not only in their own lives, but in the lives of thousands of people around the world.
Lawrence Fearon, co-ordinator of a national ‘Hope in the Cities’ programme, spoke of his personal commitment to change when he asked himself: ‘Who am I? Who am I really?’ He said that his realisation that what he had become was not the person who he was meant to be, had led to a drastic change in his life. ‘This personal change was immediate and directly connected with the world around me. Lives needed to change if something was to be done about the social, economic and moral problems and tensions around me.’ Fearon’s change resulted in a vision for his local North London community, the founding of the largest local community-led project in Europe at Bridge Park and the launch of a ‘Hope in the Cities’ programme in the UK. ‘By creating inclusive communities and trust-based relationships where all are valued, everyone is empowered to fulfil their potential,’ he said.
Abdi Gure from Somalia told how, over the past eight years, he has helped to build the Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Organisations in West London, serving some 10,000 Somalis. It is the first Somali umbrella organisation in the UK. ‘Estimates are that there are some 150,000 Somalis living in London. They never had a voice; they did not organise themselves. Through our umbrella group, Somalis now have access to all service providers and partnerships have been created with educational groups, drug treatment centres and youth centres. We aim to be a model organisation in the United Kingdom.’
Amina Dikedi from Nigeria, organiser of an All-African Clean Africa Campaign, emphasised that change must first happen in one’s mind and heart, when she talked of ‘the plight of the downtrodden’. ‘I felt disillusionment for my country and I blamed our leaders.’ But ‘a personal journey started some 18 years back when someone said: “If you want to see your nation change, the best place to start is with yourself”.’ Amina has made a difference – in being part of a Clean Africa Campaign which is a concerted effort by Africans to find home-grown solutions to their problems; by conducting leadership training programs throughout the continent; and by speaking out. ‘My role is to encourage people on to the right track, to speak out and to forgive both African and world leaders for wrong past policies.’ The proposed modern Marshall Plan for Africa was an opportunity to reverse the fortunes of a continent, she said.
During a three-month sabbatical to India, Cambridge Evening News reporter Pam Jenner, who is a trained counsellor, said she ‘was frequently astounded and humbled by the dedication of many Indian people to improving the lives of others, despite their own hardships.’ She worked on a project in rural Tamil Nadu, where disabled children and young people are given free education, medical treatment, career training and equipment to help them lead fulfilling lives. Pam said she felt even more humble when she found that ‘the project had been set up by a man paralysed from the neck down and another with muscular dystrophy. Together they realised their dream of creating a Valley for the Disabled’. Counselling became Pam’s gift to the Valley. ‘Every night I had girls queuing up to see me. Ten minutes were the most I could give but I felt so helpless. What on earth could I do in 10 minutes? But many of the girls said that just by being able to talk I had helped them find ways of overcoming problems’. Pam’s quick diagnosis of extreme anaemia in one girl led to a review of all their health conditions and resulted in a change in their bland diet to include dates and bananas. ‘When I was young, I arrogantly believed I could change the world. Now I know only too well that change has to start with me,’ she said.
Mary Lean, editor of For A Change magazine, spoke about the ‘gift’ of listening. She is also vice-chair of the Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group which gives support to asylum seekers held in Tinsley House at Gatwick. ‘Often all we can do is to listen, but it’s amazing how much that means to people. ‘The people we encounter are often in deep distress and there’s often little we can do to help them. Only last weekend I was talking to a man who was in tears about his family on the outside – his wife is seven months pregnant, his son is 15 months, and his three year old daughter saved jelly in the fridge for him when he was taken into detention five weeks ago. ‘And of course listening—both to other people, and to the inner voice—is something anyone can do. It’s the key to making a difference,’ Mary added.
‘What kind of difference do we want to make?’ asked Dr Philip Boobbyer, Senior Lecturer in Modern European History at the University of Kent. He suggested we follow the lead of MRA founder Frank Buchman, and set aside time each morning for meditation and to listen to the voice of God. ‘I find that the quiet time is vital for getting perspectives on issues. I don’t find all the answers there, but I do find some of them. It is helpful for prioritising. If we are to make a difference in the world, we may have to say no to things as well as yes,’ he said. Quoting from the recently republished The Morning Quiet Time by Jack Winslow, Boobbyer said, ‘Winslow emphasises that people who are in touch with God can bring a new spirit into the world. We can, once freed of some of the wrong things that tie us down, play a role in healing some of our society’s wounds.’
Eve Wojciechowska, a website designer from Canada, told of the profound effect that a recent 10-day visit to Rwanda had on her. ‘The stories and experiences freely shared (by the people of Rwanda) with us were deeply moving, disturbing and sometimes almost unbelievable in their revelation of the darker side of humanity. And yet, I have come away from Rwanda with a sense of hope ……Rwanda is a country full of people making a difference.’
Afternoon workshops were chaired by Denzil Nurse, Huddersfield (Nurturing a heart and soul for Europe); Keith Last, Sheffield (Making family relationships work); Kojo Jantuah, Ghana (Bridging religious and ethnic divides); and David Curtis, Sheffield (What is Initiatives of Change?). Neil Mence
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