“If you are a player, you make change happen.
If you are an observer, you watch it happen.” – Neil Jameson CBE, Executive Director
of Citizens UK
I
am in a mixed feeling as I write this piece to pay tribute to Neil Jameson, one
of the best human beings I have ever met in my life. Sad that he is stepping
back from the organising work he has been doing for over 30 years. Sad that relational
person, one of the kindest folks you can ever meet will not be around when you
go to the office. Sad that the man who is not only the founder, Executive
Director of Citizens UK and the most senior community organiser in the country,
but also a good friend to all the staff members has decided to step back. Yes,
Neil is stepping back, as he wants to call it, as of 1st September
2018. But I am glad that he will have
more time to support the work of our new and young foundation, Sponsor Refugees
and the wider Community Sponsorship movement. I will have more of Neil’s time
to hear from his bank of stories and get even more inspired.
I
met Neil over 10 years ago. Then I was a stranger. Someone stuck in the
immigration system. Waiting and waiting
and waiting. Those days were challenging for me in life, but I wasn’t alone.
There were a lot of people that were stuck in the system and waiting for
decisions from the home office. That was when we had the Strangers into
Citizens campaign that was led by the then Citizen Organising Foundation. A campaign that changed the lives of many, but not talked
about that much.
I
was thus given opportunity to join the National Residential training that took
place from 10th – 14th March 2008 at Chigwell Convent in
East London. I was invited
to the training by Jonathan Cox, who is now Deputy Director of Citizens UK. He
was then the Co-ordinator of The Independent Asylum Commission. That training changed my life for ever. That was a turning point
for me. Prior to that training, my campaigns were not that organised.
I was rather a lone wolf who often took time to write about the human rights
situation in Ethiopia and on issues related to asylum, immigration and the need
for democracy in Africa. A bit disorganised. That was then.
In
March 2011, I joined Citizens UK as a Community Organiser. This rewarding job
brings me in touch with people from across the world who relentlessly work hard
to change the world. I have gone from being a detainee at Harmondsworth
detention centre to spending time at Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University
studying Global Change and Leadership. In 2017 Neil encouraged me to put in application for Churchill Fellowship. After lots of contemplation, I decided to go for it. Luckily I made it and became one of the 2018 Churchill Fellows and have since traveled to Canada to do research as a fellow. All this wouldn’t have happened
had it not been for Citizens UK, its founder and Executive Director, Neil
Jameson. I am so grateful and will remain so.
The
community Organising world will be missing Neil enormously. It will be tough
not to have the gentle giant of Community Organising around. Tears may not come
out of my eyes, but my heart and the hearts of many other colleagues and
leaders will weep and cry in silence. Because we will be missing the father of Community Organising in the UK.
Kudos
to you Neil. Thank you for all you have done for me and many others and for
your dedication and unwavering commitment for social justice. The world is a
better place because of people like you.
