KARIBUNI – WELCOME – KARIBUNI – WELCOME
TAREHE 25/10/09 – TIME: 2.30PM
IMANI MISSION CONGREGATION (LUTHERAN)
MCHUNGAJI TUMAINI KALLAGHE,
VIONGOZI NA WAUMINI WA IBADA YA KISWAHILI READING WANACHUKUA NAFASI HII KUWAKARIBISHA KWENYE UFUNGUZI RASMI WA IBADA HII UTAKAOFANYWA NA ASKOFU JANA JERUMA GRINBERGA WA KANISA LA KILUTHERI UINGEREZA
IBADA ITAFANYIKA
ODD FELLOWS HALL
118 OXFORD ROAD
READING
RG1 7NQ
KUANZIA SAA 8.30 MCHANA (14.30PM)
“Kwa sababu ndivyo tulivyoamriwa na Bwana, …… Neno la Bwana likaenea katika nchi ile yote” Matendo:13:47 - 49
Ukishuka stesheni chukua basi nos: 16 or 15 kisha ushuke Waylene bus stop Oxford Road
For information: mchungaji@stanneslutheranchurch.org
Mchungaji: Tel.07983087998/Aljanes Luiza(Baba Ian)- 07900008211
A terrible accident at oxford circus in London
Photo: Ayoub mzeeThe politics of hope, not hate.
Next Thursday culminates in the battle of the politics of hope versus the politics of hate.
As the BNP look set to make a controversial appearance on the BBC’s Question Time programme, Operation Black Vote will counter their politics of hate by unveiling a new generation of political activists.
In partnership with the Government Equalities Office, Operation Black Vote will launch the country’s first national BME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme. Unified in their desire to bring positive change, sixty women from BME communities across the country have been selected to take part in this ground-breaking leadership programme.
The cross-party initiative is designed to demystify the role of councillors and open up the functions of local government to allow greater diversity and help tackle the under-representation of BME women within the UK’s elected Council Chambers. Out of 20,000 Councillors around 149 are BME women, representing less than 1% of Councillors nationally[1]. Figures published by the LGA show that local councils are dominated by councillors who are white males above the age of fifty, meaning that many of the communities they serve are under-represented in the democratic process.
The sixty participants will shadow mentor councillors for 4-6 days over a six-month period and learn about the roles and responsibilities of a councillor. The experience will equip and motivate them to become actively involved in local politics and gain the confidence to stand as candidates to represent all communities as councillors in the decision making process. In addition, the scheme will also give serving councillors the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the diverse communities they seek to serve.
OBV view this process of wider political engagement as essential to a vibrant democracy, the benefits of which will be experienced by all communities.
Francine Fernandes, Head of Shadowing Schemes said, “Wasting so much talent for Operation Black Vote is not an option. Our communities, our institutions and wider society greatly benefit from utilising the deluge of BME talent within the political arena. The outcome of these women taking their place in local governance will without doubt, transform their locality and greatly enhance our democracy. “
The launch will take place from 4.00pm - 6.00pm on Thursday 22nd October 2009 in the Members Dining Room, Houses of Parliament, London. Key note speakers include: Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman QC MP, Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, Rt. Hon. David Lammy MP and Shahid Malik MP.
END
NOTE TO EDITORS:
1. Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign. The term “Black” is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities. For more information about OBV visit http://www.obv.org.uk/
2. The Operation Black Vote Shadowing Scheme is the first to specifically target ethnic minorities. The Shadows commit at least six working days to the project over the next six months. This is a voluntary programme and participants do not receive any remuneration, bar basic expenses.
3. Over 30 local authorities will participate in the initiative.
4. The Councillor Shadowing Scheme was first implemented in 2005/6 in Bristol and was awarded the Local Government Chronicle Award in 2006 for ‘Supporting Local Democracy’ and was highly commended for the ‘Community Involvement’ category. The LGC Awards are a national award which recognizes and rewards initiatives of excellence (http://www.lgcawards.com/). The Councillor Shadowing Scheme has been cited as a leading model to be used by both the Councillors Commission and the Audit Commission.
5. This year only around 149 out of 19,617 councillors across England are minority ethnic women, compared with 164 in 2006. This represents less than one per cent of all councillors, when minority ethnic women make up more than five per cent of the population. To fully reflect society the number of female minority ethnic councillors would have to rise nearer to 1000.
6. The number of white women councillors across England however has increased by around 283 since 2006 to 5,606 – making up nearly a third of all councillors. While progress has been made, white women are still under-represented as they make up about 45 per cent of England’s population.
7. Wales and Scotland[2] have no female black or Asian councillors at all, despite having a BAME women population of 30,510 and 49,769 respectively[2]. This compares with white women making up 25 per cent of councillors in Wales and 23 per cent in Scotland.
8. An additional 50 women who are not selected for the programme will be offered a place on the Solace First Certificate in Community Leadership
[1] Please note caution should be applied when using these figures which should be treated as estimates only. (Government Equalities Office)
Next Thursday culminates in the battle of the politics of hope versus the politics of hate.
As the BNP look set to make a controversial appearance on the BBC’s Question Time programme, Operation Black Vote will counter their politics of hate by unveiling a new generation of political activists.
In partnership with the Government Equalities Office, Operation Black Vote will launch the country’s first national BME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme. Unified in their desire to bring positive change, sixty women from BME communities across the country have been selected to take part in this ground-breaking leadership programme.
The cross-party initiative is designed to demystify the role of councillors and open up the functions of local government to allow greater diversity and help tackle the under-representation of BME women within the UK’s elected Council Chambers. Out of 20,000 Councillors around 149 are BME women, representing less than 1% of Councillors nationally[1]. Figures published by the LGA show that local councils are dominated by councillors who are white males above the age of fifty, meaning that many of the communities they serve are under-represented in the democratic process.
The sixty participants will shadow mentor councillors for 4-6 days over a six-month period and learn about the roles and responsibilities of a councillor. The experience will equip and motivate them to become actively involved in local politics and gain the confidence to stand as candidates to represent all communities as councillors in the decision making process. In addition, the scheme will also give serving councillors the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the diverse communities they seek to serve.
OBV view this process of wider political engagement as essential to a vibrant democracy, the benefits of which will be experienced by all communities.
Francine Fernandes, Head of Shadowing Schemes said, “Wasting so much talent for Operation Black Vote is not an option. Our communities, our institutions and wider society greatly benefit from utilising the deluge of BME talent within the political arena. The outcome of these women taking their place in local governance will without doubt, transform their locality and greatly enhance our democracy. “
The launch will take place from 4.00pm - 6.00pm on Thursday 22nd October 2009 in the Members Dining Room, Houses of Parliament, London. Key note speakers include: Rt. Hon. Harriet Harman QC MP, Rt. Hon. Ed Balls MP, Rt. Hon. David Lammy MP and Shahid Malik MP.
END
NOTE TO EDITORS:
1. Operation Black Vote is a non-party political campaign. The term “Black” is a political term. It refers to African, Asian, Caribbean and other ethnic minorities. For more information about OBV visit http://www.obv.org.uk/
2. The Operation Black Vote Shadowing Scheme is the first to specifically target ethnic minorities. The Shadows commit at least six working days to the project over the next six months. This is a voluntary programme and participants do not receive any remuneration, bar basic expenses.
3. Over 30 local authorities will participate in the initiative.
4. The Councillor Shadowing Scheme was first implemented in 2005/6 in Bristol and was awarded the Local Government Chronicle Award in 2006 for ‘Supporting Local Democracy’ and was highly commended for the ‘Community Involvement’ category. The LGC Awards are a national award which recognizes and rewards initiatives of excellence (http://www.lgcawards.com/). The Councillor Shadowing Scheme has been cited as a leading model to be used by both the Councillors Commission and the Audit Commission.
5. This year only around 149 out of 19,617 councillors across England are minority ethnic women, compared with 164 in 2006. This represents less than one per cent of all councillors, when minority ethnic women make up more than five per cent of the population. To fully reflect society the number of female minority ethnic councillors would have to rise nearer to 1000.
6. The number of white women councillors across England however has increased by around 283 since 2006 to 5,606 – making up nearly a third of all councillors. While progress has been made, white women are still under-represented as they make up about 45 per cent of England’s population.
7. Wales and Scotland[2] have no female black or Asian councillors at all, despite having a BAME women population of 30,510 and 49,769 respectively[2]. This compares with white women making up 25 per cent of councillors in Wales and 23 per cent in Scotland.
8. An additional 50 women who are not selected for the programme will be offered a place on the Solace First Certificate in Community Leadership
[1] Please note caution should be applied when using these figures which should be treated as estimates only. (Government Equalities Office)
