I am over 40, I come from Nigeria and I have a beautiful wife. Haringey has been my home for 14 years now, and I really love it. As a borough it’s a wonderful, very welcoming place for almost everyone. You can easily find lots of mixed nationalities, different activities, and all the facilities are close by. Of course, the area also has some bad sides. But the community is so vibrant, you really feel at home.
My organization is called Praisetek. What we do, is to go on the street and talk to people who are involved in drugs and prostitution, we ask them why that is. We go to them to let them know that they are not alone, that there is someone to listen to them. Besides, most of the people in Praisetek have a background in the street as well, and have overcome it successfully. So now we want to encourage these people towards a better life, out of crime. For example, we talked to a lady who had been a prostitute on the same spot of Haringey for 5 years, and today she is a qualified, professional hairdresser. In fact, we try to find businesses for these people t reintegrate in society, when they come out of marihuana, cocaine etc.
We are called Praisetek as opposed to Discoteque, because one of our aims is also to introduce people to God and his love. Every last Sunday on the month, as well, we have a “lightclub”, as opposed to nightclub, when you can dance with music and so on. This is because you don’t have to be in the darkness to enjoy yourself and to have fun. Most of the times, for these people darkness would mean taking drugs, but we aim to show them that it is possible to entertain yourself without harming, or offending, the community and yourself.
As an advice to young leader I would suggest they go out and meet their communities. Some people are neglected by society and if you don’t go after them, there will be more and more in the years to come. Go on the street! Which fish are you going to catch if you’re sitting in your room? Go to the river!
My organization is called Praisetek. What we do, is to go on the street and talk to people who are involved in drugs and prostitution, we ask them why that is. We go to them to let them know that they are not alone, that there is someone to listen to them. Besides, most of the people in Praisetek have a background in the street as well, and have overcome it successfully. So now we want to encourage these people towards a better life, out of crime. For example, we talked to a lady who had been a prostitute on the same spot of Haringey for 5 years, and today she is a qualified, professional hairdresser. In fact, we try to find businesses for these people t reintegrate in society, when they come out of marihuana, cocaine etc.
We are called Praisetek as opposed to Discoteque, because one of our aims is also to introduce people to God and his love. Every last Sunday on the month, as well, we have a “lightclub”, as opposed to nightclub, when you can dance with music and so on. This is because you don’t have to be in the darkness to enjoy yourself and to have fun. Most of the times, for these people darkness would mean taking drugs, but we aim to show them that it is possible to entertain yourself without harming, or offending, the community and yourself.
As an advice to young leader I would suggest they go out and meet their communities. Some people are neglected by society and if you don’t go after them, there will be more and more in the years to come. Go on the street! Which fish are you going to catch if you’re sitting in your room? Go to the river!
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