RAJAH THANGARAJAH

Don’t create needs for yourself and try to serve other people.

KIM COHERTY

England, 42, married

I was born in Haringey and lived in the borough for the first 21 years of my life. It is a place that is full of amazing people. That is what I love most about Haringey: the people, their generosity and the talented young people

I work for ComeUnity and I do it because I want to see lives changed, people doing what they were created to do. Everything is possible for the one who believes

I would encourage future leaders to step out in faith, you just don't know what is inside you or what you are able to do until you step out in faith...and enjoy the journey!!!

PASTOR ALEX GYASI

I'm the pastor of the Highway Of Holiness Church and I love living in Haringey because it's very rich in cultures and points of view.
I started working with homeless last summer, when two men came to my church and asked for help. I provided them food, which was their most immediate need. After a week taking care of them, I decided to offer my church to sleep, as well. In time, I realised that they couldn't apply for jobs because of their appearance, so I decided to turn one of our toilets into a shower which they could use. It really improved their self-esteem and confidence and made us realise that small things can make such a big difference.
Now, the church has been open to homeless during the whole winter, we've had up to 40 people sleeping in our floor. It's really grateful to see how helping people improve their lives. Some of them got a job and once they earned enough money they rent a flat and leave. We help people to begin a new life providing activities, English lessons and meetings. This work has been the most challenging to date.

CLIMACO MEDINA

Colombia, married (2 children)

I volunteer in Casa de la Salud Hispano Americana, I am in charge of the various workshops we offer related to healthy eating and exercising. Besides helping people from Haringey, in this association we try to educate them too, so they grow comfortable with a healthy lifestyle. We try to prevent diabetes, high cholesterol… The daily problems nobody pays attention to, but which are at the same time cause of the main illness in England. My aim is to promote a healthy lifestyle among the Latin American community in Haringey. Though, at the same, time everybody is welcome to attend our workshops.

I have been living in Haringey for a long time now and I doubt I will leave this borough. There are still a lot of things to do and many lessons to learn from the people living here.

TERESA ECHEVERRI

Colombia, married (2 children)

I’m a doctor and I’ve been working in the voluntary sector for more than 10 years. I am the founder and manager of Casa de la Salud Hispano Americana. Haringey has big problems related with health inequalities and our organization is contributing to tackling inequalities in this issue. We provide health advice and information. We also help with the advancement of education in language and communication skills and with the provision of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation.

Working as a volunteer is very important because you can help many people who are in need. But the job that I do in Casa de la Salud Hispano Americana helps me too, because I can develop my skills as a professional. It is a process of everyday learning from each other.
Our country and especially locals need people like us to do the job because volunteers are in extinction. It does not matter where you are from or where you live, next to you there is someone who need you. Give a hand. I chose to help in Haringey, because I love it,
it is my second home, where I have my friends and connections.

LIVINGSTON GILCHRIST

Jamaica, married (2 daughters)


I work as a coach in MLB learning solutions. We provide workshops to unemployed people. We teach them how to face interviews, write CVs or even develop a business. We act as a link between them and employers, as well.

It’s very gratifying for me to see how people grow up in confidence and start smiling. Many people come here frustrated and, consequently, unable to solve their problems. Here they share their thoughts and worries and we help them by teaching them how to be self sufficient. They start thinking about what makes them happy and we try to make them feel capable of achieve their goals.

I do this as a vocation to help people to improve their lives. As a Christian, I’m very strong about loving other people, and improve the world as a our home. I believe passionately that what we do is making a difference.

Haringey is a very diverse borough with a strong feeling of community. You go through the market and you see people preparing their own country food or listening to their music, it is just wonderful. Here you can celebrate whatever culture you are from.

CHEMPABEN PATEL

India, married (2 children)

I’ve lived in Haringey since 1972 when I first came to this country. I love this borough because I know where to find everything and all the shopping areas are close from home.
I went to the Asian Carers Support group because I have a disability in my hip and I have to help to my blind husband to use the bathroom upstairs several times a day. When the Council denied me the help to build a bathroom downstairs, they helped me dealing with the Council again and again until I got the funding to build it. Now I feel safer at home because I don’t have to suffer each time my husband has to go to the bathroom.
I really appreciate the help of the ACS group volunteers because they have improved my life. That is why I collaborate with them to improve the lives of others (including those under my care).

MINA PATTEL

India


I came to Haringey in 1989 and now I’m the responsible of the Asian Carers Support Group. We help elderly Asian people who can’t express themselves in English to solve their problems and feel cared. These people are carers and thus can have tough moments and need support.
Many of them feel isolated because of the language, so we provide them a place to speak their own language with other people and also we offer them help to communicate in English. We give them a voice. And we are a meeting point for them, as well. They spend their leisure time here playing cards or just exchanging stories. We give them a reason not to stay at home all day long. People’s response, the satisfaction and the happiness they show is what keeps me going.

If you have a problem, as they do with the language, do something to find a solution, never give up.

Haringey is good for elderly people, they would do more for them here than in other boroughs. In a way is good, because you become one.

HADIYA H - SAID

Somalia-Tanzania, married (2 children)

I’m the founder of African Women Welfare Association. We provide help to different African women who come at first to this country and can’t speak English or even read or write. We try to encourage them to leave their homes and come out, so they can integrate to their new society. Our aim now is to work together with other women’s organisations.

The reason why I do this job is because I’m a woman. Where I come from women are not given any chances, they are not equal and they suffer. Since my childhood I was thinking that I should change this situation. Helping women is empowering the family. When you empower the family, you empower society, you empower everybody. And this makes me feel satisfied.

What I like most in Haringey is that you can find people from everywhere in the world, and this makes people in this borough more tolerant.

ELIA DUARTE

Colombia, single

I have been volunteering in La casa de la Salud Hispano Americana for 18 months now. I started a project called ‘Clinica para el adulto sano’ (supported by La Casa de la Salud). We give the Latin American community the chance to have a free health check up and tips to prevent illnesses. A chance to approach to the community and make people feel more cared. Lots of people come from Latin America and don’t speak English so we give them a meeting point here to learn how they can find out about their health. I love to see how people improve their lives with our help, and come after just to say ‘hello’.


I don’t live in Haringey, but I spend a lot of time volunteering here. What I like about it is the big mix of cultures you can find. The problem I see in this area is that they have a lot of health sources but don’t know how to manage with them.

MYRTLE KNUCKLE

Jamaica, widow (2 children, 4 grandchildren)

I was a psychiatric nurse and now I run the Golden Jubilee Project, which used to be residential home, but it is now a centre for people who are isolated to come together and make new friends whilst trying out exciting activities. It is all about people getting together and making friends. It’s nice to know that there is somewhere where lonely people can meet.


I live by what I taught my children. That is, live for something, have a purpose and keep that purpose always in view. Drifting like an helm-less vessel, thou canst never to self be true, half the wrecks that strew life's ocean if some star had been their guide would have now been safely anchored but they drifted with the tide.


I have been living in Haringey since 1973. Many people used to say that it was a miserable borough but I wanted to proof it by myself. I fitted quite well since I came. The members of my local Anglican Church here were very friendly, they accepted me with open hands, and that made me feel at home. There is special warmth in Haringey. I think you can make yourself very happy here.

ANDREA BEBIN

Cuba, married (2 children)

I came to London 7 years ago now, and since then I have been volunteering in Casa de la Salud Hispano Americana as a medical assistant. I graduated as a doctor in Cuba.

This association acts as a link between the patients and the GPs. We help people with their requirements related to health issues. People come to us because they need help with their English and because they feel more confident here, as they are able to explain themselves better. Or sometimes they just need somebody to listen to them. Quite often doctors don’t have enough time to pay as much attention as they wished to their patients.

For me this is an enriching job, not only because I help other people, but because I can develop my skills as a doctor, too. Besides I feel how grateful our patients are to us and feel that they are learning with the habits we try to teach them.

People in Haringey are really nice, they help you too with anything you may require.

RACHAEL SHANKAR

England, 39, married (4 children)

I’ m director of Choices Haringey, an association to help young pregnant women. I believe that many decisions are made without thinking deeply about them, so we try to provide a place for advice and information when somebody full of doubts comes in. Our volunteers give the girls a place where they can feel cared, where they can be calm and take their time to choose what is best for them.

We also would like to get involved in educational programs and schools, in order to show the girls what the options are. Everybody needs to be aware of the consequences to our actions.

Haringey is a fantastic area. I love the fact that you walk down the road and you can hear different languages from all over the world.

CLAUDIA QUINTERO

Colombia, 37 years old, married (2 children)


I came to England only four months ago and have been two months volunteering in Casa de la Salud Hispano Americana. We help Hispano American people who have just arrived to this country and speak little English. They usually need some advice with the organisation of their medical issues or just need to go to the doctor. I used to work as a secretary in my country so I help with administrative tasks once a week.

At the same time that I am helping other people, this job helps me too. Because it brings fresh air to my daily life, I meet new people and I develop my professional career, as well.

In this short period of time I feel that Haringey is a busy borough, lots of people walking down the streets and has a deep multicultural nature, which gives diversity to the area. In Haringey, for example, I can find Colombian shops that are nowhere else in London.

MARGARET THORLI

Sierra Leone, single.


I’m the founder of Hope & Restoration MLB, where we offer different kind of workshops to unemployed people: life coaching, business management and mentoring, which I am in charge of due to my professional background.

MLB started in Haringey because of the high rate of lone parents in this area. As I went through trying to be a mother and working at the same time, I wanted to help other people in the same situation. But now everybody is able to join in.

The reason that keeps me going in this job is that I am really passionate about what I do. To see that somebody comes in not knowing what to do or where to go and see stage by stage how they find out and learn it is just amazing! I see people’s life in transform.

What I am really passionate about is just to work with the people and transforming their lives, particularly in Haringey because there’s a high rate of unemployed people. And I cannot forget that the funding we receive is coming from this area too. So I am linked with Haringey for all my life. I hope so, at least.

ESAT BRACE

Albania, 41 years old, married (2 children)


I’m the director of Nene Tereza, Albanian Community in UK. We work with more than 300 Albanian children, aged between 7 and 15. We manage three supplementary schools where they learn mainly the Albanian language but Albanian culture too, as they don’t know much about it because they are born and raised in London.

I just do my job because I love it. I see the children we work with as though they were mine.

I set up the association in Haringey because here’s where you can find most Albanian people. I am very happy in this borough because you can find many different nationalities and I am happy, too, with its council. I would really love to work together with them. The Albanian community is relatively new and it can almost be “invisible” but we have our needs and also our energy to participate fully in this area.

My group is called Nene Tereza, as homage to Mother Teresa the best known and loved Albanian woman/heroine of recent years.