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.