Future Leader Stories: Furqan Naeem

I decided to join the Movement for Change after hearing how David Miliband pledged to go back to the grassroots and focus on bringing people together from different communities in order to make a real impact and difference on the ground. At first, I have to admit that I was a bit sceptical as I was never convinced that such a change in politics and community involvement could be achieved simply by people coming together and getting organised. Having received the training and going out myself, starting a campaign with a handful of individuals and seeing it being repeated right across the country, it has certainly altered my perception on achieving grassroots political change. Using the Movement for Change training, I conducted some 1-2-1 meetings with people in my community. After holding a House Meeting with a few of those individuals, we decided to raise awareness of the growing number of homeless people in our city of Manchester and how we can come together to listen to the vulnerable and, from there, kick start the process of change.

As it was the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims around the globe, we decided to come to Manchester city centre to share the experience of the opening of the fast with the homeless. We got in contact with the homeless shelters and spoke to homeless individuals, making them aware that their local community would like to share their food from home with them. We had a great turnout and the perceptions of Muslims, not just on the part of the homeless people we fed but also of the wider community, changed significantly from one of hostility to one of trust. The community recognised the growing concern with poverty in our city and that we must come together to make the change that is so desperately needed. The event was titled “Flashmob Iftaar” (“iftaar” means the ‘opening of the fast’ in Arabic) and was not lead by any organisation but merely a handful of young Muslim individuals along with other members of society. Picking up on our Facebook page, various other people across the UK recognised this and showed their interest in taking part. Thursday 26^th August saw 7 great cities participating in their own Flashmob Iftaar and starting the process of change within their own communities.

This included people in Manchester, London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Cardiff, Leicester and Slough.

I hope to see this campaign expanding to even more areas across the UK to help promote social harmony among the different groups in our communities, whilst at the same time fighting off any negative and harmful perceptions that result in social divide.

Movement for Change has started to make changes in communities like mine in Manchester by training people like me how to work with people to run campaigns like the Flashmob Iftaar. If the training is spread throughout the country, we can all begin taking action on the issues that matter to us and making change in our communities.

Furqan Naeem