In a creative hub in the east end of Glasgow, sixteen impressive community activists and entrepreneurs are meeting to enhance their leadership potential.
They are here for our fourth New Scots Leadership Programme, run in partnership between our Refugee Support Service and Social Enterprise Academy.
The six-month course, which runs until March 2025, offers a supportive space where the group can build valuable connections, gain strategic leadership skills, and develop practical tools and techniques to help themselves and others.
We received 100 applications for their year’s programme. The 16 successful applicants are from 10 different countries including Afghanistan, Chad, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen. They have travelled in today from Edinburgh, North Ayrshire, Argyll and Bute and across greater Glasgow.
Over a delicious lunch, prepared by Soul Food Sisters, we met some of this year’s leaders to hear what they think of the course so far and how they plan to use what they learn to strengthen and support refugee communities in Scotland.
Sadia
Sadia is an artist, photographer, activist and campaigner and is currently chair of the IMIX steering group, which supports people from refugee backgrounds to challenge negative stereotypes and share positive stories about migration. She said: “I’m hoping to improve my leadership skills and learn different techniques I can implement in my present and future to better support my own community and other organisations.
“Right now, we’re learning about self-reflection. If you don’t understand yourself, you’re not able to understand others. If you understand each other it leads to very successful leadership. Leadership is not just about me, it’s about us. It’s about how we are as a collective, and how we can work together to help our communities.
“For six years I’ve been part of different communities, charities and organisations in Newcastle and now in Scotland. As a spokesperson, I think this course will help me to speak for other people and think about how I can do that better.
“I have seen a lot of misinformation recently [about refugees and people seeking asylum] which is very negative and can cause a lot of problems. News is a really important factor in how people view our communities. I hope to use what I learn to challenge misinformation and come forward to create momentum for more positive news.”
Anna
Anna, is based in Argyll and Bute, where she works as a Ukrainian translator for the local Resettlement Team.
She said: “I’m really enjoying that there are people from so many different countries around the world in the programme. It’s so interesting because we might be from different cultures and religions but we have so much in common.
“We all came to this country in difficult circumstances. And we are all doing what we can to support people from our communities here in Scotland. We’re so different, yet so similar. We have the same motivations. We want to learn new skills, develop ourselves and our communities and live a good life at the end of the day.
“Because I work as an interpreter for Ukrainians in Argyll & Bute council, a lot of questions from the community come through me. That’s why I wanted to do this programme. I want to learn more about myself and my leadership style.
“Being one of the leaders of a community is new for me. I’m looking forward to getting to know the other people on the course better and learning from each other. I want to learn about their communities, the different organisations they work with the events and activities they are running.
“I’m looking forward to getting new ideas for how I can support the Ukrainian community in Argyll & Bute.”
Ishmel
Before coming to the UK, fellow leader Ismael, from Namibia, studied at the University in Anna’s hometown in Ukraine.
Anna said: “It was quite amazing! On the first day of the programme, we realised Ismael was studying at the same University where my husband studied.”
Ismael added: “It was during the introductions when we got to know that I had studied in Anna’s home town in Ukraine. Sometimes, the world feels like a small place.”
Ismael helps to runs NAMSCOT, a grassroots group supporting the Namibian community in Scotland.
He said: “I’m enjoying the programme. I was in a leadership position in Namibia before coming here and I want to build on my skills to become a better leader in the future.
“NAMSCOT is a community initiative for Namibians. We have events, gatherings and social activities where we can come together to talk and help each other. We also help to repatriate the bodies of Namibians who have died in Scotland so they can be buried back home.
“I’m hoping to make NAMSCOT into a formal organisation and get charity status. Hopefully, through this programme we’re going get more skills and understanding of how to better manage ourselves and our organisations so I can move things forward in that direction.”
Fakhriya
Fakhriya is a member of Interfaith Glasgow and a former Refugee Festival Scotland Storyteller.
She said: “I’m thankful that I’m actually on this course. I found out about it two years ago. But I couldn’t commit to take part then because I know how important attendance is in this programme. This year, I thought I would apply and I was so excited when I got the email.
“I’m really enjoying it! I like how it’s run by people from the community for people in the community. It’s a really good course and I’m expecting to learn a lot from it. I’m motivated by thinking about how what I learn here will help me personally and help my wider community in the future. Even though this is only the third session, I already have that in my mind.
“I get super excited when I learn something new. I’m keeping in mind when I’m working with people that my approach should be that of a leader and not of a manager or a dictator. I’m looking forward to taking everything I learn here and putting it into practice.”
We wish all this year’s leaders the best of luck with the programme and look forward to joining them on their journey over the next few months as they build on their existing skills and develop new tools and techniques to help themselves and their communities thrive.
Image by Becky Duncan from Open Aye, taken at a session for the 2023-24 New Scots Leadership Programme.
