There is an old proverb, its origins disputed, that says: ‘they tried to bury us, they did not know that we were seeds’. It is a sentiment that has sustained people facing many different forms of oppression around the world.
Looking at Halima’s ongoing contribution after her enforced exit from Oxfam, that proverb certainly comes to mind.
In December last year Balwant Singh resigned in disgust from his role as a trustee of Oxfam, stating in his resignation letter “It is sickening that Halima has been subjected to what appears to be a carefully orchestrated and intentionally brutal retaliation and retribution in the national media.’
Few can doubt that the shocking and dishonest press briefings from Oxfam were designed to bury Halima, and those public attacks undoubtedly hurt. However, burying seeds is not a great strategy if you want them to disappear, and Halima is back doing what she does best: advocating, organising and strategizing.
Six months ago over a thousand people complained to the Charity Commission in relation to the governance issues highlighted by Halima’s enforced departure. To date the Commission still has nothing to say. If such complaints had been made about the Runnymede Trust, or Action Aid (two charities that Halima had previously led) then the Commission would have been all over them. Their inaction in this case (particularly in the context of their ‘light touch’ approach to historical issues at Oxfam) reinforce the perception, held by many, that Oxfam is considered ‘too big to fail’ and complaints, however well evidenced, will go straight into the long grass
Halima, meanwhile is so good she is having to be in two places at once (well almost).
On Monday 15th June she will be a speaker at the opening plenary of the Northern Race Equality Conference, in Leeds, and will also be convening a session on: ‘Women leading in times of crisis’. Halima will be joined by:
- Yvonne Fields, Ubele
- Akiko Hart, Liberty
- Humma Nizami, Race Equality Network
- Timi Okuwa, Black Equity Organisation
- Sonya Sceats, British Institute of International Comparative Law
On the same day Halima will also be a speaker at a symposium convened jointly by the University of Cambridge and the University of the Western Cape: Equitable collaborations for global justice in and through education. Halima will be part of a panel discussion: ‘Education, decolonisation and antiracism’, where she will be joined by: Professor Yusuf Sayed, University of Cambridge and Professor Azeem Badroodien, University of Cape Town. Fortunately, her contribution will be delivered remotely (and it is free to register if you want to listen in).
Halima is of immensely grateful for the support she has received from across the movement and is actively looking at ways to make a contribution, and grow impact, in different parts of our eco-system.
Do get on touch with her if you think she can contribute towards any short-term work.
And if you are out gardening over the summer, you might wish to ponder that old proverb and accept that burying seeds is a sure strategy for renewal.
Thank you,
John Page