Francis Kahembwe meets Sarah Boyack MSP at the Scottish Parliament for the first of two days observing her work in environmental issues.
Welcome to Francis Kahembwe, the first person to take part in Opening Doors 2008, the Leith Open Space political ’shadowing’ scheme. As Francis, a forestry expert from Uganda, is particularly interested in the politics of conservation and environmental management we began by introducing him to Sarah Boyack, Labour spokesman on the Environment and Rural Affairs in the Scottish Parliament. As luck had it we arrived the day of the Climate Change debate!
Sarah Boyack, who has gained respect (and awards) for her contribution to environmental policy, had drawn up a busy two days for Francis to give him a broad view of her work in parliament and as constituency MSP for Edinburgh Central. Now we hope to offer Francis opportunities to observe how different voluntary organisations set about influencing government policy.
Francis brings experience of a career in conservation forestry in Africa and the Caribbean where he worked as adviser to the IUCN (the World Conservation Union). Since arriving in Scotland six years ago he has not been able to get work to fit his qualifications but (with two children at school here) he has gained employment as a sessional worker in the mental health project, Men in Mind, and has a long list of voluntary involvements including the Africa Centre, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and the Carbon Centre in Dumfries.
As Francis explained when he applied for Opening Doors: “I want to acquire knowledge and awareness on how politics impact on the environment and then learn how to use that knowledge to influence environmental policy.”
This may be the first step in an interesting new direction for Opening Doors which began in 2006-7. We want to increase opportunities for people interested in taking part in local and national politics but, of course, politics extends far beyond parliament and city council chambers. Our mentors are likely to include teachers, trade unionists and environmental activists as well as elected politicians.
June 11th, 2008
Question: What was the best thing about the scheme?
Answer: “The scheme opens politics to ordinary people who would never otherwise come close to it. ” Opening Doors feedback form, 2007.
That was just one response. Altogether, feedback was so positive we are planning to run a second phase of the Opening Doors shadow scheme starting in May this year and we would love to hear what you want to learn about politics.
One of the Opening Doors activities: a visit to the Scottish Parliament with Malcolm Chisholm MP.
Opening Doors is for people living in the constituency of Edinburgh North and Leith and is open to anyone interested in politics. Perhaps you are even thinking of becoming actively involved in politics but don’t know where to start?
Opening Doors gives you a chance to meet local politicians and ’shadow’ them at work. The idea is to give shadows the chance to learn about the work of members of parliament and city and community councils at first hand.
In the first scheme, which ran from October 2006 to January 2007, six people (five were women) took part. Representing African, Asian and Polish communities in the Leith area, each person shadowed a different politician – observing the work of Malcolm Chisholm MSP (at that time Minister for Communities) in the Scottish Parliament, following Mark Lazarowicz, MP, to Westminster, as well as getting an inside view of the responsibilities of city councillors in Edinburgh.
This year you will again get the chance to meet and shadow Malcolm Chisholm (now Shadow Minister for Culture) at Holyrood and Mark Lazarowicz in Westminster but we are widening the scheme to include mentors from education and trade unions. As well as educational visits to the Scottish Parliament and City of Edinburgh Council, we also hope to run a workshop on the budget (investigating how politicians decide how to raise and spend the money!).
Feedback showed different response but they were all positive. For one woman, the best thing about last year’s shadow scheme was “Having lunch with Malcolm Chisholm at the Scottish Parliament.” For another, “It also raised some welcome debate within the Black and Minority Ethnic Community, if people start talking about issues that affect them they are more likely to do something about it.”
For Leith Open Space perhaps the best part of the first shadow scheme was getting to know a great group of people we might not otherwise have met. Opening Doors is about politics but, much more importantly, it is about people.
Plans are still being discussed (and we have some fund-raising to do!) but meanwhile we would be delighted to hear your ideas.Please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Either post comments or questions here or email:
leithopenspace@btconnect.com
February 28th, 2008