Tabeth originally came to the UK from Zimbabwe in 2001. She is Co-Founder of Leigh community organisation, Everything Human Rights.
Tabeth says:
I grew up in Zimbabwe with my older sister and 2 younger brothers. My parents provided us with a very ordinary but comfortable lifestyle. My dad was a Quality Assurance Manager at Coca-Cola Company, and my mother was a stay at home mum.
We were raised with Christian values and the whole family attended church every Sunday unless something happened that prevented church attendance -lol. My dad was all about Education; he ensured me and my siblings attended school and had all we required and supported us with all our homework.
I had a care-free childhood and loved playing with my friends and always came back home covered in dust from playing games.
I first came to the UK in 2001 just after finishing my O’ Levels, what would be GCSEs in the UK. This is around the time that Zimbabwe started going through political challenges and it was decided as a family that it was safer for me to remain in the UK with my sister who was a student at the time.
Zimbabwe and the UK share a complicated past due to our colonial history. There are some similarities we share due to this past and also a lot of differences. Most suburbs in Harare are either named after British historical figures or British towns. We share a common language, English, which is widely spoken in Zimbabwe. It is an official language and also the language of delivery in all Education institutions. Christianity is the predominant religion in Zimbabwe, probably more so now than the UK. Zimbabweans and British people share a love of football and most Zimbweans support British football clubs.
Fun fact! We also drive on the left side of the road.
However, one of the main differences is definitely the weather. Zimbabwe generally enjoys warmer temperatures than the UK. We experience seasons at different times of the year. It is the winter season in Zimbabwe in June and July when it is summer time in the UK.
Culturally, Zimbabweans generally do not use cutlery to eat traditional foods such as sadza (maize meal) they use their hands instead.
Everything Human Rights was born out of a series of conversations had amongst a group of six friends regarding our lived experiences as immigrants to the UK.
On 19th March 2018 we decided to use our experiences to effect change in our community by providing services to bridge gaps in the support available to migrant communities in Leigh.
I played a pivotal role in the early days as part of the team in writing the constitution, building networks from the ground up, researching, policy making, grant writing up to the delivery of our first project to the present day.
In my role as Chairperson my duty is to lead our organisation’s Management Committee towards achieving our goals and fulfilling our mission as stated in our constitution. I ensure that appropriate policies and procedures are in place and represent the organisation.
People migrate to the UK for many different reasons, including, but not limited to, family reunion, finding employment, engaging in higher education, conducting business and seeking refuge.
Whatever the reason, starting over in a new country is no easy task. Migrants face many challenges such as the language barrier, for those who don't speak English, dealing with isolation as family networks and friends are left behind in their country of origin, learning the laws of the country, differences in cultural norms and values, generally finding a way round in a new area and getting to know different ways of doing things, such as where to find the doctor, where to find food that you are familiar with, the list is endless.
Unfortunately, migrants may also be discriminated against while trying to settle and integrate in their chosen communities.
This is why Everything Human Rights is such an important organisation in the borough and surrounding areas because we help tackle these issues and are a trusted friend and network for individuals and families on their journey to settling into British Society.
We provide services that promote general wellbeing and successful integration with the wider community. Such as advocacy, signposting, support with familiarising with the local area, social activities through collaboration with other local organisations, supporting children with their homework and volunteering opportunities. We like to think of our organisation as a bridge between the migrant ethnic minority communities and the wider community.
My message to people who have moved to the borough from different countries is to make every effort, where possible, to get involved and engage in your local community. Familiarise yourself with the local history and culture. This is the quickest way of settling into your chosen new home. Everything Human Rights are here at hand, when needed, to support you to settle into the UK.
To those who are native to or have always lived in Wigan Borough, I would start by thanking you for being a welcoming people. I have been in Wigan for over six years, and it feels like home away from home. Continue with your hospitality. That smile and a nod go a long way in making someone feel welcome. Let us continue to have conversations with those who at first glance might look and / or sound different to us. It is in these conversations where we gain understanding, learn from each other, and discover our common humanity.
This is the way we can build a cohesive society. We might have different pasts but now that we live in community together, we have a shared future.