ATM fellow graduates from SOAS
It’s Graduation Day for the ATM Fellows! The prestigious ceremony took place on the morning of Wednesday 25th July at SOAS University. Representatives from the school’s teaching staff, fellow graduates, honorary fellow Kanya King CBE MBE, family and friends were present and ready to celebrate the achievements of graduates.
Dr. King spoke deeply about the importance of fostering narratives that truly reflect the communities all the students come from.
“Own your story and you own your life. The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you: your voice, your mind and your vision. So, write, build, design and speak up.” – Dr Kanya King
This year we welcomed 15 committed future community bridgeheads to take on the challenge that is the ATM Fellowship with ATM. SOAS lecturers Dr Sham Qayyum (who is also the Director of the Council of Somali Organisations and Dr Werner Menski delivered quality teaching and our sponsors Dahabshiil made it possible for the programme to take place.
Students have spent the last six months undertaking lectures, research and presenting their ideas to peers and wider colleagues as a starting point for illustrious future community leaders. The Anti-Tribalism Movement created the Fellowship programme in order to produce leaders to “ensure that the voice and needs of the community are represented at all levels of public decision-making”.
A special speech was delivered at the ceremony by Dr Vrinda Grover, a human rights activist from India who was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from SOAS alongside the likes of Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie and Forest Whittaker. Dr Grover, also a lawyer who champions the rights of women and religious minorities in India 19th century poet Indian poet “Pash” as part of her speech who once wrote that the “the most dangerous thing is the death of our dreams.”
A private graduation dinner took place shortly after the graduation with speeches from everyone who was a part of delivering the ATM Fellowship programme this year. Prizes were awarded to the top performing students this year who were: Abdiweli Elmi, Hamdi Mohammed and Intisar Yusuf. Abdiweli was especially recognised for exceptional academic contributions.
“This has been one of the most difficult things I’ve done in the last couple of years but I’m so happy that I did it. I want to thank Professor Menski and Professor Sham for so much and everything you have taught us it really has helped me to better my life. It’s been amazing.” – Intisar Yusuf
It is the hope of the ATM, sponsors Dahabshiil and SOAS staff that the programme has equipped students with the tools to fight the causes that they are most passionate about. So, in the words of 19th-century Indian poet Pash, as quoted by Dr Grover at the ceremony today, “we wish you dreams, hope and resistance” in all your bright future endeavours.