Francine Fernandes partially leaving OBV

Due to a long standing health problem that may need surgery, Deputy Director Francine Fernandes is forced to stand down from her post.

Francine has been with OBV for over 12 years having joined after taking part in one of OBV’s Parliamentary Shadowing Schemes.  Her talent was quickly spotted, and for many years, she has been heading up all OBV’s leadership programmes, and has personally nurtured many hundred of graduates from the MP, Magistrates, and civic leadership shadowing schemes.

As the Director, I often am afforded the credit for OBV’s success, but I as I’m sure countless individuals will contest, that it has been Francine who has been central to the success of hundreds of people right across the country.

Take one example a sitting magistrate, who for obvious reasons does not want to be named. He participated on the Magistrates Shadowing Scheme some years ago. When he applied he turned to Francine’s help with his application. However, despite being interviewed, he was rejected. Desperate to fulfil a life’s ambition, he asked Francine for help, because he rightly sensed that something was wrong about his rejection. She spent over a year fighting his unwinnable battles to understand why he had been rejected and to challenge a system which she proved was not treating him fairly.

After 18 months of fighting, in September last year he was sworn in as a Magistrate, making him and his family fantastically proud. Outside his family the first person he thanked was Francine. ‘I’m here because of you', he told her with a bunch of flowers and a bottle of champagne. Believing in people, many of whom have been discarded, is what Francine does.

When she told me through tears that she needed to rest and try and get her body stronger for the fight ahead , she informed me that:

I’m only partially leaving Simon. When I’m stronger I’d like to join OBV’s Board of Directors if you think that’s a good idea."

This is typical of a woman who has given so much to her community, to this organisation, and to her passion of fighting injustice.

I’m sure like us at OBV we hope she makes a speedy recovery, and of course who wouldn’t want this brilliant woman on their board!

Thank you Francine Fernandes for being you and giving so much to so many people.

Simon Woolley, Rafiq Maricar and everyone at OBV