Talent in the house

You don’t always have to look on the TV or in the newspaper for inspirational individuals. Sometimes they are right there in front of your nose.

This was never more the case than when I met a young man, 19-year-old Mohand Nour, who came into the OBV offices offering his service as a volunteer one day a week. "I’ll do anything" he said, "I just like what you stand for".

Volunteers have always been the main stay of our organisation. The lack of financial resources mean we depend a lot on individual goodwill. Mohand accepted a database role which is essential but not very exciting, but also stated in his interview that he would like to write, which is something we encourage from all our team. So after finishing hours of database inputting Mahand sets about writing.

To date he has written three articles for us, and has clearly demonstrated a skill & flair for the written word. I asked, "where do you get this flair from"? "Maybe my late father who was a politician and writer in his homeland of Eritrea. He is my inspiration and I want to be like him", Mohand informed me.

Well I thought, ‘your father would be proud of such as young and brilliant talent’.

Simon Woolley

Articles by Mohand Nour:
Celebrate local and national black history
International Women's Day Tribute
OBV graduates to stand for election