my name is Marta will endure and I’m going to talk to you today about
going to talk to you today about
going to talk to you today about creating and building momentum about a
creating and building momentum about a
creating and building momentum about a year ago on the first of March 2016 I
year ago on the first of March 2016 I
year ago on the first of March 2016 I appeared on the BBC live news on
appeared on the BBC live news on
appeared on the BBC live news on prime-time television to provide expert
prime-time television to provide expert
prime-time television to provide expert opinion and views and knowledge about
opinion and views and knowledge about
opinion and views and knowledge about the Calais camp in France just a few
the Calais camp in France just a few
the Calais camp in France just a few months before that my life looked very
months before that my life looked very
months before that my life looked very different from that I was working 70
different from that I was working 70
different from that I was working 70 hours a week in an unrelated day job
hours a week in an unrelated day job
hours a week in an unrelated day job hardly ever set foot outside of the
hardly ever set foot outside of the
hardly ever set foot outside of the office I had never personally been to
office I had never personally been to
office I had never personally been to the Calais camp at that time and I’d
the Calais camp at that time and I’d
the Calais camp at that time and I’d certainly never been invited to provide
certainly never been invited to provide
certainly never been invited to provide expertise and knowledge on in major
expertise and knowledge on in major
expertise and knowledge on in major media outlets so how on earth did that
media outlets so how on earth did that
media outlets so how on earth did that happen well I believe it’s about
happen well I believe it’s about
happen well I believe it’s about creating and building momentum around a
creating and building momentum around a
creating and building momentum around a cause that you truly believe in my story
cause that you truly believe in my story
cause that you truly believe in my story began just a few months before that on
began just a few months before that on
began just a few months before that on the so-called international human rights
the so-called international human rights
the so-called international human rights day in December 2015 when I posted on
day in December 2015 when I posted on
day in December 2015 when I posted on Facebook as you do I was frustrated with
Facebook as you do I was frustrated with
Facebook as you do I was frustrated with in action of the French and British
in action of the French and British
in action of the French and British government’s these are be the human
government’s these are be the human
government’s these are be the human suffering in the Calais camp on the UK’s
suffering in the Calais camp on the UK’s
suffering in the Calais camp on the UK’s doorsteps I also felt that there was
doorsteps I also felt that there was
doorsteps I also felt that there was something very concrete missing in the
something very concrete missing in the
something very concrete missing in the citizen response in our response I felt
citizen response in our response I felt
citizen response in our response I felt that there was a gap that someone needed
that there was a gap that someone needed
that there was a gap that someone needed to fill so posted on Facebook and the
to fill so posted on Facebook and the
to fill so posted on Facebook and the response was really overwhelming I heard
response was really overwhelming I heard
response was really overwhelming I heard from a large number of people from
from a large number of people from
from a large number of people from across my network all of whom wanted to
across my network all of whom wanted to
across my network all of whom wanted to join me in whatever plans I had in mind
join me in whatever plans I had in mind
join me in whatever plans I had in mind um so I gotcha I had to do a bit of
um so I gotcha I had to do a bit of
um so I gotcha I had to do a bit of thinking I had to do a mapping exercise
thinking I had to do a mapping exercise
thinking I had to do a mapping exercise to see what other organizations were
to see what other organizations were
to see what other organizations were already doing and what that missing
already doing and what that missing
already doing and what that missing piece of the puzzle really was and I
piece of the puzzle really was and I
piece of the puzzle really was and I found that there was a striking absence
found that there was a striking absence
found that there was a striking absence of reliable facts and figures relating
of reliable facts and figures relating
of reliable facts and figures relating not only to the Calais camp but also the
not only to the Calais camp but also the
not only to the Calais camp but also the situation of refugees across Europe
situation of refugees across Europe
situation of refugees across Europe there was no reliable evidence about the
there was no reliable evidence about the
there was no reliable evidence about the specific challenges people
specific challenges people
specific challenges people facing or about the reasons they had
facing or about the reasons they had
facing or about the reasons they had come to Europe or to Calais why they
come to Europe or to Calais why they
come to Europe or to Calais why they wanted to come to the UK and also more
wanted to come to the UK and also more
wanted to come to the UK and also more generally we didn’t know much about
generally we didn’t know much about
generally we didn’t know much about people’s dreams and aspirations so I
people’s dreams and aspirations so I
people’s dreams and aspirations so I thought we needed to fill this gap and I
thought we needed to fill this gap and I
thought we needed to fill this gap and I brought together a number of people in a
brought together a number of people in a
brought together a number of people in a strategic planning meeting a number of
strategic planning meeting a number of
strategic planning meeting a number of professionals qualified people from a
professionals qualified people from a
professionals qualified people from a variety of sectors and we started
variety of sectors and we started
variety of sectors and we started teasing out the objectives of the
teasing out the objectives of the
teasing out the objectives of the project we thought about potential
project we thought about potential
project we thought about potential partners in the field and we started
partners in the field and we started
partners in the field and we started planning our first trip to the Calais
planning our first trip to the Calais
planning our first trip to the Calais camp to set up a data collection study
camp to set up a data collection study
camp to set up a data collection study about ten days later we had a branding
about ten days later we had a branding
about ten days later we had a branding we had a website we had Twitter we had
we had a website we had Twitter we had
we had a website we had Twitter we had facebook and we had a large social media
facebook and we had a large social media
facebook and we had a large social media following the refugee rights data
following the refugee rights data
following the refugee rights data project was born and what had begun as a
project was born and what had begun as a
project was born and what had begun as a mere a small idea in my head had become
mere a small idea in my head had become
mere a small idea in my head had become reality a month later the researcher
reality a month later the researcher
reality a month later the researcher started arriving in the cali camp and
started arriving in the cali camp and
started arriving in the cali camp and the research study could commence and
the research study could commence and
the research study could commence and one might ask oneself how did we manage
one might ask oneself how did we manage
one might ask oneself how did we manage to build this momentum so rapidly i
to build this momentum so rapidly i
to build this momentum so rapidly i believe there were three key components
believe there were three key components
believe there were three key components the first one being fearlessness okay so
the first one being fearlessness okay so
the first one being fearlessness okay so you need to acknowledge your fears be it
you need to acknowledge your fears be it
you need to acknowledge your fears be it fears of failure fears of losing control
fears of failure fears of losing control
fears of failure fears of losing control fears of losing money or fears of actual
fears of losing money or fears of actual
fears of losing money or fears of actual risks and dangers but you mustn’t let
risks and dangers but you mustn’t let
risks and dangers but you mustn’t let these fears stop you from going ahead
these fears stop you from going ahead
these fears stop you from going ahead with the plans you have in mind and
with the plans you have in mind and
with the plans you have in mind and based on this idea I i took that the
based on this idea I i took that the
based on this idea I i took that the very last of my small savings and the
very last of my small savings and the
very last of my small savings and the very little free time I had and I
very little free time I had and I
very little free time I had and I invested all of this in this idea
invested all of this in this idea
invested all of this in this idea fearlessly okay so I rented a couple of
fearlessly okay so I rented a couple of
fearlessly okay so I rented a couple of vehicles and identified some potential
vehicles and identified some potential
vehicles and identified some potential drivers bought a pair of rubber boots I
drivers bought a pair of rubber boots I
drivers bought a pair of rubber boots I got some 20 return coach tickets for
got some 20 return coach tickets for
got some 20 return coach tickets for researchers to travel to Calais I flew
researchers to travel to Calais I flew
researchers to travel to Calais I flew in a research coordinator from the
in a research coordinator from the
in a research coordinator from the Syrian camp
Syrian camp
Syrian camp in Lebanon and another human rights
in Lebanon and another human rights
in Lebanon and another human rights expert I flew in from Italy at this
expert I flew in from Italy at this
expert I flew in from Italy at this point my sister told me that was
point my sister told me that was
point my sister told me that was absolutely crazy and I suppose she was
absolutely crazy and I suppose she was
absolutely crazy and I suppose she was absolutely right in fact however
absolutely right in fact however
absolutely right in fact however surrounded by a fantastic new team of
surrounded by a fantastic new team of
surrounded by a fantastic new team of newly recruited researchers and other
newly recruited researchers and other
newly recruited researchers and other team members I went ahead fearlessly and
team members I went ahead fearlessly and
team members I went ahead fearlessly and with great determination that we must
with great determination that we must
with great determination that we must and can succeed and that brings me to
and can succeed and that brings me to
and can succeed and that brings me to the second key component that I believe
the second key component that I believe
the second key component that I believe we need if we are to sustain the
we need if we are to sustain the
we need if we are to sustain the momentum and that is trust you see in
momentum and that is trust you see in
momentum and that is trust you see in order to keep the energy levels up you
order to keep the energy levels up you
order to keep the energy levels up you need to empower others to join you you
need to empower others to join you you
need to empower others to join you you need to make sure that you put your
need to make sure that you put your
need to make sure that you put your trust in people and in their abilities
trust in people and in their abilities
trust in people and in their abilities to take on great responsibilities to
to take on great responsibilities to
to take on great responsibilities to lead and to thrive to give you one
lead and to thrive to give you one
lead and to thrive to give you one example of how i worked with this
example of how i worked with this
example of how i worked with this principle is I was well during my first
principle is I was well during my first
principle is I was well during my first time in the cali camp I was sitting in
time in the cali camp I was sitting in
time in the cali camp I was sitting in one of the cafes in the camp the cafe i
one of the cafes in the camp the cafe i
one of the cafes in the camp the cafe i believe was called the three idiots i
believe was called the three idiots i
believe was called the three idiots i was sitting there and i met two students
was sitting there and i met two students
was sitting there and i met two students Karen and Musashi we got talking about
Karen and Musashi we got talking about
Karen and Musashi we got talking about the project and I could instantly feel
the project and I could instantly feel
the project and I could instantly feel how genuinely passionate they were about
how genuinely passionate they were about
how genuinely passionate they were about the cause and and what great potential
the cause and and what great potential
the cause and and what great potential they seem to have and before I knew it I
they seem to have and before I knew it I
they seem to have and before I knew it I had made karen and Musashi the two key
had made karen and Musashi the two key
had made karen and Musashi the two key field coordinators for the pilot study
field coordinators for the pilot study
field coordinators for the pilot study in the Calais camp I took a leap of
in the Calais camp I took a leap of
in the Calais camp I took a leap of faith in them and I never looked back by
faith in them and I never looked back by
faith in them and I never looked back by putting my trust in them and by making
putting my trust in them and by making
putting my trust in them and by making them feel empowered making them feel
them feel empowered making them feel
them feel empowered making them feel that I believed in their capacity to
that I believed in their capacity to
that I believed in their capacity to lead I saw them excel in their roles I
lead I saw them excel in their roles I
lead I saw them excel in their roles I saw them thrive and it’s exactly this
saw them thrive and it’s exactly this
saw them thrive and it’s exactly this kind of energy you need to keep your
kind of energy you need to keep your
kind of energy you need to keep your momentum going however I think there’s a
momentum going however I think there’s a
momentum going however I think there’s a third key component that we need to bear
third key component that we need to bear
third key component that we need to bear in mind and that is agility so whatever
in mind and that is agility so whatever
in mind and that is agility so whatever you’ve set in motion whatever project
you’ve set in motion whatever project
you’ve set in motion whatever project you’ve started up is bound to start
you’ve started up is bound to start
you’ve started up is bound to start losing speed at some point or even come
losing speed at some point or even come
losing speed at some point or even come to a halt if it needs external
to a halt if it needs external
to a halt if it needs external resistance right
resistance right
resistance right and that’s when you need to not just
and that’s when you need to not just
and that’s when you need to not just keep pushing forward but you also need
keep pushing forward but you also need
keep pushing forward but you also need to be agile and take decisive decisions
to be agile and take decisive decisions
to be agile and take decisive decisions to successfully navigate external
to successfully navigate external
to successfully navigate external changes in your external environment
changes in your external environment
changes in your external environment things that are outside of your own
things that are outside of your own
things that are outside of your own control in the early days of the refugee
control in the early days of the refugee
control in the early days of the refugee rights data project we had to rely a lot
rights data project we had to rely a lot
rights data project we had to rely a lot on agility and conscious decisions to
on agility and conscious decisions to
on agility and conscious decisions to adapt to the external environment for
adapt to the external environment for
adapt to the external environment for example as we were planning that the
example as we were planning that the
example as we were planning that the pilot study we suddenly heard that the
pilot study we suddenly heard that the
pilot study we suddenly heard that the southern part of the camp was going to
southern part of the camp was going to
southern part of the camp was going to be completely demolished during the week
be completely demolished during the week
be completely demolished during the week of our planned research study so we had
of our planned research study so we had
of our planned research study so we had to move the entire operations an entire
to move the entire operations an entire
to move the entire operations an entire week forward to make sure that the
week forward to make sure that the
week forward to make sure that the operations could go ahead successfully
operations could go ahead successfully
operations could go ahead successfully and so we did another example is when
and so we did another example is when
and so we did another example is when the BBC phoned me up for that first
the BBC phoned me up for that first
the BBC phoned me up for that first interview at that point we hadn’t
interview at that point we hadn’t
interview at that point we hadn’t actually processed or analyzed all of
actually processed or analyzed all of
actually processed or analyzed all of the data from Calais which meant that I
the data from Calais which meant that I
the data from Calais which meant that I would have very little to talk about
would have very little to talk about
would have very little to talk about because that was the whole point of the
because that was the whole point of the
because that was the whole point of the interview book so I phoned up the our
interview book so I phoned up the our
interview book so I phoned up the our statistical analyst and I said look
statistical analyst and I said look
statistical analyst and I said look Mohamed I really need some data can we
Mohamed I really need some data can we
Mohamed I really need some data can we please can we produce and release some
please can we produce and release some
please can we produce and release some preliminary facts he saw the importance
preliminary facts he saw the importance
preliminary facts he saw the importance in this and we released some preliminary
in this and we released some preliminary
in this and we released some preliminary data that I was able to take with me to
data that I was able to take with me to
data that I was able to take with me to seize the opportunity and to keep the
seize the opportunity and to keep the
seize the opportunity and to keep the momentum going and those are just some
momentum going and those are just some
momentum going and those are just some of the examples of how we adapted to
of the examples of how we adapted to
of the examples of how we adapted to external conditions with a lot of
external conditions with a lot of
external conditions with a lot of agility allowing us to keep up momentum
agility allowing us to keep up momentum
agility allowing us to keep up momentum okay so that was my personal experience
okay so that was my personal experience
okay so that was my personal experience creating and building momentum based on
creating and building momentum based on
creating and building momentum based on fearlessness trust and agility but
fearlessness trust and agility but
fearlessness trust and agility but needless to say all of this needs to be
needless to say all of this needs to be
needless to say all of this needs to be underpinned by a genuine passion ok so
underpinned by a genuine passion ok so
underpinned by a genuine passion ok so my passion as you would have figured at
my passion as you would have figured at
my passion as you would have figured at this point it was my long-standing
this point it was my long-standing
this point it was my long-standing belief that all humans are born equal
belief that all humans are born equal
belief that all humans are born equal and deserve a fighting chance if you’ve
and deserve a fighting chance if you’ve
and deserve a fighting chance if you’ve been persecuted you’ve lived through a
been persecuted you’ve lived through a
been persecuted you’ve lived through a war or extreme poverty
war or extreme poverty
war or extreme poverty you’re entitled to a second chance and
you’re entitled to a second chance and
you’re entitled to a second chance and protection and Europe can and must
protection and Europe can and must
protection and Europe can and must provide that protection as human beings
provide that protection as human beings
provide that protection as human beings we have responsibilities to stand up for
we have responsibilities to stand up for
we have responsibilities to stand up for fellow humans and I’m convinced that all
fellow humans and I’m convinced that all
fellow humans and I’m convinced that all of you can do the same you can go out
of you can do the same you can go out
of you can do the same you can go out and create and build momentum around the
and create and build momentum around the
and create and build momentum around the course that you believe in something
course that you believe in something
course that you believe in something that you are passionate about and I’m
that you are passionate about and I’m
that you are passionate about and I’m going to leave you with a quote by
going to leave you with a quote by
going to leave you with a quote by Amelia Earhart the first woman to fly
Amelia Earhart the first woman to fly
Amelia Earhart the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic she said the
solo across the Atlantic she said the
solo across the Atlantic she said the most effective way to do it is to do it
most effective way to do it is to do it
most effective way to do it is to do it thank you very much
thank you very much
thank you very much [Applause]
”
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