Summary
Our vision is being met and as part of BHM, we will highlight some of our proteges, role models and shining lights, who have lived to Salaam Peace values, since their contact with Salaams Peac Co Founder, Dr Sabir A Bham (Sab)
As part of Black History Month, we want to share and highlight the achievements and journeys of Black men and women who have made or are making a difference from the ground up, being a role model to the youth.
Salaam Peace has as its mission, to be the change in the community we want to see. Our primary vision when we began in 2009, was to create an organisation that is welcoming to people from different cultures, social spectrums, faith groups, varied ages and male and females. Our vision is being met and as part of BHM, we will highlight some of our proteges, role models and shining lights, who have lived to Salaam Peace values, since their contact with our founder, Dr Sabir A Bham (Sab).
Sab: Kofi and I met in 1998. He was supporting me with holiday programmes at Well Street Common in Hackney and Kelmscott Leisure Centre in Walthamstow. From our first encounter, Kofi understood our vision and mission. Some of our most successful and high impact projects together include Shadwell Gardens in Tower Hamlets and Woodbury Down Estate in Hackney. This success was based on a passion to engage young people and young adults on the most deprived housing estates, providing positive activities, coupled with social education, enhancing characteristics, including communication, positive language, conflict resolution and being respectful of the environment we live in. In 2006, we jointly delivered the multi-award-winning Hackney Kickz Programme in partnership with Arsenal in the community, Hackeny Housing, and Hackney Police.
When I set up Salaam Peace, Kofi volunteered on all flagship programmes including the Eid Cup, and Gabby Logan visiting our holiday program as part of the BBC inspire an Olympic journey in 2013. In 2024, Kofi has come on board as a member of staff, eading our SP hackney initiatives and supporting young staff and volunteers with their development. His standout qualities include humility, compassion, patience, and always thinking of the other person, not himself. His work in education, pru’s, and some of the toughest schools shows that Kofi’s passion is to give those that are often written off the inspiration to do better in their lives. For Salaam Peace, he has already increased participation and enhanced our Hackney Estates programme. As a friend/ brother, he is the first person I would want on the frontline with me.
Kofi: I first met Sab back in 1998, where we both worked for Leyton orient community sports
program. Sab was development manager for Waltham Forest Borough, and I was the development officer for the Hackney Borough. We would often work on projects together, as well as working on projects separately, always with the idea of bringing young people from Waltham Forest to Hackney and Hackney to Waltham Forest, to break down barriers to compete in sporting competitions.
I left Leyton Orient community sports program in 2010 and pursued a career as a teacher, mainly as a PE teacher in secondary schools and alternative provisions. During our time working together, Sab played a major part in my development and progression to where I am today. I always stayed in contact with Sab
in 2012. I believe Sab started Salaam Peace organisation. I did some volunteering with him at the beginning, always stayed in contact and will do the occasional paid work, mostly in the school holidays.
I am still working as a PE teacher. This summer I got back to working with Salaam Peace on a more regular basis. I worked all summer, mostly on the hackney estates. I fully enjoyed it, as it took me back to where it all started. When Sab asked me to come back and do some more work on a consistent basis I didn’t hesitate. I have known and worked with Sab a long time. The work Salaam Peace do in local communities is second to none, I’ve gone full circle and now combine my work as a teacher as well as working with Salaam Peace.
The journey I’ve been on wouldn’t have been possible without the input from Sab.
