“I am reminded constantly of our unique human ability and quality to Love - to find strength and courage to stand for what we believe because we ‘love’ that cause.

May I ask you to think about what it means, how different life would be if we ‘loved’ ourselves - truly - without condition. Would loving ourselves offer us confidence and peace? Would loving ourselves mean that we did not need to confine our beliefs to division / to ‘us’ and ‘them’ - Ultimately would loving ourselves enable us to feel real empathy - to love others - to love our neighbour?”

Gill Hicks with members of the UK Youth Parliament

Last week Gill Hicks spoke to over 300 members of the UK Youth Parliament aged between 11-18 at their 10th annual sitting at the University of Ulster, Jordanstown Campus.   There was a lively, yet emotional, Q&A with many penetrating and thought-provoking questions.

We’d like to thank all the Members, as well as Andy Hamflett (CEO) and Martin Jones (Head of Campaigns and Democracy), and the team who organised our visit and made it so enjoyable.

We were so overwhelmed that Gill received not one, but two, standing ovations!  It was also a honour to meet Robin Newton, MLA, Junior Minister in the Office of the First Minister & Deputy First Minister, Professor Alastair S Adair, Pro Vice Chancellor of the University, and their teams.

Later in the day we privately took time to visit some of the areas so affected by the conflicts of the last thirty years and to try to understand just a little about the ongoing reality of living beside barriers which separate the communities.. we wrote on the Peace Wall, leaving our mark to acknowledge the suffering of the past and our hope for a better future, like thousands have done before us.

The Muslim Young Peoples’ Forum invited Gill Hicks to speak at their ‘Embrace’ conference exploring ‘Being a Young British Muslim in 2010′.

Thanks to Yasmin for introducing us to another group of inspirational young people, giving us the opportunity to meet Andy from Cleveland police after all this time, and to chat with Sumaiya and Rumena from Str!ve.

There are few people who can speak about a tragic event in such an engaging and uplifting way as Gill. Equally there are few people who have endured such unimaginable trauma and be able to rejoice and celebrate just being alive. Her appreciation is infectious and her gratitude humbling.

Inspiring is a word often over used, but Gill Hicks’ remarkable courage and determination to truly triumph over tragedy is nothing but inspirational.  Her lust for life,   peppered with a keen Australian sense of humour, mark her as an unforgettable speaker and unique motivator.

Gill’s entire story, from surviving a terrorist bombing to now living as a disabled person and leaving her career to dedicate her life to peace building is often best told by focussing on and highlighting a particular area or subject.

Many clients prefer to select the topic that will best suit their audience. Whether it’s part of a company motivation day, community gathering, school assembly or keynote speech at a charity fundraiser, Gill is able to make some very complex and delicate topics extremely accessible.

Testimonials

“You could hear a pin drop, in all my years in events management I have never seen an audience so gripped by every word, Gill inspired us all, amazing…”

Caroline, Events Manager, Adelaide Convention Centre

“Gill held the audience spellbound for well over an hour. The presentation was both confronting and inspirational.  It gave our members a new perspective on prioritising their lives and what is truly important as well as the sheer determination in beating the odds… truly a unique experience”

David McDonough, YPO Education Chair, Adelaide

“In her speaking engagements on behalf of Leonard Cheshire Disability she always manages to move and inspire people so their combined energy and creativity can be used positively to benefit others less able”

Assaf Adoni, Former Director, Leonard Cheshire Disability

“Gill is a constant reminder that our work is hugely valued and appreciated, and has become a dear friend to many.  Her frequent and overwhelmingly positive comments about St Thomas’, her fundraising efforts and her willingness to talk candidly about her experiences as a patient and of her recovery continue to enrich the lives of everyone who has met her since those tragic events on July 7”

Anita Knowles, Director of Communications, Guy’s St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

“You tell your story with such power and pace… it is essential to our survival and that of our planet that we stay conscious – that we are aware of what we are doing … and that we act on that awareness.  By example and by examination, you show us how.  Thank you”

Dr Scilla Elworthy, Founder of Peace Direct, recipient of the Niwano Peace Prize in 2003 and nominated three time for the Nobel Peace Prize

“ She has worked hard to regain her mobility with prosthetic limbs, and now works tirelessly for better opportunities for disabled people with the charity Leonard Cheshire Disability, and devotes herself full-time to building networks for peace between Muslim, Christian and other communities.  Gill has displayed an awesome spirit and strength to choose hope over despair, and a relentless sense of purpose, when it would have been so easy to fall into depression. Like so many other women, the unimaginable tests she has faced have not made her give up, but instead inspired her to devote herself to a cause close to her heart.”

Sarah Brown

“Inspiring! …   Gill was fantastic – I could have listened to her all day!  … She made me realise that little things mean a lot”

Nurse in the West Midlands

“The delegates felt empowered, inspired and appreciative with the opportunity to network and attend workshops”

Organiser of Police Service Event

“One could not help but be inspired and challenged - and in the very self centred world of the City reflective on how we spend our time,  live our lives and evaluate what is truly important. Pity I could not have made it mandated viewing for all on the trading floor!!!”

City banker

“Gill gave two of the best received, uplifting and thought provoking presentations I have heard in many years of attending conferences and events.

Her presentation at the National Meetings and Events Association in Adelaide in April 2009 achieved the highest ever rating from attendees for a presentation at the conference. The Melbourne presentation was equally well received by a totally different audience and greatly added to the effectiveness of the lunch and the achievement of its objectives.”

Leigh Harry, Chief Executive, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Selected Speeches, Talks and Workshops

Charitable organisations:

Leonard Cheshire Foundation

Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust

Peace Direct

Be The Change

Initiatives of Change

Rotary

The Forgiveness Project

The City Bridge Trust

Government and NGOs:

London Ambulance Service

Association of Chief Police Officers

Home Office

Young Muslim Advisory Group

Police Service

Metropolitan Police

West Yorkshire Police

NHS Critical Care Conference

Kent Fire and Rescue Service

NHS Innovations Live

Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust

International Women’s Day, Australia House

Department of Health

NHS Confederation

Corporate:

Merrill Lynch

Citibank

Audi

MEA

Young Presidents’ Organization, Australia

“As we draw closer to the end of June I am filled with the anticipation of the coming month - July - for this July 7th will mark five years since the London Bombings - five years since one life ended for me

The passing of time offers little comfort for me - I will not recover, my legs will not miraculously grow back - I will never know how it feels to walk on the beach and feel the sand between my toes - or to run across a field or to leap out of bed or to stand in the shower. Five years of adjusting and adapting, or learning my ‘new’ normal.

Time is timeless.

However, every day of the last five years has been one that I have  been truly grateful to have - I have cherished all the things that I once took for granted - I have loved with more passion and conviction - I have strived to make my life count, to truly make a positive contribution to the world and I have embraced life with a renewed sense of worth and purpose.

I will always be reminded of the brilliance of humanity by all those who saved my life - putting their lives at risk to do so - for all those who refused to give up - who would not let me die.

They have taught me how to live - how to give back…..

Remember always that Someone, Somewhere is feeling the effects of something you have said or done - it is our responsibility to ensure that we leave a positive mark on all that we do…”

We’re continuing to develop and deliver projects and films, and to give talks and workshops in the three key areas of our activity - Public Awareness - Education - Bridging Divides in Communities.

Watch out for  …

… ‘Draw A Line: School to School’ in Brent on 7 July; more continuing activities with Slough schools; and ‘Embrace’, the Muslim Young People’s conference in Leicester in July…

… Gill’s powerful and moving contributions to ‘4Thought’, a series beginning 5 July on Channel 4 after Channel 4 News; and to Australia’s Channel 9 ‘News’ on 6 July…

M.A.D. for Peace exists to communicate the importance of our individual responsibility in creating a world in which extreme conflict and its human consequences are ended.

Our belief is that peace starts within each and every one of us.
It’s an easy equation - one person’s positive actions within their own community when multiplied, will have a significant effect nationally, which can radiate to have an impact globally.

Our aim is to encourage people to choose peace - for peace to be a verb, something that we all actively ‘do’.

Our approach to building peace is creative, passionate, and considered. We design initiatives and projects that engage people at a local, national and international level, incorporating specific objectives to meet the needs of each particular community.  We aim to attract new audiences, as well as those already addressing social responsibility.

M.A.D. for Peace is difficult to define as one particular thing - in effect we are a multi-faceted organisation, drawing from both life experience and the wealth of creative influence from our professional lives to communicate the great need for positive change in the world.

M.A.D. encourages people to think about peace as something that we can achieve together - if we all ‘do’ peace every day - like recycling - if everyone ‘did’ a little peace - we may then end up with greater peace!

M.A.D. strives to remind people that we all have a choice – that our actions have implications – that someone somewhere is feeling the effects of something you have said or done.

Our 3 main areas of work are:

• Public Awareness
• Education
• Bridging Divides within Communities

February and March have been busy at here at M.A.D.  Gill has given a range of inspirational talks up and down the country - with more to come later in the month, including the launch of one of our M.A.D. in Schools projects……

From  the NHS  and King’s Fund, to Inspire Muslim Women’s conference in Hounslow to mark International Women’s Day, Gill’s message focuses on the great inner strength we all have, and can draw upon, to help make our homes, the workplace, our schools, our community and the world-at-large free from conflict.

Click on this link for a talk she gave to YMAG.

Gill’s work as a peacemaker since 7 July 2005 was acknowledged last night when she became recipient of the Iman Wa Amal Special Judges Award at the 10th Annual Muslin News Awards for Excellence.

Chair of the independent panel of judges Dr Fatima Husain, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist  made the presentation to Gill.  The award is granted at the discretion of the judges to a person who draws their inspiration from the imperative to seek positive and meaningful change.

Congratulations Gill - and we echo her words of thanks to Ahmed Versi, Editor of the Muslim News, the panel of Judges and everyone involved with the event last night.

The ‘Kangaroo Island Hunt’ was a part of G’DayUK 2009, a joint initiative of the Government of South Australia and the South Australian Tourism Commission. It saw 20 life-size kangaroo statues descend upon central London, each covered in its own unique design created by a mix of celebrities, students, artists and sponsors.

M.A.D. were the recipients of donations from d’Arenberg wines and from an auction of some of the Roos on e-bay, handled by Cube Communications.

In addition to the Roo pictured, other Roos which raised money for M.A.D. were:

Eddie Fett (artist from Brixton, London) “Life is Worth Living”

Qantas Airline “Unity” and “Winton”

Elle McPherson “Elle-aroo”

Kate Lambe (student at TafeSA Croydon School of Design, Adelaide)  ”Punchy”

Rosemary Whitehead (artist from Penneshaw, Kangaroo Island) “Groovy Rooby 2Stay”

John Whitney (artist from Cheltenham, South Australia) “Parndarna”

Emma Hack (artist from Adelaide) “Floral Emblem Roo”