Interview: Mike Haines, founder of Global Acts of Unity

Mike Haines is speaking from a Heathrow hotel as he awaits a flight to the United States to witness the sentencing of Alexanda Kotey, the UK-born Islamic State (IS) extremist and member of what was dubbed the “Jihadi Beatles” – young British Muslims who volunteered to fight for IS in Syria and Iraq. Last year, Kotey pleaded guilty in a US Federal court to “hostage-taking resulting in death” from 2012–15. One of the terrorist group’s victims was Mike’s brother David, an aid worker who was kidnapped from a refugee camp in Syria in March 2013 before being murdered in September 2014. Shortly after David’s death, Mike set up Global Acts of Unity (GAU), a campaign to promote tolerance and understanding among schoolchildren, so that “something positive comes out of this senseless act”.

How did GAU come about?

After David’s murder I knew that I had to do something against what the terrorists and extremists of all types were trying to do to our communities. I could see the extremists were trying to push us apart and cause division and hate. The last thing David would have wanted was for someone to be hurt in his name, so in response I set up GAU. Initially I spoke to anybody – there was never large audiences – but after two months I was invited to speak at a multi-faith event in Birmingham. Afterwards I was asked by a local head teacher to come into his school and meet a few students and teachers. When I arrived at the school there were 1,400 students in the hall. I couldn’t tell you what I said, I just opened my heart and talked about reaching across divides.

What impact did this first school visit have?

It had a wonderful effect. Students came up to me afterwards and shook my hand, some gave me a hug. I realised it was a waste of time talking to my generation. Young people are our leaders of tomorrow and that’s where the idea of GAU came into being – I needed to speak to young people because they are the ones extremists target to recruit.

How have the school visits developed since?

Every school that we visit wants us to go back. We have established relationships with schools – the first school in Birmingham I’ve stayed in touch with and been back twice. I’ve spoken to more than 100,000 students in hundreds of schools. We’ve just finished a week in Newcastle and before that Manchester. The response has been awesome.

What format do the presentations take?

The presentations are an hour. I talk about my story then we have questions. I tell a story about two brothers, show family slides about when David and I were children. They are typically embarrassing out-of-focus family photos. Even though they may not recognise the upbringing we had, they see something in there that hooks them. I tell the story up to the point of David’s murder. You can see the emotional journey they are on; there’s always pin-drop silence.

What kinds of questions do young people ask?

It covers everything. They are always intelligent, emotional questions, they are never stupid.

I’ve spoken at pupil referral units through to the poshest of private schools and I have never been asked “Tell me how your brother was murdered?” Our young people are truly incredible; understanding and intelligent.

Sometimes schools are unaware of a student’s experiences. For example, I talked to a boy about his escape from Libya. Teachers said “He’s never said anything to us”. The feedback is that it has opened a gate and subsequent information has come out they had no idea about.

How do the presentations support teachers to help vulnerable pupils?

Where I come in is to give that emotional content. It underlines what the other practitioners have been saying. I tell the story in the hope that one person in that audience will turn away from acts or words of hate.

I was speaking at a school in Portsmouth, a boy was at the presentation but was truant from school 80 per cent of the time. He was on the police radar for crime and on the Prevent radar for far-right views. He went home and told his mum about the presentation and the next day he went to school and the day after that. He’s in further education now and is a positive influence in his community.

What is the overarching message you want the students to take away?

At a multi faith school in Luton I had students with far-right sympathies challenge me. They were angry and had separated themselves from their peers. After the presentation they stayed behind and we talked. They asked what they should do differently: my answer is always to show an act of kindness. That one act of kindness ripples out and has such positive effects that you may not realise.

What have you learned from doing the school visits?

I always wondered if I was being naïve and stupid, but I’ve learned that students need to hear these messages. If I don’t hate the people who murdered my brother then why should you hate someone who calls you a name. That’s what it comes down to: a rejection of hate as a mental attitude.

What are your plans for GAU?

We’re in the process of becoming a charity. Our five-year plan is to create an ambassador scheme involving students. The idea is to work with schools to give them a structure and some training to promote GAU values within the school. Feedback from schools is that things have changed for the better after our visit.

I want GAU to become more than David’s story. Many positive things are going on in schools and communities. I want GAU to become about their stories.

• More from https://mikehaines.globalactsofunity.com/