Next week, the ICTU Stronger Together Project will host the first online session of their Ethnic Minority/Migrant Worker Leadership Training.  

Project organisers decided to host the online sessions to facilitate workers who expressed interest but were unable to attend previous sessions held in Dublin. 

Ahead of the online session we spoke to Fórsa’s Khalid El-Busaidy, Senior Membership Recruitment Officer, who shared his experience in undertaking the Leadership Training.  

When the Stronger Together project began recruiting for the inaugural class of May/June 2024, Khalid decided he would take part. He saw the course description and thought “it would be interesting, something different” and that it was something he could use to develop his skills.  

The training was an immensely positive experience for Khalid. He said, “I was glad I did it. I met with colleagues from other unions. It opened me up to so much out there that I wasn’t aware of. I heard directly from the participants about their everyday lives and about their communities.” 

For Khalid, the team facilitating the training was core to its success. He spoke fondly of Dr. David Carroll, Dr. Lucy Michael, and Gordon Ogutu, who created a comfortable environment and made him feel like he could excel. It also gave him the space to explore talents he had not realised he had.  

One such talent was on full display at the ICTU’s Stronger Together: Anti-racist workplaces & trade unions conference, where Khalid spoke as part of the migrant worker’s panel. Using his talent as a storyteller and raconteur, Khalid took the themes being discussed and brought them to life with his own lived experience, enthralling all present in the process. 

Khalid believes “all of us are equipped with some talent we didn’t know about” and for him the best way to uncover these talents is to “get out meet people and do something new.” For Khalid the Leadership Training was the beginning of doing just that, and it gave him the confidence to go further. 

He said, “When I concluded that course, it gave me skills, confidence and a new sense of what I am capable of.” 

Since completing the Leadership Training Khalid has found further enjoyment in education. He has taken on the Trade Union Congress: Organising Diploma course and reads for learning in his spare time. Khalid has excelled. He received word he has passed the course with flying colours just prior to publication and is already thinking about his next challenge.

Khalid said: “If you asked me years ago I would have said I don’t have the time for that. It was the Leadership Training that gave me the push to do the organising course. When I started, I wasn’t nervous because I already knew what to expect.”  

“The ICTU Ethnic Minority and Migrant Worker Leadership Training, really was the key for me. It opened everything up.” he concluded. 

Encouraging anyone thinking about doing the training he said: “Definitely go for it, take the step. It is a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally.”  

Most of all Khalid wanted to stress the way the training made him feel in the hope others can experience it too, saying “you meet so many people, they’re so diverse, and everyone there is just like me. It makes you feel like you’re not alone.” 

ICTU Stronger Together Project: Online Ethnic Minority/Migrant Worker Leadership Training will take place on Mondays 12th and 19th May, from 6.30pm - 8.00pm. 

Sessions will be facilitated by ICTU and Dr Lucy Michael. 

Attendance is free of charge and open to all migrant workers and those of a minority ethnic background. 

Fórsa encourages all members who qualify for the training to take part if they can.

To register for the course, please send an email, with your name, trade union affiliation and contact details to antiracism@ictu.ie.

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