The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Activist ‘will borrow and beg’ to finance work
CAMPAIGN: Mike Haines aims to keep up school visits in fight against extremism
The brother of murdered aid worker David Haines is determined to continue his peace campaign in schools across Scotland, despite a funding setback.
For the past five years, Mike Haines has been touring the country and speaking to thousands of students about his brother’s death at the hands of IS terrorists.
His Global Acts of Unity campaign teaches inter-religious tolerance and a united front against extremists.
Mr Haines, from Dundee, said he cannot continue to fund his work in Scotland out of his own pocket. The 53-year-old, who was made an OBE in last year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours, has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise enough cash to keep the work going for at least two years more.
“I have been touring schools across Britain, but I only get funding for the work I do south of the border,” he said.
“In Scotland I don’t get any funding whatsover. There’s an awful lot of support for what I do – including support from the government – but no financial backing.”
Mr Haines said the funding he gets in England, partly via creative agency M&C Saatchi, goes into the work that does not get funded.
“Unfortunately, it has got to the point where I can’t afford to do it like this any longer.
“Earlier this year Global Acts of Unity became a community interest company with the idea that we would be able to start applying for outside funding. That hasn’t really worked out, the application process has been a nightmare.”
Mr Haines has set up an online Gofundme campaign to raise a goal of £15,000.
“That should pay for about 75 schools. We can stretch that out over a couple of years.
“At the moment, I’ve only got enough to keep going until January, when we are hoping to launch a big campaign in Scottish schools.”
He said he is reluctant to give up on his work. “If for whatever reason I don’t get this money, I will borrow and beg – maybe not steal – to keep this going.
“I think what we are doing is so important, and the feedback we always get from the schools is phenomenal.”
Mr Haines launched Global Acts of Unity after his brother’s death in 2014. His work has taken him around the world and even to the Vatican, where he met Pope Francis.
To donate, search Global Acts of Unity at the Gofundme website.