MPower: Political Leadership Programme
Migrant Democracy Project is building migrants’ political power in the UK.
We are registering migrants to vote, campaigning for everyone to have the right to vote, and getting more migrants elected!
Our MPower Programme focuses on training political candidates in the United Kingdom, helping migrants develop practical and transferable skills when standing for election. The programme develops skills to become a councillor, presented by various expert speakers, such as migrant councillors, public-speaking coaches, and much more!
Our second MPower cohort will begin the programme in January 2025. Applications are now closed.
Follow us @migrantdemos to stay up to date on the selected participants’ training and successes over the next four months!
Below, you can learn more about the MPower leaders and their achievements.
Cohort 2
In December 2024, we launched our second cohort of our MPower: Political Leadership Programme with a new group of brilliant first-generation migrant candidates.
The programme will run through January - April 2025, with sessions covering:
Key responsibilities of councillors
How to win for and with your migrant community
UK politics and democracy
Selection criteria of different political parties
Public Speaking, Social Media, and Interview skills
…and much more!
Our participants will receive coaching and mentoring and hear from experienced and inspiring speakers, including amazing migrant councillors already elected!
Cohort 1
In November 2023, we launched our first ever MPower Political Candidates Programme with 10 brilliant first-generation migrant candidates.
Our first cohort of candidates were born in Brazil, Colombia, Cyprus, Malawi, Nigeria, Romania, and Poland — and they now call the UK their home and want to represent their communities from London to Liverpool!
We delivered sessions covering:
Key responsibilities of councillors
How to win for and with your migrant community
UK politics and democracy
Selection criteria of different political parties
Public Speaking, Social Media, and Interview skills
…and much more!
Our participants received coaching and mentoring and heard from experienced and inspiring speakers, including amazing migrant councillors already elected!
Our wins
In April 2024, we concluded the first programme and now our participants are full of energy and enthusiasm for continuing to win for their migrant communities.
Each of our participants received a financial stipend to allow them to fully participate in the programme, covering any transport, childcare, and hours outside of work. We believe our leadership development is key to our future vision and deserves to be compensated.
Our participants and future candidates all carried out local community action during their time in the programme to start their political journey by giving them a flavour of councillor work, demonstrating the value of community engagement, and raising their local profile.
The activities have ranged from community litter picks to informative events for the community!
We are also incredibly proud that two of our MPower Programme participants got elected in 2024! Kemal Çufoğlu became the first Cypriot to get elected in Colchester and Gabriel Duduta became the first Romanian to get elected in Watford! We are representing our communities now!
