Malibu’s pride

Tuesday 19 November is International Men’s Day. As part of a week celebrating the positive value men bring to the world, their families and communities, a number of colleagues have kindly agreed to share their stories.

Today, we hear from Sheffield late shift manager, Malibu Nabolizi.

‘I was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo,’ said Malibu. ‘My family moved to Belgium when I was nine-years-old and I was raised in Europe. I was lucky to be brought up in a very traditional way, but my parents also appreciated the new cultures of Europe and for this, it is my parents, who are my role models.’

Malibu moved to the UK in 2000 and settled in Sheffield. He speaks an incredible seven languages fluently and has two children.

‘I started working at Royal Mail as a Christmas casual worker,’ he added. ‘I never thought that all these years on, I would still be here. I currently work in Sheffield Mail Centre. Royal Mail, with its principles and values, has been instrumental in helping me achieve this.

‘Throughout my employment here I’ve been given the opportunity to make a difference and have been supported by so many people throughout the years. This has allowed me to progress to where I am today. Although it hasn’t always been an easy journey, I’ve been guided by my own self-belief and determination.

‘I am proud to work for an organisation that is so diverse and does so well at promoting equality. The benefits of this are that inclusion is encouraged and there is a good understanding of cultural differences. I feel that diversity leads to the building of tolerance, respect and knowledge.

‘I was proud to see that Royal Mail celebrated Black History Month (BHM) - a time for reflection and a time for everyone to remember the difficult histories that so many people from BAME backgrounds have shared.

‘BHM was also a time to reflect on the diverse histories of those of African and Caribbean descent, taking note of the achievements and contributions to the social, political, economic and cultural development of the UK. For us, it’s a time to remember how far we’ve come and to remember that without the restrictions so many of us once faced, the sky is now our limit. The UK is a wonderful and diverse country and I couldn’t imagine anywhere else being my home.

‘Away from work I am a keen family man and my partner and children are my priority. I also like to be involved with charities, which bring hope to women in the Congo, who have suffered sexual violence as a weapon of war.’