The mother of a murdered London schoolboy has described how, on the day he died, she promised to devote her life to bringing peace to the streets in his memory.
Margaret Mizen, whose son Jimmy was killed in south-east London in 2008, now works with some of the capital’s toughest schools.
Over the next three days, more than 1,000 pupils will add their handprints to a “peace mosaic” at the Southbank Centre to honour Jimmy.
It is part of WHY? What’s Happening for the Young, a festival that runs until Sunday celebrating the rights of children.
After Jimmy’s death, his parents, Margaret and Barry, set up the For Jimmy foundation and were instrumental in establishing “safe havens” for young people in south-east London feeling threatened or bullied.
Mrs Mizen, 63, said: “I’d be a liar if I said it was all hunky dory. But every time we get sad about what happened to Jimmy we remember the good work that’s come in his memory.
“On the day he died I promised Jimmy two things. One, that we would keep his name alive because he was a beautiful young man, and secondly, I will dedicate my life to working for peace in his memory.
“Some of the schools we go into are really tough, but when you’re sharing a story so emotive they do take it on board. I tell them about actions and consequences. I talk about bullying. At the end I say, ‘Are you up for change? Will you help me?’ Very few say no.”
Jimmy, one of nine siblings, was killed in Lee the morning after his 16th birthday. He died after Jake Fahri, 19, threw a glass dish which struck him on the jaw. Fahri was jailed for life in 2009, and must serve at least 14 years.
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