Say It Loud

Last week, I partnered with Say It Loud to deliver a workshop to its members focusing on how to improve their photography skills, train their photographer's eye and turn ideas into photography projects. The workshop was part of a series of creative workshops which will fit into a big project for Pride this year. The theme of the project is "What pride means to me", in which members will be creating pieces of art or performances that express what pride means to them with the aim of showing them in a virtual exhibition.

Say It Loud is an organisation committed to providing support and advocacy for LGBTQ+ refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. It was founded by Aloysius Ssali in Uganda in 1994, who fled to the UK after being targeted, captured and tortured just because of his sexuality. However, the UK didn't formally recognise sexuality as a reason for claiming refugee status until 2010, so Aloysius was forced to live without papers for five years. In 2010, he successfully claimed refugee status.

Seeing that LGBTQ+ refugees have to overcome incredible challenges for the chance to call the UK their home, he decided to found Say It Loud Club in the UK in 2010. Since then, the organisation has helped hundreds of LGBTQ+ refugees to successfully gain the right to live freely in the UK.

If you want to learn more about Aloysius outstanding work, or if you want to support Say It Loud, please visit www.sayitloudclub.org

Photo credit: screenshot by Holly Dawson from Say It Loud.

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Notes On Finding Common Ground

Thanks to everyone who made it last Saturday to create community with us! Art Sense Studio, Skaped and I ran a workshop in which we explored what it means to belong to a community in the present social, political climate. We guided participants to work and reflect on themes like displacement and a sense of belonging. This workshop was an invitation to delve into our commonalities and expand on what kind of relationships we have been building up with the communities around us.

The workshop consisted of a variety of group dynamics and short exercises in which we intended to instigate people to think about the way social issues impact our lives and communities. Participants said that the exercises were thought-provoking, they sparked deep discussions, and they taught them to focus more on our commonalities and less on our differences.

This workshop was the first part of a bigger project that I will be working on in 2020, where I will explore through photography what it feels like to live in London in this ever-changing social, political and economic landscape. Thanks to Art Sense Studio and Skaped for this beautiful collaboration and here is hoping for many more in the future!

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About Art Sense Studio

London-based social enterprise that delivers group sessions facilitated by experienced mediators specialised in community and participatory art interventions and programmes.

Participants and member of groups are supported in taking creative risks and in discovering the benefits of art as therapy.

We empower residents and their communities by providing opportunities for them to develop their artistic projects, and we support them along the way.

We have been delivering talks, one to ones, tutorials, seminars and wellness/CSR projects. We are also experienced in designing and providing programmes for individuals with lived experiences of mental health issues.

About Skaped

Skaped raises awareness of human rights issues and challenges as a way to inspire people to become actively engaged in social and political matters around the world, as well as at their doorstep.

Their mission is to work with people, and for them to take ownership of their human rights and provide a platform in which they develop confidence to realise their power and gives them a voice. They do this through creative arts workshops that use storytelling, film-making, and performance, to widen people's understanding and respect of human rights.

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Finding Common Ground

This coming Saturday, November 2, 2019, I will be running a free workshop in collaboration with Art Sense Studio and Skaped in which we will explore what it means to belong to a community in the present social, political climate. We will guide participants to work and reflect on themes like displacement and a sense of belonging. This workshop is an invitation to delve into our commonalities. Join us and expand on what kind of relationships you have been building up with the communities around you.

Are you someone actively involved in your community? Do you identify as a community leader? Would you like to understand your level of engagement with your community? Are you involved in promoting well-being for your community? Are you interested in exploring displacement in community settings? Do you consider yourself as a change-maker in your community?

If any of these questions sounds like you, sign up for free on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/finding-common-ground-tickets-37069860952

We aim to provide a welcoming space to explore these themes in an honest, friendly and supportive way. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

See you there!

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When You Learn, Teach. When You Get, Give.

Last Sunday, Sandy Abdelrahman from Skaped invited me to take part in their Me & My Community Programme to talk to young photographers about turning ideas into photography projects and empower them to explore the issues that they care about the most. Skaped is an organisation that raises awareness of human rights issues and challenges as a way to inspire young people to become actively engaged in social and political matters around the world, as well as at their doorstep.

When Sandy first contacted me about running this workshop with Skaped, I couldn’t help but think about Maya Angelou’s poem Our Grandmothers where she says: “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.” To me, there is nothing more fulfilling than to share what you have learnt along the way with others. It’s my way of paying forward all the kind support that I have received since I moved to London to become a photographer.

You climb, and then you lift others. That is the only way our industry gets stronger, and that is also the way in which you help people to grow and empower them to make our communities better. Working with those very talented young photographers made me think about me at their age. They are so hungry for change, they are so aware of the issues affecting their communities, and they want to do something about them.

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What was I doing in my early twenties? Not trying to change the world, I can tell you that. I wonder, what would have happened if an opportunity like this one had been offered to me back then. To take part in workshops exploring human rights in my community through photography. Would I have taken part in them even if they were for free? Probably not. They say ‘when the student is ready, the teacher will come”.

I wasn’t ready. I lived a comfortable life, oblivious to the issues affecting my community, my country or the world. And my surrounding never encouraged me because we all had very superfluous priorities. But, it is never too late to take action. Even if it took me twenty years to get here, I am now more ready than ever.

I thank Skaped for asking me to be part of one of their outstanding projects, and I applaud all of the young people who take part in them. I wish that one day, I get to be half as aware and engaged as you are.

Photo credits: behind the scenes shot by Skaped.

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