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Editor’s Welcome It is October & Black History Month has officially returned. But was Black History away all this while? NO! 2020 has played host to difficult times not only to Black People but everyone.

COVID-19 continues to hold the world to ransom but with all severity of this pandemic, Black People rose again. As usual, in unison & solidarity not only to George Floyd’s murder or Bryana Tailors assassination but to raise that fist of resistance, defiance & recuperation. Did some governments capitulate; yes, but some were adamantly ignorant.

Black Lives Matter has gained indelible & tremendous strides in the fight against, racism, marginalisation, inequality & institutional & structural degradation of Black People. Yes, the Winds of Change have blown but it seems like the winds of the harmattan when dried leaves drop from the tree & gets blown away. How long shall Black People wait to see fresh green leaves grow from the Freedom Tree which used to serve as a source of light for our ancestors who toiled forcefully under wickedness, deprivation, rape, torture & maimed, without benefit or regard.

It is true, yes, a lot has changed but how beneficial has the change been. How could we celebrate Black History in cities & towns where statues of “slave traders” stood tall & sturdy in the nucleus of society. The Black Lives Matter movement reminds of the great Kunta Kinteh who stood up against slavery & fought convincingly for his freedom & those of others. Rosa Park did not challenge the status quo for herself but for generations yet to come. Dr King Jnr’s dream continues to gather momentum but yet to be in totality.

While we cherish our grandfathers like Fredrick Douglass, we shall not be fully emancipated if we relent. Black Lives Matter & Black History serve as the captains of the train that leads us to the promise land andunless we relent, Black History & Black Lives should be celebrated every day.

ALUTA CONTINUA Managing editor Pa@mojatu.com

Editorial Group Editor: Frank Kamau – frank@mojatu.com Managing Editor: Pa Modou Faal Graphic Design / Photos: Robert Borbely Contributors: Angela Wathoni | Hillary Burage | Jaya Gordon Moore | Laura McCartan | Holly Barrow | Ophelie Lawson | Pa Modou Faal | Anna Nagy | Rebecca Beinart | Stella Muiruri | Sarah Lee | Rani Ali | Julia Paul | Parmjit Sagoo | Joan Muraguri | Sarat Jabbi | Amindeh Blaise Atabong | Nanjala Nyabola | Tombe Tombe | Edrissa Touray | Lillian Mhando Sales & Marketing / Community Engagement: Abdoulie Jah - jah@mojatu.com Kevin Price - kevin.price@mojatu.com

Contents News and Sports Female Genital Mutilation & Economics ................... 4 Reminded of my place ..................................................... 5 Working from home .......................................................13 Community Primary art exhibition ....................................................17 Black History .............................................................. 18-20 The Pythian club ..............................................................21 Covid 19 Work FYA Fearless & Loud ........................................................29 Education is for Everyone ...................................... 36-37 Yoga for Women ..............................................................39 Impact of Covid 19 on Mental Health ......................42 Impact of Covid 19 on BAME Women ......................43 Arts and Culture Summer festivals in Nottingham ...............................44 Health & Food Men and Mental Health ................................................50 Business Pathway Housing ..................................................... 54-55 Education and Career Importance of Girls Education ....................................56 Covid-19 & Education ....................................................58 Mojatu Media Disclaimer The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that the contents of this magazine are accurate but the publisher cannot take responsibility for errors, omissions, nor can we accept responsibility for the advertisements or editorial contributions.

Edwin Ubah - eddy@mojatu.com Accounts: John Gordon - accounts@mojatu.com Admin: Penny Cooper - penny@mojatu.com News & Comments: news@mojatu.com Getting the magazine Online @ www.mojatu.com/magazines Subscription @ £24 per year including postage subs@mojatu.com Address: Mojatu 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR T: 0115 8457 009 | 0751 6962 992 Facebook: www.facebook.com/mojatu Twitter: www.twitter.com/mojatumedia Printers: Mojatu Media

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FGM AND ECONOMICS

By Hillary Burage The writer, Hilary Burrage as part of the Oxford Against Cutting Seminar series spoke about a theme that is extremely widespread and serious.

This theme is the economic and other factors of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) which does not only have an impact on the victims, the girls but on their loved ones as well as on the community that they are part of.

Her seminar started by introducing the shocking data of the brutality and assault against women. 35% of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence. 200 million women have experiences female genital mutilation. She explained that ’this issue is not only devastating for survivors of violence and their families, but also entails significant social and economic costs. In some countries, violence against women is estimated to cost countries up to 3.7% of their GDP – more than double what most governments spend on education’.

Burrage said that if it is our aim to stop FGM then it is a must to acknowledge that economics is also what underlies the long history of FGM itself. It’s money which have always driven the practice. And thus, the girl or woman who undergoes FGM becomes an economic commodity. Therefore, we need to look at this practice as something that is influenced by the economic benefits, rather than something that is in favour of the girls and their relationships.

In communities where FGM is practised, it is usually an expected precursor at some stage in the girl’s life to early marriage, as a first or subsequent wife.

It is believed to guarantee so-called ‘purity’ – i.e. virginity. This is why by many it is believed to be a traditional practice, but in reality it is a violent crime against girls and women, and a very serious human rights violation.

Many locations where FGM is prevalent do not have adequate health provision; they do not maintain full medical records – and the clinical priority when FGM demands acute care will not be long-term impact record-keeping and there may be reluctance to equate FGM with harm, let alone economic cost, etc.

Among the indicators of why FGM costs so much there is that FGM

results in early marriage, loss of education, personal opportunities, increase the likelihood of infant mortality, increase the likelihood of physical and mental health problems, shorter life expectancy and many more.

But as everything FGM practice has a small circle which benefits from this practice. This is the family of the girl, the husband, the local community and the operator of the practice. Contrary, it does not benefit the young girls, her future children, the local economy and the nation who has thousands of women who are not in good health.

Therefore, what can we do to stop this practice? We need to educate the families to know that educating their daughters actually have a lot of benefits. We need to educate the husband to see that without FGM their wife would be a person in good health and someone who is happier. And we need to educate the local community to see that this practice is wrong and that women die because of it and families got destroyed because of it.

Burrage’s eye-opening seminar showed why we cannot ignore or neglect the process of FGM. This is not something that only affect a tiny layer of our societies but something that affects millions of lives across the globe which we need to acknowledge and stop.

Original article: https://rb.gy/vhfwy4

Nottingham connected

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REMINDED OF MY PLACE

By Jaya Gordon-Moore In the midst of the recent BLM movements. I was reminded of my place. Going shopping minding my business. Headphones in, Nas ‘Purple’ is playing.

I get on the tram as usual. Very much in my own world. I was interrupted by some shouting – I pull out my headphones and turn to face where I can hear the noise. A man Is shouting at me, I’m not sure what he’s saying at first, but he looks me in the eye, then up and down in absolute disgust. He is red faced and eyes almost watering. I was just confused.

‘I’M SPEAKING TO YOU’ , ‘EXCUSE ME IM SPEAKING TO YOU’ , ‘Huh?’ , ‘I SAID, WHAT COLOUR EVEN ARE YOU? ITS NOT MY FAULT YOU ARE BLACK IS IT?!’

For the next however many seconds, I am bombarded with questions, words, phrases. I looked around almost in disbelieve, like is anyone else seeing this? Apparently not. Or they just don’t want to. Or they just don’t feel they need to.

I pull out my phone and ask him what he said again. At least if anything happens, I have some evidence.

‘WELL ITS NOT MY FAULT, WHAT COLOUR EVEN ARE YOU- WELL I DON’T KNOW DO I?’ I contest him. I’ve been taught to stand up for myself and others when it comes to moral and discrimination.

Even though it can be scary and can cause a ‘scene’, I cannot sit there and take that. As I contest him, the man pulls out a pair of scissors from his bag as he says, ‘Stop it now!’. He then goes on about how he is grieving, and it is ‘my grandma’s fault’ that he had mental health issues.

There was a lot more to the story. And although I contested the man, I did remove myself from the situation. When he pulled out the scissors, no one even batted an eye lid. A twenty year old girl getting verbally abused by a grown man because of the colour of skin she was born with. I would like to point out also that all of this was very loud, and the tram driver did not do anything or even check if anything was happening.

He felt the need to define me. Like many people do. My interracial Jamaican Irish heritage confused him. It felt like he was angry at black people and chose me as a ‘spokesperson’ to inform about it.

I feel failed by the system again. I reported it to the police. They came to my house at 9PM that night and took some notes. I sent them the video footage, for them to update me that they uploaded it to their system weeks later, after telling me during our interview they would do it immediately and take this stuff ‘very very seriously’. I went to town about a week after the incident, only to see the man again, in central Nottingham, 5 minutes away from one of the police stations. He was shouting again. I called 999 immediately. The women on the phone seemed confused as to why I was getting so upset. She told me to follow him but keep a distance and keep them updated on his whereabouts. I did not realise this was my job - the victim of the hate crime incident – to almost ‘spy’ on the culprit – a man who I believe is a danger to society. I’ve heard no news since.

That day reminded me of my place. As a young interracial woman alone in a western society. For the last six years or so I have been passionate about intersectional issues. I have been reading bell hooks since sixth form. A big aim of my music is to open discussions and stimulate change. I have always been interested in thought provoking content. I have always stood up against racial and gender discrimination, even when the little blonde girl called me a ‘nigger’ at the skatepark when we were 11. Even when the neighbour’s kids threw apples at me and my sisters because we didn’t look the same. My job out of uni is for a charity that empowers black communities and offers opportunities. But after this moment I felt exhausted.

I felt so powerless. I make podcasts about this stuff; I really try to have hope that I can make a difference.

But this moment really got to me, more than usual. No matter my degree, no matter my success, no matter how strong I feel, how above a situation I feel, how empowered I feel – this moment reminded me that the racial difference is still stronger in the eyes of them.

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THE DEATH OF MERCY BAGUMA CALLS FOR RADICAL CHANGES TO THE UK’S ASYLUM SYSTEM By Holly Barrow On 22nd August, Mercy Baguma, a 34 year old asylum seeker, was found dead in her flat in Glasgow with her malnourished baby son crying next to her. While the cause of Mercy’s death is currently under investigation - with no confirmation as of yet that this was due to starvation - the harrowing circumstances surrounding this tragedy have sparked renewed pressure to end a key component of the government’s hostile environment policy - the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition.

Mercy had recently become jobless - in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic - after her leave to remain in the UK expired. She was reportedly undergoing the process of claiming asylum however asylum seekers in the UK are unable to undertake paid work while their claim is being processed and must rely on a meagre weekly allowance of £37.75. This payment is intended to cover all daily essentials - from food to toiletries and clothing. As a result, Mercy is believed to have been living in extreme poverty in the weeks leading up to her death and had sought help from Scottish charity Positive Action, confiding in them that she didn’t “have enough money to look after herself or her child”.

She had similarly received the support of African Challenge Scotland in July, as the organisation published a video via their social media of Mercy gratefully accepting a much-needed food parcel. While it has not yet been confirmed that the cause of Mercy’s death was due to her destitute circumstances, her tragic case speaks to an urgent need for the government to eradicate needless hurdles and such scant support for those seeking asylum.

The UK’s asylum system has long provoked criticism and calls for change from immigration lawyers, migrant charities and campaigners alike. Destitution among asylum seekers is rife and this devastatingly comes as no surprise given the restrictions and delays often endured by these individuals throughout the asylum process.

Countless reports published by researchers, thinktanks and organisations have demonstrated a desperate need for reforms to the asylum system, with so many vulnerable individuals falling through the cracks. This is largely as a result of the No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition which prohibits asylum seekers from accessing statutory homelessness assistance and most welfare benefits, including Universal Credit and child tax credits, as well as presenting significant barriers when it comes to accessing free healthcare and housing.

A report carried out in 2017 by Refugee Action found that, despite the Home Office having a duty to ensure that those who require support while waiting on a decision for their asylum claim do not fall into destitution and homelessness, many who seek support from the charity are living on the street or haven’t eaten properly for weeks. Barriers to accessing asylum support play a significant role in this, with many wrongly denied assistance or being made to wait unnecessarily long periods of time before receiving financial support.

The charity found that less than half of applications for emergency support that they assisted with were granted on initial application - however, after appealing these refusals, 92% were granted, often with no change in the applicant’s material situation.

This demonstrates quite how frequently those who are actually eligible for support are initially refused until challenged: what happens to those who are unaware that they can challenge such refusals or who cannot access legal support?

To add insult to injury, leading politicians seem entirely unaware of the far-reaching repercussions of their own policies. In May, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made clear just how little he truly understands his government’s No Recourse to Public Funds condition, after insisting during a committee meeting that ‘people who have worked hard for this country and who live and work here should have support of one kind or another’.

He was corrected by Labour MP Stephen Timms who informed him that, as a matter of fact, thousands of those who have been granted leave to remain in the UK are subjected to the NRPF condition, preventing them from accessing key financial support both in normal circumstances and throughout the duration of the pandemic.

This same level of ignorance was only further displayed by the Minister for Work and Pensions, Therese Coffey, in an interview with SkyNews commentator Kay Burley following Mercy Baguma’s death. Despite being explicitly encouraged to offer her condolences and sympathise with Mercy’s tragic case, Coffey repeatedly insisted that ‘there are ways’ for those in circumstances such as Mercy’s to ‘access that help.’

Only, this demonstrably isn’t the case. The government assistance referred to by Coffey is that which is referenced within Refugee Action’s 2017 research, which found that applications for emergency (section 98) support were incorrectly refused on a regular basis.

Nottingham connected To suggest that those in destitute circumstances will receive urgent support simply upon completing an application is wilfully misleading.

Such rhetoric feeds into the widespread misconception that asylum seekers in the UK somehow have an easy ride, with far-right groups such as Britain First recently storming hotels which are temporarily housing refugees awaiting permanent accommodation during the pandemic.

The misrepresentation of asylum support by leading politicians inevitably contributes to the myth that those seeking asylum are provided with an abundance of assistance and need only complete an application form in order to receive this.

The reality, however, paints a different picture, with asylum seekers going months with non-payment of funds, facing barriers to health care, housing and employment, and having no entitlement to benefits.

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How can we expect the public to recognise the fundamental inhumanity at the core of the asylum system when the Prime Minister himself demonstrates a critical lack of awareness towards the difficulties faced by migrants and asylum seekers in the UK and the Minister of the Department for Work and Pensions refuses to acknowledge that delays and unnecessary refusals of assistance sees many asylum seekers plunged into destitution?

This misinformed narrative must end and measures must be taken to ensure that asylum seekers are provided with the urgent support they so desperately require.

Holly Barrow is a political correspondent for the Immigration Advice Service; a leading immigration law firm which provides free legal advice to those seeking asylum

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How institutional racism is affecting black asylum seekers: A Testimony By Ophelie Lawson Paul is from Congo RDC. He came to Greece on the 7th July 2019, fleeing persecution in his country. He has been living in the island of Lesvos for 14 months waiting for his asylum to be granted. After two initial rejections, Paul is making a last appeal on his case.

In this testimony, Paul speaks up about his experience as a Black asylum seeker in Greece, and more specifically inside the old notorious Moria camp in Lesvos. He talks of the racism he experiences, the unfair and inequal access to support services available to him due to racial profiling and share of his experience of the Greek asylum system and Greek culture.

Paul: I came to Greece, Lesvos, 14 months ago. In one month, it will be 15 months.

I had to flee a political situation which I was trapped in.

This is why I escaped to come here and ask for asylum.

To come here, I had to go through Turkey. It wasn’t easy there. Now that I am here, none of my rights as an asylum seeker are respected. Here it seems as if the laws to protect asylum seekers change every week, always in our disfavour. Our conditions are inhumane in every aspect: sanitary, hygiene, living conditions, and accomodation. The asylum procedure and paperwork is extremely slow. It’s hard to accept. Everything we tell seems to be hard to accept by people, our reality, our stories, everything we are living now and everything we went through. I had two rejections for my asylum claims.

In the camp, we were overcrowded. The camp was made for 3,000 people and at one point we were 20,000 people. There was too much disturbance, too much hostility between communities. Rapes, thefts, crimes, fights, all because of the horrible conditions in which we were forced to live.

What did you hope for when you crossed the Mediteranean sea asking for safety here in Europe?

When I arrived in Europe I had no dreams but an objective: regaining my rights which were violated back in my country. I wanted to be protected and to continue living a normal life, just like I used to back home before everything happened. I led a normal life, I had my routine, and went about my business freely. I did not leave my country because I wanted to, I lived well with my family there. Europe has never been an Eldorado for me, it is because of the political situations of my country that I came here to ask for protection

and I was forced to leave all of my family behind.

Like everybody else I had dreams for the future, now it is as simple as wanting to live in peace, it is the lack of peace in my life back home that made me escape.

I didn’t have security, or protection, my life was in permanent danger, all because of our dictatorial regime which is the reason many of our citizen rights are often violated. I want to work again, contribute to society, give more to the future generation, be part of making the world flourish. Because even if my current situation tells me otherwise, I know that I still have some things to give to the world. We are always called to leave good traces behind us for other people to survive, and one day I would like to find my family if possible, and help people in similar situations like the ones I am going through today. Being an activist is perhaps my new dream, help the voice of the voiceless be heard, support the weak, the abandoned, fight for racial equality, nations, ethnicities. Fighting for justice and against injustice too, because those difficult roads, these difficult moments that I went through made me understand how hard this life can be. But I trust that there will be a change in the days to come, because I know that every man is good by nature but it is society that makes them bad.

Can you tell us about your experience as a Black asylum seekers ?

Since the first day that I arrived at that camp I felt a lot of discrimination. While we were checking in with the police, I was among the first to enter but when we started the registration I was number 22. During food distribution, it was even worse, other communities such as Afghans, Syrians, Iraqis were able to have endless supplies of meals but for Black people this was restricted and our food was carefully measured. This was not the case for the other communities not. In the row if you get noticed you are severely punished.

Inside the camp, the African communities are always targeted by other communities. Many times we were attacked by Afghan communities that terrorised us with knives to steal our phones. If you resist you can lose your life, and there is no hope or expectations that the police would ever intervene.

I was personally attacked twice. I did not try to resist and just handed over my phone. In this year alone 4 Black people lost their lives because of phones. They tried to resist and defend themselves, so they got stabbed on the spot. Hemorrhages were caused by the wounds

Nottingham connected and they lost their lives, some in the hospital, some w where the incident happened. And this happened just many times. Other communities are more privileged than the Black communities on many different aspects.

Once I seeked medical assistance and requested a medical examination due to a continuous discomfort I was feeling because I was tortured in my country. I asked for a brain scan and ultrasound for abdominal pain, but only received a few pain relief tablets, that’s it. An Afghan friend of mine who had suffered a traffic accident back in his country also went to seek medical assistance, he explained his case and was quickly transferred to the hospital for scans.

Here at the camp we had areas where we could connect to the internet for free. After 8:00 p.m, in these areas you could not find any Black people because it was so dangerous for us. And about all these treatments, crimes and discriminations that I just spoke about, there are times when you could even see the person who stole your phone or another article and you cannot inform the police because it can cost you your life and the police also do absolutely nothing in such situations, so apart from discriminatory racism we also lived continuously feeling unsafe.

There is a lack of lasting support for Black refugee communities which is firstly part of racism and discrimination, secondly there’s a lot of irony. All the countries of Europe, where people ask for asylum, know the political realities of our countries, they know about the corruption of our authorities, dictatorship, insecurity, war and organized crime, the persecution, kidnapping, corruption, exploitation of man by man, ethnic and tribal conflict, a flow of armed groups in every nook and cranny of the country.

But it is a system that must continue because they [Europe] do not want us to escape this cycle of abuse in order for people in Europe to continue taking what they need from us. I see their strategy is to ensure that the Black community continues to be mistreated so it does not benefit from its goods and wealth. Because once we awaken and start claiming our rights, once united no one could stop the Black community.

Here [Lesvos] it’s not at all easy because I have no support or outside help, this is because of discrimination, racism and inhumane treatment. There are some of my brothers from the same community who help me to have food and drink because I don’t even dare to go to the “food line”. There I am exposed to all kinds of danger, the police see in plain sight how we, the Black community, are mistreated and they do absolutely nothing to protect us. Some months ago, a Cameroonian was stabbed by an Afghan, his only crime was being in the wrong place and finding himself in a

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misunderstanding. We get very very little support.

Have you ever thought of going back to Africa?

I am never tempted to return to Africa because I know that my life is still in danger, and apart from my country I have never experienced another country. With all that I have lived through, the stress, fear, trauma and torture, I cannot find a way to return there. I make the effort to be informed almost every day and the news that I receive in all four corners of my continent is always the same; war, crimes, assassinations, attack of armed groups, political problems which never have solutions, insecurities etc. In my own country there are more than 150 unidentified armed groups which are terrorising the population daily, looting, spreading violence, persecution, destroying sometimes entire villages. There are always sensitive images circulating on social networks, it does not give me the courage to one day try to return to Africa.

Many of us Black people who are single men here, we suffer a lot from injustices and insults followed by discrimination. Often others benefit from it [this racist system]. I also volunteered for the food line distribution role but it was not easy for me. Because of the threats and discrimination I was to forced to give up to avoid bringing unnecessary trouble. Inside the camp the major community is always in charge. We hardly receive drinking water. I bought it with the 90 € that we received monthly, it is in this way that I have survived.

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INSTITUTIONAL RACISM IS ALSO KILLING BLACK PEOPLE IN EUROPE REFUGEE CAMPS

By Ophelie Lawson The first step in acknowledging how Black asylum and asylum seekers perpetuate racist ideologies since seekers experience racism, in the most hostile and the institutions in which they are being created are inhumane living conditions of Moria refugee camp in racist, providing relative inequality, discrimination and Lesvos, Greece, and why they are the constant victims of inequality for Black refugee communities. abuse and neglect, is an understanding of what racism and anti-blackness are and how they manifest on the ground. We must interrogate how our institutions, and This problem exists even within non-profit and aid the supporting structures within them, are inherently organisations or groups of people formed in our society, shaped by racism. working together on the same mission in an organized way for a shared purpose and bound by common goals: People often conceptualize racism as a problem of the they are still shaped by the same institutions that wish individual; mean people that marginalized individuals to further marginalize Black asylum seekers. I am talking constantly have to deal with. But the lived experience about organisations that have the power and resources of racism in a Greek refugee camp is much more than to help victims of conflict, persecutions, colonialism, this, particularly in the context of a political crisis within imperialism, poverty, torture, environmental disasters.

Europe, often misleadingly characterized as a refugee Organisations that have the ‘reputations’ of doing so, crisis or a humanitarian crisis when it is, in reality, a but who sadly follow the same principles of racist and political crisis. And in overcrowded Moria camp, this oppressive state institutions. crisis is silently allowing the killing, abuse, and neglect of Black refugees.

Racial discrimination on the ground To understand this iteration of a global racist structure, we need to question and interrogate histories and institutions. Why are Black asylum seekers, who are already subject to such gross violations of human rights in hostile European settings, also have to deal with racism? And why is there such misunderstanding and lack of documentation of the harsh realities of this community within the hell that is Moria camp?

Institutions of oppression understanding racism

are

important

in

History is essential in understanding racism, and foundations of western society (institutions), such as schools, governments, states, court systems, organisations, or in other words, formal and informal rules that organize social, political, and economic relations (North, 1990), play a significant role in perpetuating and shaping racism. Thus, our lived experiences and social interactions within these societies are established and maintained in the disfavor of Black communities. And paradoxically, it is within those same institutions that organisations and laws are created to protect and support asylum seekers.

Social institutions operate in all fields of life. When you are a Black refugee, these centres of power control your access to the little support and aid available for the refugee population, but also to economic, legal, political, and social rights, and opportunities. The structures that were designed to protect refugees

I have been an advocate for human rights, more specifically for refugee’s rights, for over a year now. I first came to Lesvos and started supporting asylum seekers from the Black community last year. I went to the camp, randomly started talking to people, and quickly realised the importance of the discussion we were having; the importance for me to understand the day to day reality of the Black community in Moria camp. A community that is often treated like parasites, economic migrants coming to Europe to steal our jobs, when in reality they are victims of colonialism, environmental disasters, conflict, persecution, torture.

Since then, I have been trying to support individuals by connecting them with the resources to help themselves and others. I work to put asylum seekers in touch with organisations that will send them small amounts of money (100euro) to buy themselves food, or organise small food distribution amongst the most vulnerable in their community. Other times, I send money that I earn working small jobs in London, for them to do the same.

Here in Moria camp, there is no documentation, and a larger institutional denial of what is happening to refugees. And the experiences of Black refugees have been particularly ignored. A week before I came back to Lesvos in July, one asylum seeker from the Ivory Coast was stabbed to death, another one from Congo was stabbed three times and critically injured, another one was stabbed in his leg, and another one just above his eye, all in the same night and for over a phone.

Nottingham connected Following the incidents, the assaulters were arrested and released two days after because the police said “there is nothing they could do about that really”.

To see the go fund me campaign I organised on behalf of one of them click here Throughout this journey, especially since I have been living on the island of Lesvos, I have been mistaken for a refugee due to my skin colour. I have recognized and experienced the importance of defending and supporting the Black community within the camps and the importance for people to understand how institutional racism is affecting and further marginalizing Black asylum seekers. Black communities within European refugee camps are most certainly some of the most abused and neglected peoples on the continent. And this experience is exacerbated by the lack of Black humanitarian workers and surplus of white savior complexes within the aid sector. I was struck by the realization that after the tangible and flagrant racism that they have to endure, they also confront discrimination and denial of support by humanitarian organisations in the hostile environment of the camp.

In addition to language and institutions, racialized stereotypes and imagery can have a big impact on the life of an asylum seeker. And being a black refugee or migrant can itself be a risk in many aspects of life.

Since returning to the island with the aim of supporting and documenting the day to day life of the Black community in the Moria camp, I have gone through police brutality and objectification. I have been pushed by humanitarian workers from the UNHCR while trying to support Black asylum seekers inside the camp. I have been shouted at by nurses at the hospital and have had doors closed in my face by white volunteers. I have been asked to leave restaurants because of people not wanting to, “ have people of my skin colour seated in restaurants as it may scare away their clientele”. I have been asked by old Greek men if I wanted to come by to their house. The aggressors within these experiences were all assuming that I was a refugee. I have been treated by white volunteers and humanitarian workers like a stupid child until they realized that I was not an asylum seeker.

For the last month that I have spent here, I have had a lot of trouble documenting as much as I was planning to. I’ve had to rush and run everywhere. Either to translate, serve the role of a social worker, advocate for increased support, provide guidance, assist with referrals, defend cases, or visit lawyers. All because of

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the lack of institutional support for the Black asylum seeker community.

My experience has felt like that of a doctor, alone and overwhelmed by the long-ignored cries of patients in an over capacity emergency room. I see individuals in a critical state and in need of help. And as I work to operate and dress the wounds of each patient, I myself am stabbed by the same assailant. Within this intensity, I forget that indeed I am alone, and there’s only little someone on their own can do. But how can I retract, when I remain in a position of privilege and they are not? While confronted with the deepness of their wounds and their urgent need for care, it is hard to step out and realise that rather than trying to help them each on my own, I should burst out of the doors of the emergency room to find more doctors to help them. To help us.

Through this analogy, I do not mean to imply that I am here to save anyone. This is not it. I am here to use my privileges and re-engage with them, use the resources that I can access to ensure that their voices are being heard. As a Black woman, who is experiencing constant racism on this island, I need the support of the community just as much as they do. But my circumstances however, are better. I have the privilege of a French passport, which is why I have a duty to reengage with my privileges.

In earnest, this is a call out for Black movements and communities in Europe to realise that our brothers and sisters within Moria camp need our help. Their stories mirror ours: the same tragic tale of a broken and discriminatory system. I am here trying to connect those narratives and show the need for changes.

There is a lack of focus on the Black lives suffering from colonialism and environmental disasters within refugee camps. We are experiencing a period of heightened attention in regards to Black lives in the Western world however many Black communities are still being relegated to the margins of mainstream consciousness.

There’s a need for action from Black communities and the larger public, a need to document experiences and raise awareness about the conditions of Black asylum seekers in Moria camp.

Black lives matter, especially of those who tolerate the inhumane conditions in refugee camps or the one drowning in the Mediterranean We need more experienced doctors in the room. But also for the unheard to be heard.

mojatu.com

12 News & Sports w

How a refugee dinghy became a divisive symbol for hope vs hate

By Laura McCartan

Channel crossings continue being reported almost daily in British news outlets since the start of the summer, and it is impossible not to draw parallels between the rhetoric and situation on the Channel and another migration route, the Aegean sea. I have spent the last year working as part of a search and rescue team on the North Shore of Lesvos, 7km from Turkey and a major route for those fleeing violence and persecution, who must make terrifying journeys on dinghies which are not fit to be at sea. This summer, while many of us have been trapped in our homes, the channel crossings have become a recurring news article, and in some shocking stories, journalists have filmed from boats sailing alongside dinghies without offering rescue.

The death of a Sudanese man in mid-August, whose body was found washed away onto a French beach near Calais, reminds us of the viral image of threeyear-old Alan Kurdi, who drowned off the coast of Turkey, together with his mother and brother, shortly after boarding an unseaworthy dinghy to reach Europe. That tragedy sparked continent-wide outrage and mobilization to support and welcome refugees to Europe. One would think that five years later, European policy-makers would have stepped up and followed through the extensive existing legislation to offer protection and a safe haven to refugees. However, as we can see from the humanitarian situation at the English Channel, this is far from true.

‘Turkish propaganda.’ At the same time, the UK Home Office chose to release a video blaming ‘activist lawyers’ for allowing refugees to uphold their right to claim asylum and promising to deport all sea arrivals as quickly as possible. It is little surprise then, that on the beaches of both Lesvos and Kent, armed groups greet new arrivals and those there to support them. On social media we see armed fascists in both countries saying things that could never have been imagined five years ago as Europe grieved the loss of a young life who should never have been lost in this way.

It is also five years on that we see most rescue boats firmly docked or impounded, the will to save lives at sea still remains, but with serious criminal charges facing those who rescue.

As we write this, the crew of Mare Liberum have been harassed, arrested and had mobile devices seized, the Maersk Etienne remains afloat with 27 refugees, several of whom have tried to commit suicide, and even the hope brought by the Louise Michel is hard to grasp due to the death toll on their first mission. This week, a list of ‘criminal NGOS’, most of whom are not present on Lesvos have been announced by the Greek government, and a facing serious threat of violence for their lifesaving work. The situation seems bleak.

Oct. -Dec. 20

What remains is the hope that groups can monitor TEACHER TRAINING the situation on both shores and record human rights violations, used to hold governments to account.

With right wing governmentsLevel in both Greece and3 the Award While the UK government attempts to deport as many UK, the pride in pushing boats back and refusing entry asylum seekers as possible before they leave the EU, to those most in need has become commonplace in media strategies designed to demonise refugees.

While articles surface in the New York Times and countless other outlets showing examples of violent pushbacks, in a Trump-like denial of fact, Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed all push-back evidence is simply

Oct. -Dec. 20

small charities work even harder to support them with access to their basic rights. Fascists on the beaches continue to be met with protests by those who do not want a hostile environment, and who see a future for the United Kingdom as a safe and welcoming country for those forced to flee their own.

TEACHER TRAINING Level 3 Award

Oct. -Dec. 20 mojatu.foundation mojatu.foundation MojatuF Tanya - 07549 856 472

www.mojatufoundation.org TEACHER TRAINING Tanya@mojatu.com Level 3NG7 Award 167 Alfreton Road 3JR

Nottingham connected

News & Sports

13

w

Working from home – the new normal?

By Pa Modou Faal

If your usual place of work is the office, it is likely that you have been asked to work from home in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. No doubt, you have found it a both challenging and rewarding experience. It might be that, as a result of this adaptation to the way we work, some organisations may look to continue with more roles working remotely either on a semi or more permanent basis.

Here are some useful tips to consider: It is important to evaluate how well your environment suits your needs. Your home working space should follow the same standards as any office environment.

Ask yourself the following, and if the space still needs improvement, address it as quickly as possible: • • • • •

Are your desk and chair comfortable, or are you experiencing any back problems?

Ensure that you are not facing the camera with a window behind you as colleagues may have difficulty seeing you.

Are your cables tidy and out of the way so they don’t present a trip hazard?

Do you know where to find files and other paperwork easily and quickly?

Are you taking breaks or lunch at your desk?

If so, change your environment when you are taking time out.

Human beings are social animals, so working from home may have taken some getting used to. You may have found ways to cope with feelings of isolation or you may still be struggling. Keeping to a schedule is important for our wellbeing so if you are finding that you are ‘out of sorts’, consider the following: Wake up at your usual time. Granted, you won’t have a commute ahead of you, but you’ll need enough time for your morning shower, breakfast and any personal tasks before you start your working day. Don’t roll out of bed and straight onto your computer or work calls. You’ll feel disorganised and this will come across to others.

Even though you are not in an office, wear something smart casual during working hours. This does not mean that you have to wear a suit when working from home, but day clothes will help you to start your working day mentally focused and ready.

If you do not have office furniture like an adjustable chair, try using things like cushions to support you in your chair, or a box as a footrest. While it might be tempting to sit on the sofa, it is much better to sit at a desk or table.

Give yourself time to concentrate on something else so

you feel more focused when you return.

Let your friends and family know that even when you are working from home, you are unavailable for visits.

Say you will return their calls and emails after working hours. Hydrate throughout the day to maintain mental focus but avoid consuming too much caffeine.

It can be tempting to tidy the house, do the dusting or throw the laundry in while you’re working. Housework can wait and do not be tempted to use your lunch hour to do the chores!

Many people enjoy social media and it can be tempting to log on for ‘just a minute’ to check for updates. Ensure that your favourite websites are not open during the day and if you receive updates to your personal email account, disable them during working hours.

Update your online office diary every day and ensure that your colleagues have access to it. You and your co-workers may all be working from home but it’s important that you all know when you’re unavailable due to conference calls.

Connect with your manager and colleagues during the day – even a quick ‘hello’ can help you to feel a part of office life. If you have the IT systems in place, you and your team might also choose to have face-to-face contact via video conferencing.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed everything, and we have all had to adjust to new ways of living and working. Working from home means you might be spending a lot more time without moving your body. If you’re feeling stiff or tense, try doing some light stretching or exercise with our 10-minute home workouts. Follow your normal sleep and work patterns if you can and stay consistent.

You may be continuing to work from home for a while, so think about ways you could improve how you work while at home. Even just 5 to 10 minutes of short breaks each hour can really help your productivity too. If you have a garden, could you work there if the weather’s warm? Remember, this is an unusual situation and things will not feel normal!

Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you might not be as productive as you usually would be. Be realistic about what you can achieve given the circumstances and relax when your work is done. When you finish for the day, shut down your workspace for the night. Get out for a walk, working from home does not mean that you do not have a personal life. Do not forget the NHS guidelines to set up your workspace correctly, as much as you possibly can.

14 News & Sports

mojatu.com

Media & Digital Skills

Interview with DJ Owen Website Creating a Multimedia

By Pa Modou Faal

Could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Owen and commonly known as DJ Owen.

I live in Nottingham How did you hear about FMB? I heard of FMB by seeing it advertise on Facebook.

What motivated you to join FMB? I really wanted to join the FMB team because I have been running radio shows for 2 years within different radio stations. I want to bring a lot more experience and make the radio more fun.

When I came for my volunteer interview at FMB Radio Office for a radio presenting job I thought to myself I might not get the opportunity but then FMB team gave me the opportunity since I started in February 2020. I am now a Programme Assistant Manager.

How have you been doing with your programmes?

Since I started back in February 2020, it went really well but then COVID - 19 came and it got a bit difficult. I tried doing radio shows from home, but I could not record them for rebroadcasting, so I stopped it until it was safe to return to the studio. Since then everything was safe, and I have been hosting more special guests through online Zoom.

What position did you occupy at the time of start?

Radio Presenting In today’s web-orientated world there is a huge demand for people skilled in web design and Howhave do you joining the FMB team? development. Almost all organisations and professions andfeel require websites and so do people How did your passion for radio start?

I feel so happy and excited as I getting the of influence or those doing own business. Gaining skills of creating and maintaininglove multimedia In 2018, I’ve found out that there was a group audience entertained as that is what is important websitein is radio a highly marketable workshop presenting and Iskill. thought to myself about being a radio presenter, is keeping everybody I really wanted to entertain people across the East entertained and I love interviewing special guests too.

You willsolearn: Midlands I took part in workshop to learn how to •become aIdentify radio presenter. took 2 purposes, months and I What does coronavirus has on you in regard different It website features andImpact structures really it since then and they offered to your • got stuck Planinto a basic website (5 pages) from ame specified briefwork? / for specific industry a slot every Wednesday’s 4pm brief - 6pm.

It has been very difficult for me because I wouldn’t be • 2 of hours Create a website basedfrom on given settings Then I found FMB Radio and I really wanted to have able to go out in the community or be able to do pre • Test website created – Navigation, Links, Search Engine Optimisation etc) another radio show to keep more people entertain.

- recorded interviews with guests and also not been • Use at least one Content Management System Joomla WordPress able-to do LIVEorshows in the studio.

What do you do at FMB? This course willevery give Monday you theon knowledge tools What to create, manage and run for a great business or I run a radio show FMB Radioand called are your expectations post Covid-19?

Monday Madness Live from to access 1.30pmtowith DJ / WordPress I hope thatpremium things start to settle in and get back to professional website.

You11am will get Joomla features.

Owen. I am a Programme Assistant Manager where I normalcy and to enjoy our lifetime by meeting friends look after the radio station to make sure the shows and going back to LIVE shows, gigs and much more. run smoothly and make sure other presenters keep Key Information up to their duties.

What are your last words if you have any?

Tune in every Monday’s with DJ Owen from 11am 30 Hours Free Access to Hosting, What were your expectations when you Joined FMB? 1.30pm with a lot of banter and great music in the mix!

Flexible

Level 1 (3 Credits)

14+

Classroom, online & website project

Domain Name & premium Joomla & WordPress features

Book courses at https://fyaonline.com/training-programs/

Learn to create website with

Learn to create website with

Nottingham connected

category

15

FGRC

Project 97 FGRC PROJECT97 is a Full Gospel Revival Centre & St Faith project operating in the Meadows area which focuses on interfaith and interethnic activities through community training and support. The aim is to promote community cohesion within Nottingham and the wider communities to emphasize the importance of practical Christianity within the Christian faith. We support BAME communities mainly Africans, Caribbean and older people to cope with bereavement, loneliness and mental health issues.

• • • • • • •

SERVICES

Covid -19 effects emergency support Counselling engagement services Mental Health, loneliness, wellbeing support Support services for older people Skills and community social capital development Online funeral & bereavement services Interfaith & interethnic online social Safe space

• • • • •

Support of many interfaith & address Culturally Harmful Practices Boy child empowerment through “A whisper to my son” programs Health & Safety training Food Hygiene training Cleaning and support services training

For more Information Julia Paul 07799 967516 info@fgrcproject97.org 97 Bathley Street NG2 2EE

16 Community

mojatu.com

ABDOULIE VOLUNTEERS TO HELP VULNERABLE FAMILIES Abdoulie Jah, a Nottingham City Homes tenant, has volunteered during the pandemic to help delivering meals to families living in Nottingham. He was determined to help the less fortunate during the global pandemic. Many families suffered greatly as a cause of the COVID-19 by losing their jobs or staying at home because they could endanger their loved ones.

In this crisis situation it was amazing to see how people got together to deliver food to other community members. Abdoulie who lives in Hyson Green joined the Nottingham COVID-19 Support Network that was made up of local small charities and groups to work together and offer residents access to food. During the holy month of Ramadan, this network included the delivery of hot meals to Muslim families.

‘Abdoulie is a tireless volunteer for the people in his local community. The support he has provided

to families through the Network has made a big difference to local peoples’ lives said the spokesperson for Nottingham City Homes.

Abdoulie helped because he felt that ‘there are families who are not only suffering financially every day but are going without everyday essentials. Unfortunately, the coronavirus has highlighted ongoing inequalities that we work each day to change’. He acknowledged the difficulty of those families and this is why he decided to help them restlessly.

“If we can feed one person, then it is one less hungry person to be worried about. We all need to do our bit together and by doing that, we’ll come out of this together.’ Said Abdoulie.

Original article: https://rb.gy/8hmllc

Nottingham connected

Community

17

MAKING PLACE EXHIBITION By Rebecca Beinart Primary, 33 Seely Road, NG7 1NU “Join us as we celebrate and share the Making Place project, and take part in events to generate ideas for the future.”

Primary is an arts space based in Radford, Nottingham.

We have recently reopened with an expansive and celebratory exhibition that marks three years of Making Place, our long-term community programme looking at how we learn from the city and use public space.

collaborated with local residents to generate everchanging definitions of a neighbourhood that will be on display at Crocus Café. This multiplicity of voices is important, ensuring that diverse experiences are not erased, and offering an alternative narrative to developer-led ‘place making’. We are currently working with Mojatu to deliver ‘Sounds of the Lockdown’: an audio project with young people.

Throughout the programme, we’ve invited residents in Radford and Lenton to take part in a series of collaborative projects, working with artists and designers to explore issues that shape our local neighbourhoods.

The exhibition gathers together a collection of images, objects, sound, and video from across the programme.

The Making Place programme continues to evolve, and does not attempt to offer a complete ‘survey’ of the local area. Each project has explored a specific place or question through a collaborative process, which has in turn generated new relationships and ideas that have informed other projects.

The Making Place projects have generated research, maps, workshops, meals, photography, storytelling, walks, play, design, and public artworks. We’ve explored three central questions: What do places inherit, and whose histories are preserved? Who imagines the city?

And how can communities activate and reclaim public space? Alongside long-term projects, an ongoing series of events have created space for sharing knowledge and explored themes of memory, migration, inequality, imagination, and commons in the city.

We want to build on this collaborative approach, so the exhibition opens up space for your feedback and ideas. As we continue to contend with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions about how we imagine shared spaces and who can shape the future of neighbourhoods take on even more significance.

The Making Place programme is supported by Arts Council England and Esmée Fairbairn Foundation with projects and events supported by Castle Cavendish, National Lottery Community Fund, Near Now, Near Neighbours, Nottingham City Council, Nottingham City Homes, Paul Hamlyn Foundation and the Windrush Day Grant.

Photo credits: Reece Straw

How to get involved: Visit the exhibition – we are open Fridays and Saturdays, 11am-6pm until 12 December.

Attend an online event.

Each of the projects uncovers or amplifies a different perspective on local places. For example, we worked with children to create a public artwork exploring the city from the perspective of plants; worked with Nottingham Black Archive to research the Black history of the local Raleigh factory; and

Get involved in our Skillshare programme For more information: www.weareprimary.org Social media: @weareprimary Contact: rebecca@weareprimary.org

mojatu.com

18 Community

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES Date

Time

5.30pm 21/10/2020 7pm 21/10/2020 7.30pm

5.30pm 26/10/2020 7.30pm

27/10/2020

26/10/2020 , 28/10/20, 1.30pm 30/10/20 5.30pm 29/10/2020 2pm - 3pm 1pm 23/10/2020 2.30pm 24/10/2020 2pm - 4pm 21/10/2020 1pm - 3pm 22/10/2020 2pm - 5pm

5.30pm 23/10/2020 6.30pm

28/10/2020 4pm - 5pm 5.30pm 29/10/2020 6.30pm 12pm 27/10/2020 12.45pm

Event Name

Online Panel: Why we need Black Radicalism, https://bit.ly/2HnxIzh Rootless Island Baby, live and streamed performance options, https://bit.ly/3kv0jAM

Exploring Black History through creative arts - art, music, and creative writing, email info@base51.org.uk Women in Construction for Black History Month, email employability@nottinghamcityhomes.org.u k Black Health and systematic national inequalities (26/10/20), Children and Young People/Education (28/10/20), Black Economic Empowerment (30/10/20), employment & self - employment, email charmaine@thevine.org.uk

Lead Organisation The University of Nottingham Nottingham Playhouse

Base 51 Nottingham City Homes & Nottingham City Council

The Vine Community Centre Nottingham "Whats in a Name?", https://bit.ly/3kIrM1D City Council Windrush Foundation, Windrush https://zoom.us/j/91495718966 Foundation Nottingham Art Exchange, New Art https://bit.ly/2HcWcvb Exchange Inspiring Enterprise: Celebrating Black Female Entrepreneurs, Nottingham https://bit.ly/2Tdfcff Trent University Global Heritage: Dark Heritage and Nottingham Tourism, https://bit.ly/37qjAjd Trent University

Black History Month: Samba Drumming Workshop, https://bit.ly/37vwPPI Black History Month: Music for Social Change Talk with Freddie Kofi, https://bit.ly/3khQ4jv, Meeting ID: 852 6557 5537, Passcode: 503758 Fireside Chat between Baroness Young, Chancellor and Professor Shearer West, Vice Chancellor, https://bit.ly/37FlInF Culture CafĂŠ, presented by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Services, https://tinyurl.com/yya8bbal Ubuntu: A decolonial epistemic shift for

Venue Online Nottingham Playhouse NGY building, 2931 Castle Gate, Nottingham NG1 7AR

Online

Online Online Online Online Online

Online University Hall, Shakespear e Street, Nottingham Nottingham Trent University , NG1 4FQ Nottingham Online Trent University (Zoom) The University of Nottingham

Online

The University of Nottingham

Online

28/10/2020 4pm - 5pm

6557 5537, Passcode: 503758 Fireside Chat between Baroness Young, 5.30pm Chancellor and Professor Shearer West, 29/10/2020 6.30pm Vice Chancellor, https://bit.ly/37FlInF Culture Café, presented by the Faculty of 12pm Medicine and Health Services, Date Event Name 27/10/2020 Time 12.45pm https://tinyurl.com/yya8bbal 5.30pm Online Why weepistemic need Black Ubuntu:Panel: A decolonial shift for 21/10/2020 7pm Radicalism, https://bit.ly/2HnxIzh education, presented

by Dr Sobantu Sibanda, Island Canterbury Church Rootless Baby,Christ live and streamed 21/10/2020 4pm - 5pm University, https://bit.ly/2FNrBDv performance options, 21/10/2020 7.30pm https://bit.ly/3kv0jAM What is the ‘Black Student Experience?’ An Open Conversation presented by the School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, 22/10/2020 4pm - 6pm https://bit.ly/2TeEGck Exploring Blackon History through Conversations race in sciencecreative and arts - art, music, andwe creative writing, email 5.30pm medicine: what can learn from history 26/10/2020 6.45pm 7.30pm info@base51.org.uk 23/10/2020 today? https://bit.ly/340Tgub Women in Construction forof Black History In Safe Hands – The Voices Black Month,presented email Britain by the Faculty of Cultural, employability@nottinghamcityhomes.org.u Media and Visual Studies, 27/10/2020 k https://thevoicesofblackbritain.weebly.com 25/10/2020 /Black Health and systematic national inequalities (26/10/20), Children and Young 5pm People/Education (28/10/20), (27/10/20), BAME Careers in Science EventBlack presented Economic Empowerment 26/10/2020 12pm 27/10/2020 by the Faculty of Science, (30/10/20), Student sign up employment 1.30pm 28/10/20, (29/10/20) , 29/10/20 via My-career& self - employment, email 30/10/20 5.30pm charmaine@thevine.org.uk Coffee Morning and Talk on the Tuskegee Airmen (the first all-black USAAF squadron 29/10/2020 10.30am 2pm - 3pm "Whats a Name?", https://bit.ly/3kIrM1D in WorldinWar Two) presented by the School 28/10/2020 11am of Medicine https://bit.ly/35i09qh 1pm Windrush Foundation, 23/10/2020 2.30pm https://zoom.us/j/91495718966 Nottingham Art Exchange, 24/10/2020 2pm - 4pm https://bit.ly/2HcWcvb 7.30pm Joy! Jazz music of African Diaspora Inspiring Enterprise: Celebrating Black 03/10/2020 10pm ‘featuring Tony Kofi, Dennis Rollins & guests Female Entrepreneurs, 21/10/2020 1pm - 3pm https://bit.ly/2Tdfcff 05/10/2020 4pm - 5pm Provoke 15 Global Heritage: Dark Heritage and 22/10/2020 2pm - 5pm Tourism, https://bit.ly/37qjAjd Bright Ideas, contact 06/10/2020 11am - 2pm helen@brightideasnottingham.co.uk Education, Empowerment, Employment & Engagement - Black History Week, pre5.30pm Black History Month: 9am - 10am recorded videos at Samba Drumming 23/10/2020 (12/10/2020) 6.30pm Workshop, https://bit.ly/37vwPPI https://www.nextgenmovement.co.uk/, 12/10/2020 , 1pm - 2pm schools able to attendMusic via teacher's email to , Black History Month: for Social 16/10/2020 (16/10/2020) info@nextgenmovement.co.uk Change Talk with Freddie Kofi, https://bit.ly/3khQ4jv, Meeting ID: 852 28/10/2020 4pm - 5pm 6557 5537, Passcode: 503758 1pm Black Lives Matter, Fireside Chat between Baroness Young, 15/10/2020 2.30pm https://www.nextgenmovement.co.uk/ 5.30pm Chancellor and Professor Shearer West, 29/10/2020 5pm 6.30pm Vice Chancellor, https://bit.ly/37FlInF 07/10/2020 6.30pm "What Blackpresented Joy?", https://bit.ly/31oot8P CultureisCafé, by the Faculty of 12pm Medicine and Health Services, Is the University Colonial?: Critical 27/10/2020 12.45pm https://tinyurl.com/yya8bbal Conversations on Its Past presented by the University Nottingham’s Institute Ubuntu: A of decolonial epistemic shift for for Policy and Engagement University of education, presented byand Dr Sobantu Connecticut’s Office for Global Affairs, 5pm Sibanda, Canterbury Christ Church 19/10/2020 https://bit.ly/3m9aKKO 21/10/2020 6.30pm 4pm - 5pm University, https://bit.ly/2FNrBDv What is the ‘Black Student Experience?’ An Open Conversation presented by the School

Nottingham connected

Trent University (Zoom)

Community

The University of Nottingham

Online

LeadUniversity The Organisation of Nottingham

Venue Online

The University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham Nottingham Playhouse The University of Nottingham

The University Base 51 of Nottingham Nottingham City Homes & Nottingham City University Council The of Nottingham Vine The University Community of Nottingham Centre Nottingham City University Council The of Nottingham Windrush Foundation New Art Exchange

Peggy's Skylight Nottingham Provoke 15, Trent University bit.ly/3cu0Ujm Nottingham Trent University Bright Ideas Nottingham Trent University Next Gen Movement Nottingham TrentCouncil University City & Truth Mental Health The University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham

19

Online Online Nottingham Playhouse NGY building, 29Online 31 Castle Gate, Nottingham Online NG1 7AR (Teams)

Online Online

Online Online Online Online Online Peggy’s Skylight, George Online Street, NG1 3BH Online Online Online National Justice University Museum Hall, Shakespear e Street, Nottingham , NG1 4FQ

Online Online (Zoom) Online Online Online Online

Online

mojatu.com

20 Community

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

By Stella Muiruri

organisations have collated a list of activities and events that are taking place in Nottinghamshire. Below are some of the listed activities so far: Monday 19 October and Thursday 29 October, 2pm – 3pm – What is in a Name? Celebrating Black Identity and Culture presented by the Nottingham University Business School. Are you an African or African Caribbean UoN Student or Young Person in Year 3 to Year 9 in a Nottinghamshire School? This event will inspire your creativity and deepen your understanding of identity and culture. Are you an African or African Caribbean UoN Student or Young Person in Year 3 to Year 9 in a Nottinghamshire School? This event will inspire your creativity and deepen your understanding of identity and culture. Sign Up Via Eventbrite: https:// bit.ly/3kIrM1D The annual anniversary celebrating the global achievements of the African diaspora is here once again. Has it ever crossed your mind how the proposal of the day occurred? Well, I decided to further educate myself on the history and found that the initiator of what is now known as ‘Black History Month’, was a Harvard graduate historian by the name of Carter G. Woodson. The story began in 1915, just 50 years after the 13th amendment was implemented, where Woodson, along-side minister Jesse E. Moorland, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), which was ‘dedicated to researching and promoting achievements by black Americans and other peoples of African descent.’

In 1926 a ‘national Negro History week’ was shortly birthed, choosing the second week of February (In the United States of America) to correspond with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (a vocal opponent of slavery) and Frederick Douglass (an escaped slave who became a prominent activist).

The Nottingham University Business School celebrates Black History Month with the ‘Name’ Challenge, which is a widening participation and civic engagement initiative. The ‘name’ challenge aims to help young African and African Caribbean people to deepen their understanding of identity and culture as they explore the origin and meaning of their names. Through research and sharing of name stories, the young people will ‘own’ their names and take joy and pride in their meaning.

The challenge is an opportunity for participants to share about their heritage, to learn from each other and to build more confident individuals who are respectful and tolerant of each other’s cultures. Award vouchers will be given to the best presentations in three categories: Key Stage 2 (Year 3 - Year 6), Key Stage 3 (Year 7 – Year 9), and University of Nottingham Students.

This event encouraged communities and schools nationwide to organize local celebrations, launch history clubs and host performances and lectures.

It was not until 50 years later in 1976 that the 38th President of the United States of America Gerald Ford, decided to officially recognize Black History Month, which has been recognised worldwide and celebrated in the United Kingdom in the month of October.

Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have planned a special season of events and activities not just in October, but throughout this whole academic year, #BHM365 to celebrate the important black historical figures who helped make Britain what it is today.

NTU recognises that the Black history experience is not limited to one month each year and have made a commitment to work year-round to host a programme of events, resources and campaigns to help create a more equal future for everyone.

I am sure we have all participated in some sort of ‘Black history Month’ event or activity growing up. If you have not, do not panic, we have got you covered! Mojatu, in collaboration with institutions in Nottingham such as University of Nottingham (UoN), Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and other Black community

From film screenings and reading and writing workshops, to samba drumming and music talks, there will be something for everyone to enjoy and participate in. To participate in different NTU #BLM activities, please visit this link: https://rb.gy/yyenwf

Nottingham connected

Community

21

THE PYTHIAN CLUB – OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNGSTERS

By Anna Nagy

Helping others and raising awareness on issues regarding mental health, street and domestic violence, knife and hate crimes, racial inequalities among others are pertinent issues in our communities should be accorded the necessary priority. The provision of such avenues does not only transform lives of individuals but rather filters out the ill conducts which are entrenched within our communities. One outstanding figure who has been championing such initiative within the City of Nottingham is the founder of the Pythian Club, Ben Rosser. Formerly a Police Officer, Ben used his experience from the force and sports and came up with the idea of defeating the negative coverage and bad blood among youths through sport, music and other recreational activities.

The Nottingham based Pythian Club offers young people the opportunity to get involved in sporting activities like football, boxing as well as music or drama. The club also provides support to young people through mentoring, self-defence and self-confidence. According to Ben many young people feel that they lack self-confidence and or are not good enough which goes down to damage them but, “at the Pythian Club we want to show that they can do it, they can achieve it. This is in benefit of the community just as it is for them”, he insisted.

Mr Rosser said some young people are filled with disillusions and that being a bully or carrying around knives is cool, but at the Pythian Club they want to support them with positive initiatives, by being a role model for them and let them know that the way they think of life is not in benefit of them nor for their surroundings. “This is why we have numerous events around boxing, football and music to engage young people more, to network to meet likeminded people and to have fun while doing something that they really enjoy”, he continued.

After successfully managing the football, boxing and music classes for years members of the club expressed their interest in having a drama club to create more awareness of the issue of knife and other forms of crime.

They worked with Double Edge in which nearly 800 people have been involved in creating videos and plays.

He noted that since football, boxing, music and drama are the activities that mostly attract young people, they decided to hold free football sessions for communities as they want to offer opportunities to any young person who can benefit from the team and their mentoring.

“Fortunately, it is possible for those young people who could progress a lot and feel that they can do better to access more opportunities and to be involved in Pythian FC. Pythian FC currently has 8 teams who play in proper registered league. There are different age groups so anyone who is interested in playing football professionally can join and be part of the teams”, he revealed.

The Club’s service is about coaching their members to help them develop new skills and to be part of a positive and supporting social environment. They teach self-defence, respect, discipline while having fun and enjoying themselves. They also have a music studio where young people can learn more about music and audio creation, write lyrics and express their feelings in creative ways. There are around 250 young people weekly who come and enjoy the courses offered by the Python Club. “Thanks to the growthoriented approach, it is possible to be involved in the mentoring program as a young person to help other young people who are struggling as a result of some difficult circumstances”, Rosser explained.

They call the young mentors ‘Young Leaders’ because they get training to handle their duties and become helpful to those who rely on them for mentoring or/ and coaching. This empowers them to be strong role models, to improve their lives, to learn, to work and to just simply achieve more for themselves.

“Living life is not always filled with rainbows but even if someone going through a difficult time it is important to remember to embrace these challenges, talk about this with others and learn from what you have experienced during the challenging times, hence the moto of the Pythian Club is to bring people together and create change while help each other”, he concluded.

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TACKLING EMERGING THREATS TO CHILDREN (TETC) & SCHOOL HEALTH HUB

By Sarah Lee TETC Team Manager

Why I am committed to anti-racism. This week marks the start of Black History Month. Some county schools will be celebrating, and others won’t consider it relevant to their settings. Some will have this way down on their list of priorities as they focus on the recovery curriculum and “catching up”.

Some will be feeling overwhelmed by the whole agenda. And some will be using the DfE’s latest guidance on implementing the RSHE curriculum as a cue to avoid talking about anything to do with race in case it’s seen as “too political”. Ever the optimist, I am hoping that others will have concluded that black history needs to be taught for 12 months of the year if we are ever going to live in an anti-racist society and will be celebrating the contributions of black people to both British society and the globe as a whole, by beginning to decolonise the curriculum.

This special edition of the newsletter however, isn’t to remind people that it’s Black History Month in October.

It seeks to remind people that black history is white history (without significant unpalatable truths left out) and that it can’t be condensed into a single month. It seeks to encourage those colleagues who feel anger, sadness and frustration that black people continue to be subjected to racism on both an individual and systemic basis, to stay committed. It seeks to keep people awake to the injustices which exist in our society and keep the conversation going……..however difficult it might be. In this issue you will signposted to opportunities to get involved in the LA’s anti-racism work and to find sources of support and information to aid your own understanding and to support our children’s understanding. This edition is about allyship and the part each and every one of us can play in bringing about societal change.

Months on from George Floyd’s murder maybe some of you out there will be questioning how some people seem less concerned about racism than they previously stated they were. That racism and George Floyd’s murder is yesterday’s news. You might well be asking, “where has all the energy and commitment gone? Why is nobody talking about this anymore, not least doing something to change things?” Having worked in this area for more than 35 years there have been many times when I have voiced such frustrations.

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in my first year of teaching. The Equality Act 2010 brought the promise of a better system. 10 years on sometimes the challenges to being both conscious and keeping the conversation

going, seeing so little progress, sometimes makes me feel weary. Whenever those days come I remember my white privilege is that I can choose to give up challenging racism; walk away from its ugliness; put it in the “too difficult box and put the lid on it, because I don’t live my life feeling its impact, and no matter how much I try to understand or empathise it just doesn’t hurt me like it hurts black people. Black people don’t have the luxury of saying this is “just too hard” and walking away. And you can’t fix a problem that’s not of your making when the people responsible for the problem deny it needs fixing in the first place. The graffiti artist Banksy described systemic racism with this useful analogy………

“People of colour are being failed by the system.

The white system. Like a broken pipe flooding the apartment of the people living downstairs. The faulty system is making their life a misery, but it’s not their job to fix it. They can’t, no one will let them in the apartment upstairs.”

Every time I catch myself complaining about how hard this journey is, or with my head in my hands despairing, I remind myself that that’s precisely why I need to make and maintain my commitment to being antiracist. I can’t know what it feels like to be the person in the apartment which keeps flooding but I can learn to understand the plumbing and to replace the pipe with something that won’t be broken if we ensure we maintain it regularly and invest the right time and resources into addressing the fault.

The best plumbers realise that there is always something new to learn and are open to learning. They listen to the people who are affected by bad plumbing and work with them to find the right solution. They use the right tools and replace what needs to be replaced with something that won’t keep causing problems.

They receive training and don’t attempt to work on jobs which are beyond their knowledge and expertise without collaborating with those that do. Such an approach to tackling racism in our society would make such a difference. Involving black children and their families in this work is vital if we’re going to make the changes that are needed. Collaborating with other professionals, especially black professionals, is again a vital ingredient to success.

Being aware of our own limitations and how our own lived experiences and unconscious bias impacts on how we see the problem of racism is essential,

Nottingham connected for the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Becoming anti-racist isn’t an overnight thing. It’s not even a destination. It’s walking a path alongside black people knowing that you’re wearing different shoes and understanding that although they know the terrain better than you, you have as much, if not more responsibility, for clearing the obstacles in the way of progress along that path.

I am disappointed that we haven’t made more progress so far. But I’m not done yet with challenging racism because I believe there are many people out there who feel like I do…..that we all have a part to play in dismantling it. I have had many conversations in these last few months with colleagues, teachers, parents and young people who genuinely feel that a change is coming, and we have an opportunity to

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make things different this time. So, I am reaffirming my commitment to anti-racism and I am asking you to join us. If you want to be a part of the solution and want to work with supportive colleagues, please get in touch about joining one of our working groups detailed below. If you want to build your own knowledge and understanding visit our portal pages or request some CPD through our training offer. Set up working groups in your own schools- speak to parents/carers and pupils. Look at your curriculum offer, the resources you use, your policies and procedures through a black and not a white lens and consider what you see. Make October the month you commit to doing something on your anti-racism journey so we really start to have something to celebrate.

Link to the whole newsletter: shorturl.at/ayRY0

APPROACHES TO COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT In today’s climate of easily accessible information it is now possible for us to know things that used to be unimaginable hidden. Institutionalised racism is not a taboo anymore that people deny but something that people raise awareness of. This is why knowing how this issue functions in our societies help us identify the actions needed to end it.

Patrick Williams, Senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University did a throughout research on the growing rates of racial disparity in the criminal justice system in the United Kingdom. He highlighted key principles for effective interventions with people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds in contact with the system.

Williams focused on the multidimensionality of social inequalities, the lack of clear strategy and officially approved programs to tackle racial disparity experienced by minority groups. The principles to govern minority ethnic intervention, the importance of acknowledging racialisation and rasism(s) and finding community empowerment models.

His article is part of a series from Clinks, created to develop a far-reaching and accessible evidence base covering the most common types of activity undertaken within the criminal justice system. There are two main aims of this online series To increase the extent to which the voluntary sector bases its services on the available evidence base To encourage commissioners to award contracts to

organisations delivering an evidence-based approach.

Each article is written by leading academic scholars who are well-known in their fields. Therefore, if you are interested in getting to know more about how to empower your community by tackling institutionalised racism, read the article on the following link: https://www.clinks.org/publication/communityempowerment-approaches

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mojatu.com

Bystander Intervention Training Bystander Intervention Training Did you know that you are less likely to help someone in need when there areknow otherthat people phenomenon is need calledwhen the Did you you around are less you? likelyThis to help someone in bystander effect.

Hate often happens in public places, so there is a there are other people around you? This phenomenon is called the good chance youHate will witness it when in you're out and about. bystander effect. often happens public places, so there is a

good chance you will witness it when you're out and about.

Everyone deserves to feel safe and our bystander intervention training will empower you to Everyone deserves totake feel action. safe and our bystander intervention training

Positive xposure

BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES

will empower you to take action.

Contact us admin@communitiesinc.org.uk

Far-right Awareness Training admin@communitiesinc.org.uk Contact us

Positive xposure BUILDING STRONGER COMMUNITIES

The far-right has been using both people's fears around COVID-19 the Far-rightand Awaren issues addressed in the Black Lives Matter protests, to further their own The far-right has been using agenda. They might well have influenced you without you knowing issues addressedit. in the Black

agenda. They might well hav

This training looks at the rise of the Far-Right and what you dolooks to at tackle Thiscan training the rise the issue.

Learn who the issue. Learn who represents the Far-Right, how they spread their represe message, how they recruit, a message, how they recruit, and what you can do to stop them.

Hate Crime Awareness Training Enquire today Hate Crime Awareness Training With an ever-increasing number of hate incidents taking place in the admin@communitiesinc.org.uk Enquire today UK, it is crucial that Intervention we all recognise what an act of hate is and how we Bystander Training With an ever-increasing can eradicate the issue. number of hate incidents taking place in the UK, you it is crucial that you we all an someone act of hateinisneed and how Did know that arerecognise less likelywhat to help whenwe can eradicate the issue. there are other people around you? This phenomenon is called the This workshop will cover: bystander effect.

Hate often happens in public places, so there is a -good Whatchance constitutes an act of hate you will witness it when you're out and about.

This willhas cover: - Theworkshop impact hate on individuals and communities - What constitutes an act of hate How to report hate Everyone deserves to feel safe and our bystander intervention training - The impact hate has on individuals and communities Support services available for victims will empower you to take action.

- How to report hate - Support services available for victims admin@communitiesinc.org.uk Contact us us admin@communitiesinc.org.uk Contact

Nottingham connected

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JACQUELINE LOCKHART

BY Joan Gathoni

Jacqueline Lockhart is a community influencer who has over 30 years of experience in planning and delivering community initiatives. She has been involved in projects that have a core in social justice such as challenging BAME and disability discrimination.

Jacqueline currently works as a Community Engagement Specialist with the Voluntary Induction Unit. She also chairs two voluntary organisations, Ending Youth Violence Network that is at the forefront in addressing trauma and violence among the young people and reduces the risk of them getting into poverty, gangs and drugs, and The Rainbow Parents and Carers Forum that caters to parents with children and young people with disabilities.

Jacqueline attributes her social justice nature to her mother who taught her the value of service to the people in the community and standing up for people in the community who are discriminated against. In her own words she said, “I am a woman who wears many hats and I get my motivation in helping see an individual’s life transformed for the better”. Her work with the Department for Children and Families in schools and establishing Young People Participation Network ultimately qualifies her as a specialist in her field within the community sector.

Throughout her community engagement career both in formal and voluntary sector, she has been on the forefront of championing for the betterment of the services of BAME and the disabled in the community. In 2006, Jacqueline worked in an advice centre for African and Caribbean community and during this time, she was actively involved in identifying gaps within this community and helping grass root organisations to fill in the gaps although these organisations are no longer in existence in the community.

The Ending Violence Youth Network centres itself in supporting young people in difficult situations such as gang violence, suicide, drugs, direct and indirect trauma associated with these kinds of circumstances. She remembers an instance where a young person who confided in her that the brother had committed suicide as she was not an expert in this field, had to seek assistance for the young person from the Nottingham City Council.

She acknowledges the fact that the network offers support to youth led organisations and signposts them to relevant support groups and authorities.

Jacqueline offers nuggets of wisdom to young people who would like to form their own

organisations or get into entrepreneurship, just do it. She believes there is learning in failure and being resilient in whatever you set yourself to do.

She also encourages young people to be socially conscious and be proactive in speaking up for those who don’t have the voice to do it themselves.

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27 Mojatu Covid-19 Support Work Nottingham connected

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THANKS TO ALL OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS

Nottingham connected

Covid 19 Work

THANKS TO ALL OUR FUNDERS AND PARTNERS

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FEARLESS YOUTH ASSOCIATION

Digital Media Training Programs |Oct 20 - March 21 • • •

Digital Storytelling Radio Broadcasting & Interviewing Music Production

• • • •

Videography Web Design Photography Graphic Design

CONTACT DETAILS 2nd Floor, 151 – 153 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR

0751 3661 176 FYA Notts

info@fyaonline.com Notts_FYA

FYA_Notts

fyaonline.com FYA_Notts

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#FEARLESSANDLOUD SOCIAL MEDIA CHALLENGE

By Jaya Gordon-Moore At Fearless Youth Association (FYA) we are offering How do you get involved? our social media platforms to help elevate voices, not only through sharing informative content on black To get involved: communities and celebrating and black excellence, - Create a short video (preferably one minute) or but through arts via our #FearlessAndLoud challenge. take a picture that represents what it means to be We are tired of mainstream media platforms black to you. This can be in any format, whether misrepresenting and underrepresenting us and so we it’s a poem, a speech, a vlog, a rap, a fashion piece created this challenge to help black creatives connect, or some art! We want you to decide as it is about empower each other, inform and spread positivity elevating your voices and celebrating the range during such difficult times. As recent statistics show, and diversity in black culture that the media so those from the black community, particularly black frequently tries to squeeze into a stereotype. women, are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 in several ways. Whether it’s the impacts on wellbeing, - Make sure you are following us on at least one the racial bias of institutions, or the increased social media, post your creative piece using the impoverishment in black communities, the statistics hashtag #FearlessAndLoud and tag us too! are devastating.

- We will repost all that follow the first two steps So far, we have had some great submissions from and shout you out! We will also stay in contact for black creatives worldwide. Some have rapped, some future events and discussions! have done a spoken word piece, and others have written poetry. There is no age or geographical limit or You can message us if you have any questions. For more information go to our social media pages: deadline for this project, it is ongoing!

We are unapologetically black! What does your blackness mean to you? Say it loud and proud!

Whether it’s about your experiences, your history or your culture. Whatever your blackness means to you we want to know!

FYA Notts

Notts_FYA

FYA_Notts

FYA_Notts

We are currently trying to reach and update our audiences through our social media (mostly Instagram page) to highlight what’s going on in Nottingham and across the world to inspire people and make them aware of what they can get involved in and what they can achieve, alongside informative content around Black Lives Matter movement and other social issues. We also use our YouTube page a lot and are currently airing our series called Modern Day Mullatos (see other article) and several Nottingham-based digital stories that celebrate social cohesion.

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Sounds Of Lockdown

By Jaya Gordon-Moore

As a collaboration project with Primary. Fearless Youth Association are putting together an exciting new project for young aspiring creatives (aged 1625) to reflect on life in lockdown. The aim of the project is to give young creatives an opportunity to get involved in creative avenues, develop their skills and elevate their voices.

To do this, we are offering several workshops over the few weeks, both face-to-face and via zoom.

Each workshop is focused on a different element of sound, from looking at sound technology and learning how to record sound, to writing and sound scaping. The end goal of this project is to produce a podcast exhibiting all of the sounds we create compiled.

‘If lockdown was a collection of sounds, what would these sounds be?’

‘When this is over, what would you like to do?’

‘Throughout lockdown, what was happening around you?’

We know that lockdown has been a really tense and difficult time for people across society but young

people in particular, with the future seeming more unpredictable than ever. We also know how much creative avenues can be helpful in not only reflecting on this, but to connect and empower people.

Additionally, this project is youth focused, and so could really help bridge the ever-growing gap between not only everyone as individuals throughout lockdown, but the younger generation and the older generation. It could help to show how beneficial creative projects are for wellbeing, social cohesion, and overall understanding.

The great thing about this project is that no one can be too much of a rookie or overqualified. Throughout the weeks the project will offer a chance to: -

Explore a wide range of writing styles (from rap, to spoken word, to monologues) - Sound scaping, sound production and using loops to create sound.

- Recording sound - Creating a podcast - Exhibiting and performing.

‘Throughout lockdown, what thoughts/feelings were going through your mind?’

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‘What have you learnt during this time?’

career, let alone know how to approach it.

‘Name 3 belongings that have helped you during lockdown’

Especially during COVID-19 with live shows, open mics and a lot of creative events being cancelled.

This project allows a safe space for us all to explore new skills, reflect on lockdown and connect with likeminded people.

Another nice thing about this project is it is extremely flexible and is all about what the young people want and need.

Even if they do not feel comfortable or confident to use their voice in this project, they can explore sound scaping and producing sound. If those who want to get involved do not have access to certain materials, whether its Wi-Fi, or writing equipment we are here to support you!

We are going to provide those who sign up with sketchbooks, pens and postcards throughout the weeks to help them reflect on lockdown and develop their skills. BBC Nottingham have also shown an interest and are really intrigued to find out how we develop this, they even said they would love to interview those who sign up!

As an upcoming musician myself, I am so excited to be helping lead this project. I know how hard it is to get the momentum to start or continue a creative

It is not too late for anyone to sign up during the process of this project. If you like the sound of it (no pun intended), or know someone who might be interested contact: jaya@mojatu.com

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MODERN DAY MULLATOS PODCAST; A DANGEROUS MIX

By Jaya Gordon-Moore

In partnership with Fearless Youth Association (FYA) , the Modern Day Mullatos (MDM) started during the emergence of what has been labelled the biggest civil rights movement in history. After the death of George Floyd (May 25th 2020), and the longstanding history of racial prejudice, violence and discrimination across the world against non-white people, millions of people across the globe stood up to peacefully protest, elevate their voices and stimulate change.

Alongside protesting in our local areas, Me (Jaya), Kofi, and JJ felt so hurt and angered by the current climate, that we had to do more.

We have been friends through our music careers and social media for a while and related over the fact that we were all mixed race. So we decided to create a podcast series, all about racial and social issues, intersectionality’s and progressive politics from our perspective.

Understanding intersectionality Drawing from intersectional studies, we recognise that oppression and privilege is a reflexive process that heavily relies on one’s identity and the social constructs and contracts around

that. For example to be a Black man is very different to being a white women, or a middle class Black person with a physical disability is very different to being a working class Asian person who is mentally ill. In summary, intersectionality looks at the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, gender, sexuality, disability etc. They create overlapping interdependent systems of discrimination and disadvantage, but also advantage.

These identity structures are so important to recognise because they determine how society treats us, and how we experience it in turn. Not only is there a lot of research into the complex nature of the mixed race identity, but also how a lot of the time, in the words of Earl Sweatshirt we feel, ‘Too black for the white kids, and too white for the blacks. Although we know we are black, and no one can take that away from us, we know that our experience is different from some of our Black and White counterparts.

Our spelling. Our Voices.

The name Modern Day Mullatos is a modern twist on the offensive noun 'mulatto' meaning a person of mixed white and Black ancestry, especially a person with one white and one Black parent. We changed the spelling to reclaim and redefine the word for our own. Like how rapper and activist Tupac Shakur used the word ‘Nigga’ to empower himself and others, redefining it as ‘Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished’. The goal of the podcast is not only to relate, but to inform, inspire, empower and stimulate change. Our short term goal is our biweekly podcasts on YouTube, but our long term goal is to be going into schools and setting up workshops.

Episodes so far and where to watch.

As mentioned before, the series is on YouTube via Fearless Youth Associations channel. So far we have released seven episodes, discussing a range of topics: 1) Everyday racism and being mixed race 2) Why reverse racism is a myth 3) A Movement Not A Moment, what are the next steps?

4) Can we forgive racists?

5) WEAR A MASK KAREN! 6) SUPREMACY 7) UK POLICE, FIX OR DITCH? The topics are diverse and unique.

Such as episode 5, where we link the anti-mask protests to the concept of white fragility and discuss how it is so detrimental to the Black Lives Matter protests. In our latest episode (7), we critically discuss the history of policing in the UK and USA and its aims. We look into the debate of community action and defunding the police, discussing whether reform is possible. We also look at representation, racial bias, and denial of institutional racism in the criminal justice system. To find us easily, you can either go to our social medias (linked below) or scan the QR code on this page!

Follow us on social media Instagram: @fya_notts @themdmpod Twitter: @fya_notts @themdmpod Podcast speakers Instagram handles: @yungmajay @drskxl @ jayahadadream

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STABBING IN CENTRAL NOTTINGHAM 12TH OCTOBER 2020

By Jaya Gordon-Moore

news, and recognise the importance in expanding our work further to reach more young people.

Nevertheless with the emergence of COVID-19 across the UK earlier this year, the way that organisations and institutions approach youth crime has had to change and adapt. With local lockdowns and the tier system, youth crime and crime in general has been particularly hard to prevent and tackle. Additionally, the impact of COVID-19 and the restrictions has further put pressure on our young people, particularly those from poor socio-economic backgrounds and from BAME communities.

Yesterday (12th October 2020) the Nottinghamshire Police were called to Milton Street, near the Intu Victoria Centre at around 13.15pm following a man being stabbed to death in front of numerous shoppers.

Officers tried to revive the victim at the scene, but he died shortly afterwards. A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder minutes after. They later arrested a 19-year-old man on suspicion of murder. A few days before (9th October 2020), two teenagers (16-year-old and 18-year-old boys) were arrested after a man in his 20s was stabbed outside Intu Victoria Centres McDonald’s at around 5pm.

Nottinghamshire Police aim to treat knife crime as a ‘public health’ issue, meaning the focus will be on bringing together different organisations, institutions and communities to work on prevention. In April 2019, the Knife Crime Strategy put in place in 2018 was reviewed, as knife crime had increased by the end of 2019 by 9.5%. The Nottinghamshire police department then introduced the Youth Endowment Fund, run by Impetus, in partnership with the Early Intervention Foundation and Social Investment Business, aimed to prevent children and young people getting caught up in crime and violence by making sure that those at risk get the support they need as early as possible.

Here at Fearless Youth Association (FYA) our key aims are to inform, empower, inspire and develop young people, particularly young people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities at risk of getting involved in crime. We offer a range of support from online knife crime support, social media campaigns, online free creative media training programmes, and other workshops to give young people a chance to develop skills, elevate their voices, and stimulate change. We also do a lot of awareness work through digital stories on our social media and YouTube channel, to help educate, inform, but also increase social cohesion and understanding between groups in Nottingham. We are incredibly saddened by the recent

“Within the community we provide for, we have seen a rise in the need of food parcels, particularly in BAME households. In the last few weeks we have increased our service from 40 food parcels to 70” – Jaya GordonMoore, FYA Over the past twenty years, several sociologists have examined the relationship between young people and society, particularly those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, concluding that their position in society is one riddled with hopelessness, discrimination, misrepresentation and lack of opportunities. Austerity cuts since the financial crisis in 2008 have disproportionately impacted those from these non-white and poor socio-economic backgrounds. In that same time, there has been several stories of racism and mistreatment from the police in Nottingham let alone the rest of the UK. ‘In a society that continues to treat one based on their colour of skin, social background, clothes they wear, culture, religion and more, it is difficult not to link this with the increase of feelings of isolation among youth, leading to discontent, hopelessness, low selfesteem and crime. I think it’s difficult to lead a positive pathway if you feel like you are not valued or respected in society as much as someone else. I can see why they might be more motivated to join a criminal lifestyle, where they can earn street respect, they can provide for their families etc. I think it is important that our city works on recognising the inherent racial bias and breaking it down. Showing these young people what they can do, empowering them. We need more youth opportunities, more funding in these areas, and more work on empowerment and bridging the ever growing gap between institutions, community organisations and young people.’ – Jaya Gordon-Moore, FYA To find out more about what we do and get involved: www.fyaonline.com

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Education is for EVERYONE - including Black boys

By Rani Ali

Education is a universal right for every child, but not all children and young people have the same experience throughout the education system - and that is a problem.

The education system is there to support young people and guide them towards success, however, Black children, especially boys, are discriminated against as soon as they start school. They are perceived as disruptive, hopeless, and inferior and something needs to be done about it.

The unconscious prejudices within the education system result in many teachers being biased against Black Caribbean boys, the Centre for Education and Youth found. These prejudices are reflected in the way these students are disciplined at school, how their work is assessed, and the academic ability set that they are put in. Professor of Critical Race Studies at the University of Birmingham, David Gillborn, found that Black boys are more likely to be impeded by race, expectations about behaviour, and academic performance. For example, there is a significant difference in how White teachers treat pupils in terms of pushing them to do their best. Gillborn found that if a Chinese pupil is achieving a C grade, the teacher is much more likely to encourage them and push them to fulfill their potential by achieving a better grade. Whereas, when this is the case with a Black boy, a C is regarded “good enough” and they are not pushed to achieve anything better.

This teaching attitude is reflected in the educational attainment of Black boys and their future educational career. Black boys are amongst the least likely to obtain five A* to C GCSEs, good A-levels, and entry to good universities. Compared to the national average of 40%, only 31% of Black African and 23% of Black Caribbean boys achieve five A* to C GCSEs. This limits how far they can progress into further education and restricts the education opportunities that are available to them, for example, achieving the grades required by Russell Group universities.

It is easy to point the finger at the individual and blame Black boys for their poor educational attainment, but it is clear that the structures that underlie the education system put Black pupils at a disadvantage. It is important to consider the amount of knowledge that schools have about Black culture. For example, numerous stories have emerged of Black students being told off for their hairstyles. This reflects the prevalent racial bias and lack of understanding which, understandably, Black pupils

can see as disrespectful and upsetting. No wonder many Black young people do not think that education is made for them, especially young men. Something needs to be done to ensure Black boys have a positive experience and want to remain in education, however, the rate at which Black boys are excluded does not help this goal. The Runnymede Trust published a report that stated Black Caribbean pupils are three times more likely to be permanently excluded from school, than their White counterparts. Narrowing it down to gender, Black Carribean boys make up 53% of the permanently excluded school population, whereas White boys only make up 18%. Although we all know that exclusions are the result of bad behaviour, it is important to consider the role of discipline in this. As mentioned, Black boys are disciplined differently to other pupils, so behaviour deemed as ‘disruptive’ or ‘bad’ when performed by them may not be deemed as such if it was another pupil acting in such a way. Therefore, it is vital to address teacher attitudes towards Black boys, particularly the aspect of fairness in their role.

Teachers play the most important role in a pupil’s education, therefore, they should treat each pupil with the same amount of respect, but as it has been found, this is often not the case. Various research projects have concluded that schools must develop their knowledge and understanding of Black British history and culture to improve the experience of Black boys in education. By understanding the dynamics of Black British culture, schools can begin to understand why Black boys may act a certain way. What at first may appear as troublesome or disruptive behaviour may actually be a way that Black boys have been socialised to express their masculinity. Uanu Seshmi MBE addressed how the expression of masculinity is an important factor to consider when trying to reduce the exclusion figures for Black boys. In his report for the Runnymede Trust, Seshmi identified two main

Nottingham connected areas that schools with high exclusion rates are failing in. Firstly, they lack in supporting BME males in KS3 and 4 to have a healthy understanding of masculinity and adulthood. Secondly, schools must then nurture BME males’ prosocial behaviour, so they can compete with other males in a healthy way, both intellectually and physically. It is narrow minded to assume that everyone is brought up in the same way. Britain is made up of numerous diverse cultures which socialise children in different ways, so schools, which play a key role in secondary socialisation, must realise their role in developing individuals into prosocial members of society. No pupil is the same, so the approach cannot be the same.

Since identity is a reflection of one’s environment, it is necessary to analyse how male gender identity translates from the home to school. Academics Kerr and Cohn (2001) found that Black men are constantly having to prove their masculinity. The behaviours that cause Black boys to be labelled as problematic, such as disruptive behaviour and becoming part of gangs, are a strategy used by them to earn their masculine rights.

It is important to realise that when Black boys lose interest in education, it is not because they cannot be bothered or they are not clever enough - it is because they are having to prove themselves elsewhere.

Schools need to be equipped with the correct support structure to guide them. For Black boys to receive the correct guidance, it is essential that they have the

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correct role models they can aspire to be. Sadly, this is not accessible in many schools.

Tony O'Connor became Britain’s first Black headteacher in 1967, which could be seen as a turning-point in the amount of BME role models in education. However, in 2016 there were only 39 Black secondary head teachers in England. This equates to under 10% of secondary schools in England being led by a Black headteacher.

Without BME leaders, how can racism and racial biases be tackled in schools? What can Black boys aspire to be without having “someone like them” in a leadership position? Similarly, the teaching workforce is made up of only 2.2% Black teachers. This once again raises the significant issue of the lack of understanding and empathy there is towards Black British culture. There is such a shortage of Black teachers in schools that we need to ask, who is there to understand Black pupils?

To overcome the racial biases in school, however unconscious it may be, there needs to be a re-education of education professionals. As stated straight away in the beginning, education is for everyone, but access to education is not the same as access to educational opportunities. Black boys can access education but cannot access the same opportunities as their counterparts. To truly make education for everyone, we must ensure that education is a positive experience for those that are excluded from it now.

mojatu.com

38 category

FGRC

Project 97

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING IN ASSOCIATION WITH MENTAL FIRST AID ENGLAND Train the Trainer – 2-day course Mental health champions – 1-day course Mental health awareness – half day course

All training is online

For more Information Julia Paul 07799 967516 info@fgrcproject97.org 97 Bathley Street NG2 2EE

Nottingham connected

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YOGA FOR WOMEN

By Parmjit Sagoo This project provided health and wellbeing support via online Yoga For Women sessions, reaching women of all backgrounds, aged 16 plus. The sessions were held across a 5 week period, exploring gentle yoga, breathing exercises and relaxation strategies.

The classes were specifically women only, providing a safe and confidential space for women to explore their own wellbeing. These sessions were attended by a wide range of women from all ages and backgrounds, included women looking for gentler and inclusive exercise, women experiencing anxiety and low moods, women who prefer the privacy of online classes and women with young families needing time for themselves. Our partnership with Mojatu Foundation ensured that we reached women from Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse communities, who often feel under-represented and uncomfortable in mainstream health and wellbeing spaces. In total we had 36 women taking part in sessions, some of them were regular attenders, while others came along when they could manage it.

40 Covid-19 Work

mojatu.com

SUPPORTING NEW AND EMERGING COMMUNITIES THROUGH COVID-19 Nottingham Equal has been successful with a grant application to the National Lottery Community Fund for funding to support New and Emerging Communities Through Covid-19. The Project will last for six months.

Nottingham Equal are working closely with the Mojatu Foundation to implement this Project, and a partnership of 23 community organizations are providing support to individuals, families, and community groups.

In addition to the Nottingham Equal and Mojatu Foundation networks, the Project Partners also have wide networks, and have considerable knowledge, skills, and recent experience of facing the many challenges either of being a new arrival or working with new arrivals in Nottingham.

This support includes; additional funding to provide a continuation of services to achieve the priorities in the New and Emerging Communities Programme, funding to provide additional services e.g. food and household items, mental health and wellbeing, and Covid 19 information, and conversation groups to enable learning from the experiences of New and Emerging Communities.

The Project has a small management group of three people ,which meets fortnightly. Two representatives from Nottingham Equal and one representative from the Mojatu Foundation. The Project Manager (Partnership Development) manages the Project with the support of key Project staff.

The implementation of the Project is delivered through a team of six people, who include; the Project manager(Partnership Development),Project Manager (Partnership Co -ordination),Community Engagement Lead, Research Lead, Marketing, promotion and community officer, and Administrator and communications officer.

Each person within the Implementation team takes on a responsibility for being the contact person

with a Project Partner. The role of the contact person is supplemented by a range of other means of communication including zoom meetings of relevant partners e.g. Conversational groups. There is to be zoom meetings held during the morning and evening on the 21st October 2020.

Training opportunities for Project partners are to be provided on fundraising, social media, and organizational branding. This information will then be cascaded downwards to the many smaller community groups within the New and Emerging Communities. The first zoom training event on fundraising will take place on Thursday 12th November 2020.

Project partners will monitor their contribution towards the support of New and Emerging Communities through Covid 19, with the Implementation Team bringing together both written evidence of both the outputs and outcomes of the Project, and use creative ways to demonstrate the involvement of community members e.g. audio, video ,artwork and leaflets.

An important element of the Project’s evaluation will be recorded through case studies and will include; what difference the lottery funding has made, what has been achieved with the funding, and who have you worked with? This latter question will have different levels within the Project, has the Project has been partnership based from the outset.

Not all of the New and Emerging Communities will have been supported through this Project, but a significant contribution will have been made to assist individuals, families, and communities from New and Emerging Communities in Nottingham.

Nottingham connected

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October 20 – January 21 Integrating No�ngham’s New & Emerging Communities

FUNDED BY:

• • • •

Discuss effects of Covid 19 on local communities Reflect on different information/knowledge people have How to address needs in local communities Come up with possible solutions and identifying next steps together.

For More information Contact Person: Phone Number: Email:

mojatu.com

42 Covid-19 Work

IMPACT OF COVID19 ON MENTAL HEALTH

By Joan Muraguri

The impact of COVID-19 has taken place at a number of significant levels. The major impact is on society itself and its major restrictions that we now have to recognise and live by.

The second psychological impact is on families and their freedom to mix with each other and move freely amongst themselves bearing in mind that our families operate in small units rather than large units.

This means we now have to make decisions to come together and create one big family unit which is not an everyday thing. This is completely against what COVID-19 now demand which is to separate and live separate lives.

The third psychological impact is on the individual.

People in general now feel an element of fear in contacting, mixing and being in the same space as another individual. This goes against the natural feeling of us being a social animal.

People naturally feel better and more secure when they are in the company of others. They get reassurance from social contact. They crave the need to be in each other’s company.

What COVID-19 has done is introduced the fundamental psychological element of fear. We suddenly live in a social climate where we now view the stranger with fear and suspicion and instead of psychologically welcoming the stranger we now run away and reject them.

The consequence for this is a major development in our insecurity about feeling safe in our communities.

The government tells us that we cannot mix with any number above six. The impact of this for ordinary family of three generations with grandparents, parents and children is that the numbers for mixing will be far greater than six people.

The question for families is now who are going to leave out of the group? The big worry for Christmas is how are we going to celebrate Christmas as a family because again the question will be who cannot be invited? And who is going to take the responsibility to make that decision.

So now Christmas is a major pain for families created

by COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 is that it is a seed for a major mental health psychosis and there is no medication to treat this diagnosis. So, what is being depended on is the herd immunity which actually if it makes biological sense does not make psychological sense because if the majority of us

obtain a psychological disorder because of COVID-19 society will be very dysfunctional.

The further impact is that with our isolation there is an inability to go out, to work and be entrepreneurial. We have lost the ability to be innovative and think on our feet and therefore to create new products and services because we are not engaging with each other and we are stuck at home.

Somebody said to me the other day, even though they weren’t old enough to experience it; that COVID-19 was like the beginning of the second world war. Unlike in 1939, when war was declared against Germany the whole world changed where people were living with the notion that death was around the corner for somebody and everybody had to be careful that it was not them.

Since March 2020, everybody today feels the same way.

This notion of death overhanging them personally. This added notion of fear even though one cannot put one’s finger on it. Just like the war, nobody knows how many battles we have to engage in before there is a winner and this is the point. The government, people and society, is today not sure who is going to win this war and what price we have to pay either as individuals or as a society to come through this.

In conclusion I’m Joan Muraguri writing this piece at home reflecting the new way in which we have to bring light and understanding to society.

Nottingham connected

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Impact of Covid-19 on BAME Women in Birmingham

By Sarata Jabbi

It’s been ten months since corona virus surfaced in the Chinese city of Wuhan, in a poultry and seafood market.

According to WHO, over 30.6 million Covid-19 cases and 950,000 deaths have been reported. ‘From the 14 through 20 September, there were almost 2 million new cases of Covid-19, which represents a 6% increase compared to the previous week, and the highest number of reported cases in a single week since the beginning of the epidemic. During the same period, there was a 10% decrease in the number of deaths, with 36,764 deaths reported in the past seven days,’ WHO. Since the pandemic started there has been so many changes in people’s lives in UK and the world at large.

However the lockdown and closure of some facilities has had a huge impact on the lives of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in Birmingham.

According to some African migrants in Birmingham Covid-19 has ruined most of their activities such as work and classes in English, IT and Sewing.

Fatou Bintou Jarjue: The pandemic restricted our access to so many opportunities. I arrived in this country few years ago without any formal education and I tried contacting a community group called Care for Women and Girls (CAWAG) about my situation and I expressed willingness to learn English and other skills to improve myself. I was later given an opportunity to take part in their women empowerment project (IT, English and Sewing classes). However after the emergence of this pandemic everything stopped and the little knowledge I gained so far is not useful as I cannot utilise it. I also work as a cleaner and my employer has asked me to stay home. As a matter of fact my financial situation has changed for the worse.

Tabsir Assouma: Coronavirus has affected me and my family a lot, financially and emotionally. I was attending English and Sewing classes to improve myself which I find really interesting but due to Covid-19 I had to stop.

I live with my kids alone and since the lockdown started we haven’t visited family and friends, no party, or kids’ football. Everything has stopped, it’s really frustrating.

Salma Mahmud: Covid-19 has had a great impact on my family and I. We booked flight tickets to go to Somalia for a six weeks holiday, but the flight was cancelled, and we still have no had our money back. No enough hours at work, kids stopped going to Madarasa (Quranic classes) which piled up my role as a single mother and I struggle a lot to ensure that my kids learn their Quran daily because with TV, tablets and social media, it is really challenging to stop them from such engagements and get them concentrate on their studies.

Mata Demba: Our most challenging part of Covid-19 is the home schooling. Neither my husband nor I have had a formal education and having to help our kids with school work was a nightmare. My husband’s number of hours at work was reduced and we have a big family, and I am not entitled to public fund. My husband supports me financially with the little he earns from work. Our current situation is very frustrating.

Sireh Jallow: Covid-19 has had an impact on my life especially my business. Before the pandemic my business was growing well. I would normally have 6-10 orders a day, but it’s a different story now. I hardly have a customer because all the social activities have stopped and you know women love wearing new outfits to every party.

Home schooling was also a challenge but thank God we are surviving and hope life will come back to normal.

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mojatu.com

Summer Festivals in Nottingham By Pa Modou Faal

2020 just like 1918 would be a year that will go down in the annals of specific history of humanity. Since its declaration into a pandemic by WHO, COVID-19 has been ravaging the entire world with high death tolls, mass infections, over stretched medical facilities, economic degradation and widespread fear factor.

Another hard-hit important part of life by the pandemic has been our social activities. Annually, this time of the year, the City of Nottingham joins thousands of cities globally to appease its residents with wonderful activities and outdoor festivals; but this year has been turned out to be different. This highlight features how the City of Nottingham would have presented herself to residents and visitors alike during the summer.

Sadly, the Nottingham Beach and Riverside Festival have been called off by the City Council based on rules and regulations geared towards curbing the spread of the maiden Corona Virus pandemic. Evidently, the maintenance and observance of social distancing during such festivals, will be practically impossible hence the cancellation for this year’s commemorations. The Riverside Festival which attracts more than 200,000 people over a three-day period annually, would have celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Also, the Old Market Square which used to play host to the Nottingham Beach Festival, has been transformed into a place of relaxation and rendezvous. Both activities have been deferred to 2021.

The Robin Hood Festival would have attracted hundreds of thousands of people all over Nottinghamshire which usually provides a famous week-long fun for families. The Festival offers numerous activities for children to wonder around in the nature as well as discover the forest. To entertain people above the age of 15, the organisers offer storytelling, archery, sword-fighting, comedy, magic trick and other adventures to make the week extraordinary.

Nottingham summer would not be the same without the Nottingham Carnival. The Victoria Embankment

would have been a very busy place during the summer but specifically on the day of the carnival where people from different walks of life would have converged around the beautiful scenery of the area. The daylong live carnival which usually starts and ends with live performances, has been held in a rather unusual way; through online with people attending via Facebook live, YouTube live and Zoom. The organisers prepared with live DJs, online performances, video clips of past carnivals, Virtual Parade with over 100 costumes and dancers and with many more.

The famous Splendour Festival is one of those activities which should never be missed for any reason because of its’ line up. This family festival offers amazing performances, activities and culinary experiences in the beautiful setting of Wollaton Hall and Deer Park.

This year, The Vamps, Sleeper, Becky Hill, Supergrass and many other would have turned up to entertain the Nottingham people, sadly not anymore in 2020.

Patching Festival of Art, Craft and Photography 2020 is a special Nottingham event where artists, photographers and makers spend one day in celebration to Art and Design. This Festival was meant to take place in Nottinghamshire Countryside with more than 250 artists and craft makers with a view to helping them sell or simply demonstrate their works. The cherry on top is the hands-on-workshops organised by the artists to showcase their methods and tactics to be used during the creation of their work.

Lastly, The Belvoir Flower and Garden Festival cannot be missed from this list as this inspirational event compounds picnic with some music, strawberries and cream. The set lies in the beautiful Belvoir Castle Garden with a lake and many parks. This festival is perfect for gardening lovers as anything related to improving garden, garden furniture and sculpture could be found there; with guest speakers present to answer questions.

Nottingham connected

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‘Why are you breathing in Europe?’

By Amindeh Blaise Atabong

In the European Union and in the Schengen countries the majority of the people have not encountered the difficulty of obtaining a passport and to travel freely. For Cameroonians it is a different story.

Amindeh Blaise Atabong tells his story of how draining it is to obtain and to hold a passport from this African country.

He starts his story by explaining that he wanted to renew his passport hoping that this time it would be easier, as the previous contract holder, the Thales Security was replaced by Gamelto. Atabong hoped that there would be no more fraud and that the whole process would be easier too. He was wrong, very wrong. The staff at the application centre in Yaoundé was arrogant with him telling him to come back later.

The next day when he did go back, they still said that it is not possible to obtain a new passport, but by paying the staff 420 dollars, the process has started and he could get his passport the next day.

According to the 2020 Henley Passport Index, which ranks countries by the strength of their passports, Cameroon is the 93rd. Despite the neighbouring country, Nigeria ranks below Cameroon, many Cameroonian choose to acquire their passport rather in Nigeria as it is easier to obtain it and to travel with it. Atabong continues his story by mentioning that when he wanted to enter Switzerland to attend an award ceremony, despite having all the supporting documents, he was denied. Only after he appealed to the State Secretary for Migration could he receive the short stay visa, with the entry and exit dates he had mentioned in his application.

This difficulty was not the last one that he had to face with during his trip to Switzerland as in Istanbul when he was waiting to board the flight to Switzerland, the Turkish Airlines staff asked for his passport and visa to make sure that he has the right to visit Switzerland.

Then the staff member asked him questions like “What do you do for a living?”“Where are you going to?”“What are you going there for?” “Do you have a return ticket?”

She actually asked why he was going to Switzerland when he also had a Canadian visa in his passport.

To react to these questions, he then asked her flat out – “I guess your next question will be ‘why are you breathing in Europe?’” The lady immediately returned his passport and moved away. He was the only person to be questioned by the staff…

He says ‘Travelling as an African requires a lot of patience. You need to stand in long queues reserved for travellers with “Other Passports”. If luck isn’t on your side, your skin colour will betray you into being sorted out for questioning or to verify the contents of your bag, and for women, sometimes the contents of your hair. It’s as if the Cameroonian passport has a secret inscription: The bearer is a potential threat: Treat with caution.’

This passport difficulty is not only an issue in Europe but also in the African continent. Despite the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africans can only travel visa-free to 25% of other African countries. This unfair situation is worsened by the fact that people from Europe and North America can easily fly in and out into many African countries, while it is not possible for the people from Africa.

Atabong finishes by saying that ‘It is often tempting to drop the Cameroonian passport, get a locally-acquired foreign accent and pick up a more powerful passport in order to roam free across the globe, but for the time being, I’m going to hold on to mine.’

Original article: shorturl.at/nyAW4

mojatu.com

46 Arts & Culture

Not welcome here: Travelling while African

By Nanjala Nyabola Traveling has changed a lot in the last decades. It is easier, cheaper and more comfortable now to go to one place to another. Still there are some countries where this situation has not yet changed.

During the early 2000s it was still possible for family members and friends to walk travellers all the way to the gate.

Gen Z travellers need to learn that now you have to take off your shoes and even belt going through security and that now you cannot take a full tube of toothpaste in your carry-on luggage.

The main changes in the global travel experience are attributed to the threat of terrorism and the need to make global travel more secure. But there are things that some people experience through the process that are deeper than that: ritual humiliations that have been introduced to the process of travel that are designed to remind people from Africa that they are outsiders and unwelcome.

They are the ones who need certified bank statements covering a three-month period and proof of home ownership just to set foot on the embassy grounds. They are the ones who get pulled aside for “random searches” every time they enter certain airports. They are the ones who need a letter from their fathers or suitable male relatives to apply for tourist visas. They come from the countries where global airlines send old planes that rock and rattle through take off before their dinner service featuring dry bread and off brand cola. They are ones who get yelled at by the cabin crew instead of spoken to kindly. They are the ones who lose entire days at the visa application centre scrambling to prove that they are not trying to run away.

It is not easy and free to travel abroad as an African. A Kenyan passport holder needs 6 weeks to apply for a visa for Ecuador; Thailand does not allow Nigerian women to travel as tourists without proof of permission from their husbands and fathers. Yet the reciprocal has never been true.

What’s going to happen now during and after the coronavirus? What new procedures will travellers have to endure? What will these new fears do to the decades of suspicion and profiling that black and brown bodies already endure when trying to travel? If African governments fail to control the disease, will African travellers be subjected to even more racialised scrutiny? What will travel look like, but more importantly, what will it feel like?

Often when we talk about the politics of international systems and organisations, we forget to stop and test the weight of human experience that even the most technically efficient process on paper can still be violent and inhumane based on how human beings experience it. Now the best that can be done is talking to people and asking them to share their experiences as we can have endless number of experts arguing about statistics but if we want to solve the discrimination and stigma, we need to work together with the people who experience them. These personal narratives are just as important as any systemic analysis.

Because at the end of the day, these injustices don’t happen to systems – they happen to people.

Nottingham connected

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FATWA FLU VACCINE same as the cow gelatine, goat or any other animals’ gelatine. It has same protein structure, same properties and same colour, texture and taste. You would not be able to distinguish the porcine gelatine from the others. Considering this fact it is argued that it doesn’t matter what its origin is. A similar fatwa was issued by Mufti Ali Jumma the Grand Mufti of Egypt about Pig products including insulin.

Question In certain areas of Midlands, we are experiencing issues with Muslim communities refusing to have their children vaccinated with the influenza nasal spray due to it containing porcine as a stabiliser. This vaccine is used for children and vulnerable elderly at serious risk of catch flu. It saves lot of pain and sicknesses in the community affecting thousands of people.

The children’s flu programme is an extremely important since it not only protects the child itself but also protects vulnerable family members and the wider community. This then has huge benefits on the local health system, 94% lower flue like illnesses in primary age children and 74% less visits to A &E. So, in the bigger interest of the society's health can this vaccine be given to children? What do the scholars say about the permissibility of in flu vaccine that contains pork gelatine, is this allowed?

A concerned Muslim Nurse Fatwa on Flu vaccine containing Porcine gelatine I begin with the name of Allah, the Kind the Caring The flu vaccine that contains porcine gelatine is a simple nasal spray that is particularly useful and easy to administer to children. It is administered to children who are susceptible to flu and have other problems like asthma which is exacerbated by the flu. It has been shown to reduce A &E admissions and other complications considerably.

Firstly, it’s important to understand the nature of the porcine gelatine. This is a pure product and is exactly

Secondly, this is for a medical purpose, it’s not consumption or eating. The nasal vaccine is important preventative measure that has been shown empirically to reduce lot of suffering in vulnerable children. This then falls under the well-known category of ‘darurah’ necessity, required and needed. The Quran teaches: “He has made unlawful for you the carcass, the blood, pork and animals over which any name other than Allah’s has been invoked. However, if one is dying of hunger then a small amount can be eaten in order to survive, Allah is Forgiver and Kind.” (Al Baqara:173) From this jurist have reasoned that when something that is forbidden is necessary for survival then it becomes permissible.

So, if porcine gelatine was forbidden in this situation, it becomes permissible. The other rule from this is: "What is permissible for a particular need can be used according to the amount required.” Thirdly, my fatwa is based on this powerful principle Istihala found in books of Fiqh: “Istihala means the change of a substance as a result of its purification and the removal of all the impurities around it. Scholars are agreed that when alcohol changes into vinegar it is considered pure. The majority of Hanafi, Maliki scholars and Imam Ahmed said that istihala renders impure substance pure. As mentioned above, there is no scholarly contention on the purity of an alcohol that has turned into vinegar. Another example the scholars give is the blood of deer, when it is converted into musk it becomes an expensive fragrance. (p1738 Encyclopaedia of Fatwa published by Dar la Ifta AlMisriyya) Considering this evidence, we conclude the nasal flu vaccine containing porcine gelatine is permissible for use.

On behalf of the British Fatwa Council Mufti Dr Hafiz M Munir Al-Azhari Mufti Yar Muhammed Khan Qadri Dr Musharraf Hussain Al-Azhari

mojatu.com

48 Health & Food

HOW TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

By Cool Springs Chiropractic Staff

Boosting your immune system is easier said than done. While it may take some time – remember, Rome was not built overnight – taking the steps necessary to bolster your immune system will go a long way in maintaining your overall health. Our team here at Cool Springs Family Chiropractic has compiled a list of things you can do to improve your immunity.

TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE: Sleeping is one of the most important things we do daily. It helps our body and brain rest, it helps the body recover from fatigue, and it keeps your heart healthy. Healthy sleeping patterns also helps our body build up its immunity.

Most experts recommend that adults get at least seven hours of sleep a night. Studies have shown that individuals who sleep fewer than six hours each night are at a much higher risk of illness than those who sleep six hours or more. If you are having trouble falling to sleep every night, try sleeping in a completely dark room or with a mask on.

EAT MORE ORGANIC FOODS: Whole plant foods help our bodies build up the immunity they need to fight off illnesses. Foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and legumes are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that give your body the upper hand it needs. That is because the antioxidants in these foods help decrease inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is linked to health conditions such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers.

Certain fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients like vitamin C, which may reduce the duration of the common cold. The more vitamin C you eat the better!

EAT MORE HEALTHY FATS: Healthy fats help boost your body’s immune response to pathogens by decreasing inflammation. These fats can be found in food like olive oil and salmon. Chronic inflammation can suppress your immune system, so taking the steps necessary to reduce inflammation is key to your overall wellbeing.

Olive oil, for example, is linked to a decreased risk of chronic diseases including heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Olive oil also has anti-inflammatory properties which may help your body fight off harmful disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

FERMENTED FOODS OR PROBIOTIC SUPPLEMENTS: You should try to implement fermented foods into your diet as much as possible. These foods are rich in beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which populate your digestive tract. Fermented foods include yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir, and natto.

Studies have found that those who consume fermented foods or take probiotic supplements have stronger immune responses to viruses. If you do not regularly eat fermented foods, probiotic supplements are a great alternative. Both of these options greatly increase your gut health which is deeply interconnected with your immunity.

LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR YOU EAT: Sugar and carbs are one of the biggest contributors to obesity.

Obesity greatly increases your risk of getting sick while also amplifying the symptoms. Studies have found that people with obesity who were administered the flu vaccine were twice as likely to still get the flu than those without obesity.

Nottingham connected Limiting the amount of added sugar, you put into your body can decrease inflammation and aid weight loss.

Your sugar intake should be less than 5% of your daily calories. This equates to about two tablespoons of sugar for the average 2,000-calorie diet.

EXERCISE: It feels as though it does not need to be stated how effective exercise is when it comes to improving your overall wellbeing. However, prolonged intense exercises can suppress your immune system.

Moderate exercises give your immune system the boost that it needs.

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MANAGE YOUR STRESS LEVELS: Long-term stress promotes inflammation, which as mentioned earlier, goes a long way in distorting your immune system’s ability to fight off illness. This is even more apparent in children. Relieving stress and anxiety is crucial to maintaining your body’s being.

You can lower your stress levels in a myriad of different ways. You can meditate, keep a journal, practice yoga, receive chiropractic care, or seek a therapist. The best way to relieve stress is always dependent on personal preference.

Moderate exercising can reduce inflammation and promote the healthy turnover of immune cells. These exercises include jogging, biking, walking, swimming, and hiking. Try to get it 150-minutes’ worth of moderate exercising per week.

AVOID UNHEALTHY HABITS: Some of the main reasons our immune systems struggle have to do with the way we take care of our bodies. Our body is a delicate machine that requires constant care and attention. Poor habits can almost make our bodies turn against us.

DRINK PLENTY OF WATER: While drinking water does not grant you immunity, it does prevent dehydration.

Dehydration can cause headaches, hindering your physical performance, focus, mood, digestion, and heart function. All these complications amplify your risk of illness.

Habits such as smoking, excessive drinking, binge eating, and drug use all hamper our body’s ability to fight off unwanted diseases. We get that quitting these habits is not easy but doing so could save your life. Try replacing unhealthy habits with healthier ones such as exercising and meditating.

Water is the recommended form of hydration as it is free of calories, additives, and sugar. Other forms of hydration such as tea and juice also work but be careful of their high sugar content. Keep in mind that the older you get the harder it is to keep track of your thirst.

Older adults need to drink regularly even if they do not feel thirsty.

CHIROPRACTIC CARE HELPS: Chiropractic care is another great way to help boost your body’s immune system. Are you suffering from back pain, sports injury, or an accident? Did you know Chiropractic can possibly help treat these injuries? Get in touch with Dr. Pete Hinz at info@coolspringschiropractic.com for a FREE consultation.

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50 Health & Food

Men & Mental Health

By Tombe Tombe

One in four people in the UK have experienced mental illness.

Going through mental illness is bad enough but often, for almost two thirds of people with mental health problems, the stigma and discrimination experienced is as bad the symptoms of their condition.

Admitting you have mental health problems and seeking help may be as hard as dealing with the problem itself. People need to know and understand that mental illness is more common than people may know and that looking down on or brushing it under the carpet makes the situation worse. I will be focusing on men's mental health, as it carries the most social stigma and men are more likely to feel uncomfortable discussing or admitting mental illness. Sometimes, you may not even know that you are experiencing mental illness, but you feel as though something is just not right.

You may be feeling more emotional, more lethargic, less sociable and you might stop wanting to do activities you usually enjoy. You may also feel agitated or find it hard to concentrate at work. This is understandably hard to deal, with people looking fine on the outside but unwell mentally.

Whatever it is, mental illness affects everyone differently, even though there may be similarities in symptoms. The stigma of mental illness can be

so overwhelming that men self-medicate with illicit drugs and alcohol just to manage. This short-term solution, of course, hurts in the long run, often leading to more substance abuse to numb the body and mind, leading to more problems.

Mental illness can unfortunately lead to extreme measures just to end the mental torture. Suicide in men is three times that of women in the UK. The highest suicide rate is in men between the age of 45 to 49 and is unfortunately increasing. Reasons can range from sustained mental illness over years and years or suffering a nervous breakdown from a sudden traumatic event.

We have to remember though, that something trivial to one person can be life changing to another suffering from mental illness. It can affect men from all walks of life. From the poor to the wealthy, from the 'average' man to famous actors and royalty.

Even the 'toughest' of men, from professional fighters to soldiers are not immune. I just want to let men know that whatever you are suffering from, whether it be anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, stress or any other mental illness, there is hope, there is help.

Don't suffer alone. It may be even harder in these coronavirus times but it's ok to talk to someone.

Maybe a family member, partner or friend. If you don't feel comfortable with that, talk to your GP or just google 'mental health illness help'. Things can and will get better. Thank you for your time.

Nottingham connected

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ADOPTION IN THE BAME COMMUNITY In the midst of a pandemic, adoption is firmly in the hearts of our communities Results from a recent survey show that black people have positive and altruistic views around adoption as a new campaign urges potential black adopters to come forward It is widely known in black communities that informal adoption is part and parcel of the fabric of our communities; we raise and nurture children that are not our biological children as if they were. Now new data from the cross sector National Adoption Recruitment Steering Group reflects this truth, showing that black communities have positive and altruistic views around adoption, with 80% stating that they have either adopted, considered or would consider adopting a child in the future. The data coincides with the launch of the first National Adoption Recruitment campaign, an initiative urging people who are considering adoption to take the next step.

The drive comes as the survey reveals that whilst motivations regarding adoption are overwhelmingly positive amongst the black community, there are a number of barriers and misconceptions that deter people from taking the next step. This includes concerns around people feeling that their housing is not adequate (35%); finances not being in a good enough position (30%) and worries about their age (20%).

At a time when national statistics reveal that black and mixedheritage children are disproportionately represented in the care system, a factor that one in six respondents was aware of, the National Adoption Recruitment campaign is raising awareness that the key attribute for adopting a child is providing a loving, safe and stable home and that factors such as occupation, salary, the size of someone’s home, home ownership or age are not important.

The data also revealed that there are a number of incorrect assumptions about

the type of person who can adopt. Contrary to beliefs outlined in the survey, those for whom English is not their first language, single people and those who are not married can adopt.

Bishop Joe Aldred, broadcaster and writer, said: “People think that if you’re in a low income job or on benefits, you cannot adopt, this is not the case.

The National Adoption Recruitment campaign reminds people that not only is the adoption process quicker and simpler than it once was but that the chances are, if you’d like to adopt, it’s very likely you can. Over the years we have seen the fulfilling challenge of adoption at work in several people, including close family, who have benefited from being adopted and some who have adopted. Every child deserves a loving home and I urge anyone who is considering adoption to come forward and take that next step to put a stop to our children waiting longer for an adoptive family.”

Sinitta, singer and mum of two, said: “I would definitely encourage others to consider adoption. I always knew I wanted children and I tried everything from IVF to surrogacy to have them. All of those journeys led to heartbreak, except adoption. The feeling of finally becoming a mother was almost indescribable; it's just everything. It was everything I wanted and more. I love my children more than anything and I always say that love is thicker than blood.”

Reflecting on her experience, adopter Fran says: “The best thing about adopting is knowing that you’ve made a constructive change to someone’s life and that they have done the same for you. My daughter has made my parents grandparents, my brother an uncle and my friends Godparents. I’m honoured to be her mum, she is such a blessing. To anyone in the black community considering adopting I would say absolutely go for it. There are children out there who need support and love and you can add so much value and make a difference to their lives. Your situation - if you are single, married or older for example – won’t matter, if you can provide a loving and nurturing home, I’d say go for it.”

Further information can be found at www. youcanadopt.co.uk/blackadopters

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52 Health & Food

World Mental Health Awareness October 10 is set aside every year to commemorate World Mental Health Day. The theme for this year is “Mental Health for All”. We will be sharing with our readers the mental health myth busting declaration which aims to challenge stakeholders and individuals to support people living with mental illness. The goal is to help raise mental health awareness and each of us can contribute to ensure that people dealing with mental health problems can live better lives with dignity. According to a WHO research, nearly 80% of people living with mental illness say that Covid-19 and the national response have made their mental health worse.

Our goal is to make sure everyone affected by mental illness has a good quality of life. Below is the Mental Health Myth busting declaration: 1)

Myth: Mental health problems are rare.

Reality: 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem, which means there’s a good chance someone you know may be struggling with mental illness or has experienced an episode of mental illness.

2)

Myth: People with mental health difficulties can’t or don’t want to work.

Reality: Research shows 70 to 90% of people with mental health issues want to work, but only 37% are in paid employment. For people with severe mental illness this is far lower, it’s just 8%.

3)

Myth: Persons with Mental Illness Cannot Learn New Skills

Reality: Mental health conditions have a variety of symptoms that vary in intensity. Most of my clients have learned to cope with managing their condition, juggling appointments and overcoming prejudice, so learning new skills is something they take in their stride.

4)

Myth: Mental health sufferers are violent and dangerous

Reality: Official statistics consistently show that most violent crimes are committed by people who do not have a mental health condition. In general, mental health sufferers are more at risk of being attacked or harming themselves.

5)

Myth: People with mental health needs, even those who are managing their mental illness, cannot tolerate the stress of holding down a job.

Reality: People with mental health problems are just as productive as other employees. Employers who hire people with mental health problems report good attendance and punctuality as well as motivation on par with or greater than, other employees.

6)

Myth: People with mental health problems are unable to become highly successful

Reality: Some highly successful people can absolutely thrive while struggling with their mental health. A factor in this is that the employer capitalizes on the individual’s strengths. It’s a matter of job matching the strengths and skills of the individual, with the role. A few years ago, ‘a very successful Chief Executive who was very open about his own experiences of Bipolar disorder’ as a Trust had a very successful Chief Executive, who also suffered from Bipolar disorder.

7)

Myth: You can’t recover from a mental illness.

Reality: What is so often misunderstood about mental health problems is that they don’t define a person or their potential in life. Recovery is possible with the right support and people can, and do, go on to lead rewarding, fulfilling lives.

8)

Myth: We can’t talk about mental illness at work:

Realty: Work is more than a means for material support.

It’s also a major way individual stay mentally healthy and socially integrated. The workplace is therefore an important place for speaking about mental health.

Breaking the silence can be beneficial for removing barriers to seeking treatment, staying well and staying employed.

More than busting myths with our understanding, we need to bust myths with our actions.

Nottingham connected

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Summary of Government’s Obesity Tackling Strategy Around two-thirds (63%) of adults are above a healthy weight, and half of them are living with obesity. We have 1 in 3 children leaving primary school who are already overweight or living with obesity with 1 in 5 living with obesity. Obesity prevalence is highest amongst the most deprived groups in society. Children in the most deprived parts of the country are more than twice as likely to be obese as their peers living in the richest areas. This is sowing the seeds of adult diseases and health inequalities in early childhood.

also more susceptible to obesity-related diseases.

Excess weight is one of the few modifiable factors for COVID-19 and so supporting people to achieve a healthier weight will be crucial to keeping people fit and well as we move forward. Obesity puts pressure on our health services, and it is estimated that overweight and obesity related conditions across the UK are costing the NHS £6.1 billion each year. Going into this winter, you can play your part to protect the NHS and save lives.

Obesity is associated with reduced life expectancy.

It is a risk factor for a range of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular, type 2 diabetes, at least 12 kinds of cancer, liver and respiratory disease, and it can highly impact on mental health. There is consistent evidence that people who are overweight or living with obesity who contract coronavirus (COVID-19) are more likely to be admitted to intensive care unit and, sadly to die from COVID-19 compared to those of a healthy body weight status.

These undermentioned points will go a long way in alleviating obesity problems:

Lots of people who are overweight or living with obesity want to lose weight but find it hard. Many people have tried to lose weight but struggle in the face of endless prompts to eat – on TV and on the high street. When we eat out, we have little information about how many calories are in the food we are offered. Helping people to achieve and maintain a healthy weight is one of the most important things we can do to improve our nation’s health.

COVID-19 and obesity It is common knowledge that living with obesity reduces life expectancy and increases the chance of serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes. With these underlined health issues as a result of obesity, many people in such category have been exposed to the risks of dying from COVID-19.

According to Public Health England’s (PHE’s) recent assessment, new evidence in the UK and internationally, indicates that being overweight or living with obesity is associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation, severe symptoms, advanced levels of treatment such as mechanical ventilation or admission to Intensive Care Units and death. These risks increase progressively as an individual’s body mass index (BMI) increases.

The report also indicates that those living in deprived areas are at greater risk of dying from COVID-19. Part of this risk may relate to obesity. Obesity is more common in people living in deprived communities who are

• introducing a new campaign – a call to action for everyone who is overweight to take steps to move towards a healthier weight, with evidence-based tools and apps with advice on how to lose weight and keep it off • working to expand weight management services available through the NHS, so more people get the support they need to lose weight • publishing a 4-nation public consultation to gather views and evidence on our current ‘traffic light’ label to help people make healthy food choices • introducing legislation to require large out-ofhome food businesses, including restaurants, cafes and takeaways with more than 250 employees, to add calorie labels to the food they sell • consulting on our intention to make companies provide calorie labelling on alcohol • legislating to end the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS) by restricting volume promotions such as buy one get one free, and the placement of these foods in prominent locations intended to encourage purchasing, both online and in physical stores in England • banning the advertising of HFSS products being shown on TV and online before 9pm and holding a short consultation as soon as possible on how we introduce a total HFSS advertising restriction online.

The campaign aims to reach millions of people who need to lose weight, encouraging them to make behaviour changes to eat better and move more to prevent or delay the onset of serious diseases. This will be supported by a 12-week weight loss plan app that people living with obesity can use to develop healthier eating habits, get more active and lose weight.

54 Business & Finance

mojatu.com

Pathway Housing Solutions – Building Futures homelessness among black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) households rose 48%. Within this, there were further disparities. Homelessness among black households was up 42%, Chinese and others up 35% and mixed-race households up 33%, which all represent disproportionate rises. Homelessness among Asian households rose by 71%.

It is 20 years since the Macpherson Inquiry into the racially motivated death of Stephen Lawrence, which brought to the forefront the ingrained problem of institutional and structural racism.

Institutional racism was defined by Sir William Macpherson in the UK as: "The collective failure of an organization to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people."

‘This has led to unprecedented levels of dissatisfaction, confidence and mistrust in the system, statutory organisations and the services they deliver’.

– Housing Inequalities & Homelessness in the Black Community Homelessness figures are disturbing for all communities, but again BAME communities fare worse than white communities in access to housing. According to Shelter, one in three homeless households are not white, compared to around one in seven in the general population. They state that between 2012 and 2017, there was a 22% increase in statutory homelessness.

Among white households this rose 9%, whereas

The quality and availability of housing for BAME households is also a national problem. Non-white, or BAME households, are more likely to experience housing stress, such as overcrowding, poorer quality housing and fuel poverty, and to be more concentrated in England’s most deprived neighbourhoods.

According to a report on race and housing issues, (Forty Years of Struggle A Window on Race and Housing, Disadvantage and Exclusion, Kevin Gulliver, by the Human City Institute, 2016) where he reviews a range of research from the 1960s onwards, he outlines how BAME communities have always experienced disproportionate housing need and faced discrimination in housing markets, both resulting from, and contributing to, higher levels of socio-economic disadvantage. He suggests that the housing needs of BAME communities have always been compounded by direct and indirect discrimination in housing markets in England.

So, whilst he states that the housing needs gap between BAME and White communities has receded a little (aided by the BAME housing sector; decades of community activism, ‘race and housing’ policies and strategies; and race relations, equality and human rights legislation), disadvantage and discrimination along racial and ethnic lines persist. For example, social lettings to BAME applicants are not at levels expected for the extent of their needs, and lettings on affordable rent are similarly distinct.

Nottingham connected Furthermore, having a decent affordable home is also a key determinant of people’s health and well-being and the impact of housing on health is now being widely considered by health sector policy makers as well as the housing sector itself.

These figures don’t reflect the numbers of non-statutory homeless or those people sofa surfing, or staying with friends, neither do they show the human cost of homelessness or the personal impact on families of living in overcrowded and unsafe housing. During Black History Month, Pathway Housing Solutions will be launching two research studies. “Homelessness in the BAME Community” and “Housing Inequalities”. These studies will investigate the long-standing, structural race inequalities, that the death of George Floyd and the coronavirus pandemic has so cruelly, yet so blatantly, laid bare, and also provide an historical account of the Windrush Generation’s experiences of Housing.

– The Housing Crisis. Struggling To Get On The Housing Ladder?

The UK is in the midst of a housing crisis, and according to the National Housing Federation, this is affecting more than 8 million people, 1 in every 7 people. Home ownership is in serious decline. House prices and rental costs have become unaffordable for many, such that home ownership rates have declined significantly – from 43% for those aged 27 in the 1970s to 25 % for those born in the late 1980s. Whilst all ethnic groups have seen a decline in the proportion of home ownership in their respective populations as part of the national trend, BAME households are today far less likely to own their homes, either outright or through a mortgage. These figures paint a daunting picture of housing aspirations for the black community, and in particular for our young people, highlighting evidence of people struggling to access affordable housing to rent or buy. Pathway Housing Solutions will be running a series of Housing Webinars, complimented by Community Listening Events, to raise awareness of the Housing Crisis and Alternative Routes to Affordable Housing. For more information see our

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55

website, and social media campaign #Hope4HousiNG. – The Economy, Housing, The Construction Industry and our Young People The effect of the pandemic on the economy is impacting on the job market. At the same time the construction sector is seen as a pathway to support economic recovery.

However, we know that BME young people are underrepresented in the Built Environment professions, such as Architects and Quantity Surveyors. Pathway Housing Solutions will be running a project that supports young people’s entry into higher education, provides financial help while they are studying, and supports their progression into employment.

– Join Our Campaign. A Place Called Home We are reliant on the generosity of individuals and corporate supporters to deliver our charitable objectives, and ensure that we continue to provide housing and community services. We will be launching a Go Fund Me Campaign to raise funds to; purchase and renovate derelict properties that will provide a home for a homeless family, and also offer financial help to black students while they are studying.

Announcing these initiatives, Henri Baptiste echoed the words of many by stating: "Now is a once in a generation opportunity to tackle long-standing entrenched racial inequalities”. “We know the problems, and we know the challenges, it’s time for us to come together to make our own solutions”.

For more information or to get involved in the research, please contact: Research@ pathwayhousingsolutions.org.uk info@pathwayhousingsolutions.org.uk www.pathwayhousingsoultions.org.uk Pledge your time, money or skills. Support Pathway Housing Solutions Pathway Housing Solutions (“Pathway”) is a Community Interest Company. It aims to create genuinely affordable homes to rent or buy.

56 Education & Career

mojatu.com

IMPORTANCE OF GIRLS EDUCATION By Lillian Mhando According to UNESCO there are an estimated 130 million girls between the ages of 6 and 17 are out of school. 15 million primary School aged girls will likely never enter a classroom in their lifetime. This was taken in 9 July 2018. It breaks my heart so much to know that this kind of behaviour and injustice is still existing in this time.

read or write because I have not been to school all this time, I was working as a house girl. The same year my boss whom I was working for decided to reward me for my hard work which was to take me to school and not just a school to start primary no! She wanted me to start SECONDARY SCHOOL (Year7).

When I started year 7 without knowing reading or writing, it seemed impossible but, because I was so much hungry with Education, I persevered and gradually things started to change. In two years time, I was able to read, write, do national exams and even knowing why I was in school. I have to say. It is remarkable that, through faith and hope that I had for a better future I defied the odds.

With no formal primary education, I managed to obtain a Secondary Education and become a graduate and associate member of the Association of Business Executives. In 2018 I managed to publish a book called the ‘’THE BOX OF THE COVENANT’’. I am now continuing to pursue other aspirations making sure that I give back to the community what I was given (Education)

I was born and grew up in Africa, in a beautiful country called Tanzania. A country that any child would wish to grow, because it has so much to offer, from the morning when you wake up the big trees and flowers that you see outside they gives you dream, peace, hope and assurance that one day I will be able to grow and become like that big tree or flourish and blossom like that flower.

But what the country has to offer it will much depend on which community, society or family that you are coming from, do they see the opportunity that the country has to offer and if they see it do they believe in it?

In 1990 I was 7 years old it was the time when I was supposed to join primary school, but I was told that I cannot join school because how to handle house chores so that when I get married I will be good wife.

As young as I was it pained me so much and at that point of time, I realised that the dreams, aspirations and hope that I had of becoming someone significant in the future was taken away, completely ripped away from me.

Do not underestimate the power of hungry girl: There are so many reasons to why girls are denied education, and one of them is the fact that they say, girls are not capable and not cleaver enough to go to school, but this is the big lie, it is a propaganda that does not have any truth in it. I will prove it in the following paragraph: In 2003 I turned 19 years old but still, I wasn’t able to

Why is so Significant to give Education to Girls.

There proverb which says ‘’if you educate a boy, we educate one person. If we educate a girl, we educate a family, and whole nation. By giving a girl an access to education, you are ensuring the future of her children because you know that she will take her children to school as well, because she knows the importance of Education.

When you give girls education you are basically rescuing their dreams and their lives. Since they will be in School, they will escape early marriage so as early pregnancy which causes lot of death to girls in so many developing countries. Girls who received education they are more aware of what is happening in their community and so it can be easy for them to involve themselves in bringing positive change in the community or the society they are in.

When you educate girls, you give them confidence which can help them to be able to participate in Economic, political and social discussions, and in decision making which can lead in promoting productivity and effective government. Girls are so quick in picking things and doing them very well. If a girl want, something, she will move mountains to make sure that, she gets what she wants. Girls have an extraordinary power within them, if they use it well, they are unstoppable.

My message to every Country, Society, Community and families, if we want this World to be a better place for everyone let’s come together and give Education to girls because it will change so many things.

Nottingham connected

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Impact of Cultural Decontextualization of African Homes in the West

By Edrissa Touray

Immigration, an ancient phenomenon of people moving from one location to another either for security, knowledge, or economic growth has inked an indelible social mark - a tapestry of global human geography.

Moving to a new country and meandering along the pivot ridden road to settle, seek livelihood and grow progressively, is often a daunting challenge for all immigrants. The difficulty level is further heightened if language proficiency skills becomes a variable in this complex equation.

Immigrants must adjust, adapt, and employ different coping strategies on a journey that is often punctuated by sorrows, tears, anxiety, and yet hope – hope for a better future!

The youthful youth, with the distinct characteristic and unique quality of malleability, can find these challenges negotiable. However, for a parent with dependants, it has a far-reaching social, psychological, and mental health implications.

The burden of pressure on the shoulders of these parents and their personal desire to fit in through a full social assimilation in the new environment, commands a religious devotion often at the expense of a person’s own acquired cultural enrichments including language.

To realise this life changing ambition, some parents deemed it necessary to ditch their home language ( and with it all their acquired linguistic and oratory abilities) to fully embrace the host language (despite their apparent proficiency skills challenges in the host language) in their interactions with their own children at home.

As children are naturally more adaptive to environments and

with the benefit of a structured education and social interactions at school and with peers (including first language speakers of the host language), parents, irrespective of their life experiences and acquired linguistic skills, become reliant on their very young children in brushing up their communication skills – battling phonetical sounds and learning syllables to aid pronunciation.

The new teacher in the house, at the beginning, corrects errors subconsciously but later consciously ignore errors and use it as measure of his/her parent’s degree of intelligence. In the absence of parents acquired (home) language, they become devoid of all tools necessary to effectively communicate, interact and intellectually engage their own children at home. This often blurred the line for children as to who is in charge in homes – a child who knows so much or a parent who lost the skills to adequately articulate himself/herself to his/her own children at home?

African languages, mostly without alphabet, are rich in linguistic diction as spoken word is used effectively to communicate and for the social, and intellectual development of users. They provide users with all necessary tools to attain great precision in communication in all contexts with a rich usage property for specific effects in poetry, figurative and coded speeches. The intellectual benefits of African story telling in the cognitive development of the young is immense.

These stories represent everything that a western child slept to in their bedtimes: characters of all attributes, varied settings, and plots of all imaginations. In addition,

they are often accompanied by songs that are heart-warming or of marvelled poetic composition. This essential tool is sadly lost because parents do not make it their point to have their children acquire their language code to facilitate that effective parental cognitive and intellectual discourse and prompting.

Language is a communication tool. All languages have an equal effect in this regard. One’s lack of proficiency in a particular language does not equate to one’s limitation in the thought process or its internalisation. Host languages are essential functional skills, and all immigrants must make efforts to attain the required level of proficiency to aid integration.

However, this should never mean abandoning your own language in your home: denying your children the benefit of bilingualism and limiting one’s own capacity in cultural education as part of the enculturation process.

Maintaining a home language benefits a child as a bilingual speaker. Bilingualism is associated with improvements in a child’s multitasking, concentration, creativity, and problem-solving skills. African parents in the West can also instil cultural values through language and ensure meaningful connectivity between African heritage children in the West with the home of their cultural roots in Africa.

Therefore, as a way to keep the flames of that fire of hope blazing, African immigrant parents should consider equipping their children with bilingual skills and also avoid curtailing their own ability to effectively engage with their children with the support of an acquired home language as a medium.

mojatu.com

58 Education & Career

COVID-19 And EDUCATION Pa Modou Faal

The Coronavirus pandemic has hit every angle of life but one such area that is hard-hit is the education sector. Teachers and students continue to tackle the daily uncertainties of life with different approaches. The strive for excellence has never been so challenging considering the new norm of education, online teaching. Even children have become more attached to their electronic devices now than before.

Mojatu Magazine spoke to a lecturer who described this period of the COVID-19 pandemic as a one of uncertainties and difficulties. Responding to the new norms of life as a result of COVID-19, Suhail Hasim said: In this Covid-19 environment we needed to be able to 'think outside of the box' in order to be able to deliver consistent and high-quality teaching by using available technology such as Microsoft Teams, with 'safety' at the heart of everything we do.

The last six months have been very tough, challenging and overshadowed by unclear Coronavirus clouds; how would you assess the plight of students - at home and abroad?

Students, wherever they may be, are just like the rest of us. They need to know what's happening in order to plan ahead. Covid-19 has made the world an uncertain place in the short-term for us all and difficult decisions must be made, such as do they defer a year at university? What are the implications of their learning in terms of reduced face to face available teaching hours? And can they afford to take up their place at colleges or universities given the economic uncertainties ahead.

Does COVID-19 bring advantages for students?

There are many advantages in these uncertain times, one has to look at opportunities and to remain resilient and positive. Students need to try and get the right balance and re-assess their plans based on their own individual financial circumstances. There is absolutely nothing wrong in taking a year out and working or setting up a business! This is a positive for them and adds to their experience.

How the 2020/2021 academic look like, do you envisage for online learning than the traditional way?

Many academic institutions with the current safety concerns due to Covid-19, have no choice but to deliver the vast majority of their teaching online in the forthcoming year. This is a significant change compared with prior years, but staff and students will need to adjust to the 'new norm'.

What is the way forward in your view?

The way forward in my view is as follows: • • • •

Adjust yourself and the way you think to our new set of circumstances.

Be positive and resilient and get as much fresh air as you can, social distancing off course!

Look at situations as opportunities and not challenges.

And help others where /if you can who may be less fortunate than you.

Nottingham connected Female Genital Mutilation category

FGM – FACTS, HELP & ACTIONS

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Facts

• FGM is any procedure that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

• FGM has been illegal in England and Wales since 1985.

• FGM is a form of child abuse and violence against women and girls.

• It is an offence to fail to protect a girl from the risk of FGM. • FGM is Non-Islamic, against the teachings of Islam and brings Islam into disrepute.

• FGM is putting the health of our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives at great risk.

• FGM affects girls and women both physically, emotionally and psychologically.

• Over 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM. • 10,000 girls aged under 15 who have migrated to England and Wales are likely to have undergone FGM. Taking Th • In Nottingham, about 85 new cases were recorded through NHS in 2016/17.

Taking The City To the Fa Taking The City To the Farm

Help

Are you concerned a girl or woman is at risk or need support?

• Are you from an affected community in Nottingham wanting to make a difference: • Join the Community FGM Steering Group: Contact us • For emotional & peer support for survivors in Nottingham, join the FGM Survivor’s club: Contact us Free • Refer survivors needing medical attention to FGM medical specialist in Nottingham: Contact us Sessions: Free Refugee • Drop in sessions at Mojatu Offices 167 Alfreton Road, Nottingham, NG7 3JR: ContactSeeker us Sessions: Free FGM helpline Refugees & Asylum • Call 0808 028 350 for a 24/7 anonymous or email: fgmhelp@nspcc.org.uk Tuesdays Seekers Welcome Sessions: • Call Nottingham City Council Children and Families Direct: 0115 876 4800 Saturdays Certifica Tuesdays • Ring the police on 999 if FGM has just happened or about to happen Saturdays Certificates Offered ADOP Tuesdays Activities include: Saturdays ADOPT A TREE include:Fruit Harvesting Actions Activities Fruit Harvesting Tree Management Activities To help end FGM and support survivors, join oneinclude: of our campaigns or projects Tree ManagementWeeding for Pumpkin Fruit Harvesting • FGM Survivors Club • Volunteer with us Feeding the animals Weeding for Pumpkins & Maize Form Tree Management • FGM Steering Group • ‘Adopt a tree’ project https://go Feeding the Pumpkins & Maize • FGM Global Faith Ambassador Weeding• for Donate to support ouranimals work Form online @ • FGM Global Young Ambassador Feeding •the Fundraise our work oodland 9sz animals to support https://goo.gl/WyH

W gement nd a l ana ionEDIBL d o M o W t E n e ss s‘18 m e SeWOODLA ag nEDIBLE nd n a l a d p M o e s o S W ment pr- Home Farm, Screv AEcocentre, ssio ‘18 SeWOODLAND For more information, contact Foundation p www.farmeco e ManeasgseiMojatu S s r n p Home Farm, Screveton, NG13 8JL AEcocentre, https://goo.g Mojatu Foundatio S eo07794372214 Phone: 01158457009 Mobile: 8 1 ‘ p www.farmeco.co.uk S r T: 0115 784 6666 | M: Ro 07 Email: valentine@mojatu.com Website: Ap www.mojatufoundation.org Mojatu Foundation | 167 Alfreton https://goo.gl/pEK1AC

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