Queen’s Platinum Jubilee At Marcus arvey

CITIZENS AT MARCUS GARVEY DAY CENTRE VISITED THE OAKS RESIDENTIAL CARE HOME’S SUMMER FARE

By MGDC Centre

Citizens from Marcus Garvey Day Centre (MGDC) visited The Oaks Residential Care Home to take part in their Summer Fare as activities designed to improve the mental, social, and physical wellbeing of the citizens of MGDC.

During their visit, the citizens took part in many different activities that were organised for residents of The Oaks Residential Care Home. They expressed delight in the visit and most of them enjoyed the different sessions that were held. There was a quiz session geared toward improving their memory and making recollection of historic events in which most of them took part and enjoyed. Another purpose of the day visit was for the citizens of MGDC to meet new people at The Oaks Residential Care Home and enjoy their day with the refreshments that were on offer in the company of each other. With the end of the pandemic – even though people should be more careful especially the elderly and the vulnerable, these types of visits are those that citizens look forward to because of the joy they bring to them and how they impact on their wellbeing. The Oaks Residential Care Home which is located on Campbell Street in St. Ann’s provides residential care for elderly, frail people and specialises in care for people with Dementia. As The Oaks Residential Care Home, MGDC also caters for older African and Caribbean citizens with need in the area of dementia, physical, sensory and or mental disabilities. The MGDC offers interesting and varied activities including chair-based exercise, day trips and in-door activities such as arts and crafts, puzzles, quizzes, storytelling, and dancing. People with dementia are looked after in their Alzheimer’s group and staff carry out reminiscence and memory work, and other activities designed to stimulate and encourage them. The centre also provides Caribbean meals and cater for most dietary needs at reasonable prices. https://mojatu.com/2022/11/15/citizens-at-marcusgarvey-day-centre-visited-the-oaks-residential-carehomes-summer-fare/

QUEEN’S PLATINUM JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS AT MARCUS GARVEY CENTRE - Jubilee cloak workshop

By MGDC Centre

In May this year, couple of workshops were held at Marcus Garvey Day Centre by Creative Paths to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee by holding “Tales of the Jubilee Cloak - A Jubilee Arts Project”. This is a Platinum Jubilee project that is meant to celebrate the memories and stories of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and the creativity of 70-year and older adults living in or using care services. Tales from the Jubilee Cloak was delivered in ten different care settings in the Nottingham area.

As part of the workshop there were reminiscence discussions on Queen Elizabeth II and her coronation in 1953, places the Queen has visited and about the Queen’s family history. Lots of photographs were shown and shared with citizens of the Queen’s coronation and royal visits over the years. There were discussions about the different types of crowns worn by the Queen and their significance. Out of love and respect for Her majesty, the senior citizens have even had discussion about what the Queen might be carrying in her handbag. The reminiscence activity helped to inform the designs for the creative activity that followed. their own square artwork to celebrate the Jubilee. These squares artworks were unique contribution to the cloak and the project, celebrating everyone’s creativity, memories, and thoughts about royalty. 70 square artworks were created in total for the cloak, a symbolic link to Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year Platinum Jubilee which were used to make a final long cloak of four metres as of the same measurement of what Queen Elizabeth II wore on her coronation. Upon completion by Creative Paths, the cloak was brought to the Marcus Garvey Day Centre for citizens to try it on. Citizens also made Jubilee bunting which will be put up in the day centre. The exhibition celebrated the creativity and jubilee memories of everyone who took part and helped to promote the benefits of arts projects in social care. Tales from the Jubilee Cloak was a successful project that empowered 70 people to share their memories, embrace their creativity and be part of a collaborative arts project. https://mojatu.com/2022/11/15/queens-platinumjubilee-celebrations-at-marcus-garvey-centre/

NOTTINGHAM SPORTS GROUP HELD THE 2022 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT DESPITE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES - By Pa Modou Faal

The Nottingham Sports Group (NSG) held its yearly sport activity at the Forest Recreation ground as part of activities marking the Nottingham Sports Festival. The tournament, which was held in July, is the second edition since the end of the pandemic. The two days activity was a showcase of young and elderly talents in the form of competitive football matches.

Participants in the tournament came from many towns and suburbs within Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. Fourteen teams participated under the notion of an international tournament where different countries were represented by their citizens. It was a tournament that aimed to bring people who come from the same country but do not have time to socialize or have fun together. NSG’s objective towards holding this event is to create an environment where everyone in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire can come together through the medium of sports especially football. The tournament was coordinated by the Chair of NSG Amdani Juma and Wilfred McKenzie who is the manager of all sporting activities for NSG. Mr. Juma reiterated the need to hold such events because they foster unity, peace, and cohesion within our various communities. He however registered the difficulties they face in organising the events, key among which, is finance. He said the committee buys medals, all the different kinds of trophies and refreshment as well as pay the fee to hire the ground with very inadequate funds.

Amdani Juma called on local government authorities, corporate entities, and other organisations to join them in their drive to attain such a noble initiative. He commended Mojatu Foundation and National Lottery for coming into their aid, without which, this year’s activities would not have been held.

https://mojatu.com/2022/11/15/ nottingham-sports-group-held-the2022-football-tournament-despitefinancial-challenges/

ECOFARM OPEN DAY

By Penny Cooper

12 June 2022, take a look at the pictures, can you guess where I am, YES, at the Ecofarm, Screveton for their Open Day event. The pandemic has been hard on us all, farmers, like David Rose have had to cut back on public involved activities like everyone else, so it was a treat to have my daughter visiting and to go along to the Open Day at the farm, the first after the pandemic.

My daughter was visiting from London, and had not been to the farm before, so she took lots of pictures and we had a fantastic afternoon. Because we at Mojatu Foundation due to unforeseen circumstances had not gotten involved this year, I was free with my time to enjoy the farm as a customer. I loved it, the day, weather wise, was ideal, and we wandered around sampling the country life. Caffe Velo Verde is a popular cycling haunt at the farm, and we headed straight there for a coffee and a bacon cob, lunch. It was busy, people sitting outside in the sunshine. We then headed for the tractor ride, a 20-minute ride around the farm. It was very informative and good to hear what David has been doing on the farm. I was particularly keen to see the Female Genital Mutilation plaques and trees planted in the farm, and wow how they had grown (picture below). I remember many weekends of volunteering and planting of the trees, approximately 4000 of them, fruit, and nut. I pointed them out to my daughter with pride. Also, interesting to hear about was a project of apple trees layered between crops, where the wildlife is encouraged to do what pesticides would normally do and provides David with an opportunity to grow organically. He is a great innovator on the farm and very much into the community. Take a look at his website at https://www. farmeco.co.uk/

The wicker giants were still there, but the trees had grown up and much of the view was green in the skyline. The maze you could get lost in this time because the trees were so tall. We visited the sheep shearing, saw the pigs and a giant tortoise. I have to say the tortoise was a surprise, I have only ever seen them as large on Zanzibar in Africa. To complete our visit, we waved to the Queen in the phone box (see picture below) and visited some of the stalls. My daughter was particularly interested in the African jewellery. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and good to catch up with friends. Mojatu Foundation in cooperation with David Rose, plan to hold volunteer days to visit the farm in the minibus, if you are interested in helping out, please let us know, info@mojatufoundation.org https://mojatu.com/2022/11/17/ecofarm-open-day/

THE GAMBIAN COMMUNITY HELD ITS ANNUAL FAMILY FUND-DAY - By Pa Modou Faal

The Gambian Community in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire organised its annual family fun day in July to bring people together to have fun and contribute to raising fund for the Masjid (mosque) project. Evidently, Nottingham has become very popular city to Gambians attracting a significant influx over the years. This could fairly be attributed to the Cultural and religious integration of a strong and dynamic Gambian community.

As a result of this growth, the community identified the need to initiate activities that can generate funds for the sustenance of the Masjid project which is located at 56-58 Thurgarton Street in Sneinton. One among the activities is the annual community football tournament. This event is a fundraising activity that has been going on for almost nine years now and has been deemed successful since its initiation. The day was characterised by a display of football skills, entertainment, and food sale. According to the Sec. Gen. Edrissa Touray, their main objective for the event is to develop positive relationships within members of the community as well as raise funds for the Masjid project. He said their main target is to be able to generate over £50,000 which would serve as deposit to buy the current place they are occupying now for the Masjid or elsewhere better. The Masjid also has a Madrassa where children are taught the Quran and engaged in how to develop good values as a Muslim and human being. He further asked the congregation that they are still in need of funds to meet the target of having their own Islamic centre.

Mr. Touray said the event seeks to attract local Gambian business in and beyond Nottinghamshire as well as other community business to use the day and advertise their businesses. It also solicits support from these businesses and individuals to donate to the project. Mr. Touray used the day’s activity to thank everyone who contributed either in cash or kind for the success of the event.

Imam Baba Njie who is well known for his preaching of peace and fruitful co-existence within Muslims and non-Muslims alike, reiterated his position in the promotion of peace and unity. Imam Baba said peace and unity should be the yardstick of community co-existence because it makes people to love one another, support each other and care for their neighbours. He said the event is not only organised to raise funds for the community Masjid project, but it is aimed at fostering unity within Gambians and other nationals who congregate at the Gambia Masjid. Imam Baba said a key principle in Islam and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is to nurture the existence of peace in the families, communities, and country. He urged the congregation to be tolerant and respect other people from different faiths because respecting each other’s beliefs promotes love and peace in our communities. He prayed for Allah to reward all who participated, sponsored, and rendered their services to the community. The Councilor for Mapperley Ward Councilor, Sajid Mohammed was the chief patron of the event. Cllr Sajid joined hundreds of Gambians and other well-wishers to mark the day. There was a lunch-on-sale with a display of different types of typical Gambian dishes. The food was entirely sponsored by members of the community and all sales went to the Masjid project’s bank account. Regular sponsors of the event were presented with certificates in appreciation of their support to the initiative such as Mojatu Foundation, Jula Finance, Yayeh Instant Services, Jollof Flavours, Gagigo’s Kitchen among others. The round robin football tournament which was held at the Forest Recreation grounds in Nottingham, attracted about ten teams who represented different postcodes of Nottingham. Presentation of trophies and medals wrapped up the event. The team from Sneinton defeated last year’s champions, St Ann’s in a tightly contested match. Both teams were awarded with medallions while Sneinton went home with the giant trophy. Trophies were awarded to the leading goal scorer and the best player of the tournament. The event was also characterised by presentation of awards community champions in recognition of their selfless services they provide voluntarily to the community. To support please contact them via email at info@ gambiansnottinghamshire.org.uk https://mojatu.com/2022/11/17/ the-gambia-community-held-itsannual-family-fund-day/