Showing posts with label workshops. Show all posts
We look to the positive for each other
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Women 4 Women meets monthly at JRS UK as a peer support for women who have been made destitute by the UK asylum process. Facilitator and participants share why it matters.
All the ladies who come have no way to get money so we have to help them for transport and also for food, so they can eat first. Sometimes they are hungry when they come, so a fruit or biscuits helps them.
“For me, it has improved my life, otherwise, there is nothing for me to do in the day, you take it away, you take away my life. The others, they need it too. The staff are very friendly, we look to the positive for each other. I appreciate it very well.”
For the women's peer support group, it is a very clear piece of time for them, doing exercises, learning how to do massage or some mediation, it is time out for them. It is about their wellbeing, to feel, they can focus on themselves, such when we do creative things. They do drawing or colouring, expressing themselves in some way, they have gone back to a time in their lives that they can't have now, when they can just be.
We started off with 4 and those who have moved on have their papers, but it allows others new to come in as others move on. There is now a stability (in the midst of very chaotic lives). This year we started with a couple of Eritrean women who have now brought their friends. There is a sense of belonging and connectedness, it is not just a piece of fruit or the bus fare that they benefit from.
It depends on the person, but it can give a certain confidence. Some come uncertain and withdrawn, but now are more expressive and relaxed around people. It helps them more to be themselves also. Their confidence has been shattered with what they have been through.
“As asylum seekers we have lost our competence. I would like to improve, to do some training, share skills in cooking, baking, sewing, drawing... all creative things where we can have the satisfaction that we have made something from start to finish. To have some skills where in future I will be able to learn to stand again on my own two feet.”
A couple of participants now help lead. One has come out of herself and has more confidence and tremendously helpful. They help with preparation and good to see women who have had the same experiences can now lead.
Make a donation to help pay the bus passes of the women who attend: www.justgiving.com/jesuitrefugeeservice
A Poem - Cold and Rain
 |
| A photo by Elvis Payne from Foter.com |
Cold and Rain
by Muler
Cold and rain
is my patience
because it remind me
my past experiences.
Cold and rain
Is my experiences
For many reasons.
Cold and rain
Is my frustration
Because he is madness.
Cold and rain
He give me bad welcome
when I wake up on the morning.
Cold and rain
he is the one reminded me
my friends on my time
been sleeping on the street.
Cold and rain
he is my best friend
because he always is with me.
Cold and rain
when I think of you
I always remember
London. When I think of you
I think of London.
Cold and rain
You give hope when you show
You for light
Like the light on the fridge.
To me it is not be my part.
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JRS Europewide!
Our volunteer Liliane
visited Romania from 13th to 15th Oct to take part in a
JRS meeting. She kindly answered for an interview after the trip.
Q: Tell me about the event in Romania. What was the
occasion?
Liliane: It was JRS Europe Annual General Meeting. The topic
was Accompaniment this year. In the workshop, JRS staff and volunteers from all
around Europe participated. From our JRS UK, Jonathan, Kate, Sr Margaret and I
participated.
Q: What did do you and learn?
L: During the three days, we looked around a hostel for
asylum seekers run by the city council in Bucharest, attended workshops, and
visited JRS Romania main office, ‘My place’ as they call it. And we had a
chance to see the sights and to have meals out to enjoy each other’s company.
We also had a Mass together on the last day of our visit.
In one of the workshop sessions, we were divided into small
groups and discussed. Afterwards we had presentations. In the first workshop,
the questions were what the difficulties we face in our working places were,
why they were difficult, and how we solved the issues.
We also listened to the differentprocesses of welcoming
refugees in various countries and we talked about how to accompany others. I
learned, in order to accompany them, we need to be passionate and listening to
them attentively.
I could see that different countries have different
situations. I met one refugee who was complaining about the lengthy process he
had to undergo, but I told him that in some other places, it could be worse.
I also saw that JRS Romania was doing many good works.For
example, they run language courses, help the refugees to obtain citizenship and
accommodation, and give legal advice. It is possible because they have many
staff members.
Q: How did you feel about this trip and what did you like
most?
L: I was very excited about this trip because it was the
first of such a kind of trip in ten years. It was great to meet people from
different backgrounds and to share our works with each other. I learned a lot.
And the place we stayed was also very nice.
Q: Finally, anything you would like to say?
L: Well, I really enjoyed the trip and am grateful to JRS
for giving me this opportunity. I am also proud of our JRS UK for what we do.
Thank you very much.
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Tag :
accompany,
advocate,
asylum seekers,
befriending,
crossing bridges,
Europe,
JRS,
refugee,
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welcome,
workshops,
Poem - In London
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| London Eye - by Christopher Chan |
Charles wrote a poem about this city London.
In London
by Charles
In a place where I thought that Big Ben is the best sight to see.
In a place where I thought that Buckingham Palace is the best castle to see.
In a place where I saw green because Wimbledon tournament is on grass and green.
In a place where I thought, women are powerful, because the ruler is a Queen.
In a place where women can choose regardless of their background, as dear Princess Diana did.
But London, with Hooliganism, you gave us the impression that you are not immaculate.
But London, you start your shy revolution with Protestantism.
But London, you gave us the impression that you are the best place to acquire education.
Although you, London are welcoming, life is hard in you.
Although you, London are very tolerant, racism still exists.
Although you, London are equal, competition is tough – London, you may have saved some lives but you did not save our soul.
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Britain,
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welcome,
welcoming,
workshops,
writing,
National NJPN Conference July 2014
JRS-UK volunteer, Victoria, looks back at her summer experience of joining other colleagues working on social justice issues at a national conference.
I went to the National Justice and Peace Network at The Hayes Conference Centre, Swanwick in Derbyshire. We went by car so we could take lots of publicity and craft materials to promote JRS.
The programme was very full and interesting. We had talks from people like Sarah Teather, Liberal Democrat MP, who spoke about her career as MP and the challenges she came across. Gemma Simmonds CJ, Senior Lecturer in Pastoral and Social Studies and Theology at Heythrop College, spoke about priests and the priesthood: how they are looked upon the need for change. Mary Colwell, an award winning TV, radio and internet producer who makes programmes for the BBC, spoke about the churches’ action or lack of support for the issue of the annual culling of migrant birds in place like Malta and France. Another part of the discussion included wider issues of over eating of meat and the ecological impact that farming cattle has on the environment. Clare Dixon OBE , who has many years of experience of working with people in Latin America as head of CAFOD, gave a talk as well as a workshop which I attended. The workshop included a slideshow, a similar one to one I had seen a few years ago when CAFOD commissioned TenTen Theatre (an educational theatre company for whom I also work) a play on climate change called "Degrees of Change". The other workshop I attended was titled "Community Reconciliation" facilitated by Rev Dr Inderjit Bhogal who was leader of the Corrymeela Community in Ireland.
Participating in this event was a new experience for me. And it has changed the way I look at conferences and how they can help networking for both organisations and individuals. Next time I go I think I would pay more attention to the many participants to meet there. Because it was all new and novel a lot of people were a bit of a blur for me! The experience of meeting other people from other organisations & even parishes was special. It has wider value to us as a community because we are seeing the variety of different organisations out there helping: from education through to an organisation that trained dogs as companions to the elderly.
I would most certainly go again. My faith in the past has taken me to Rome, Italy & Lourdes, France & the Aylesford Priory (when I was still quite young & in school). I hadn't been to a conference for a while either, so the whole experience felt positive.
For more info about the conference: <http://www.columbans.co.uk/news/national-njpn-conference-july-2014/>
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Come and See: Photography Workshop (Part II)
With the launch just days away, we have a little time to reflect further on what we have enjoyed about taking part and what it has meant to us, both as participants and volunteers.
The photography workshop has had a great impact on everyone involved, not just because it has taught people a new skill, but because of the socialising and support it involves. As one more participant expressed said, it has certainly helped people grow closer together. From the point of view of us as new interns at JRS, the workshop has played a huge role in getting us involved in the organisation and building rapports with its members.
With the workshop being so engaging, as we volunteers have been busy working alongside Fotosynthesis and JRS-UK to organise a public photo exhibition, titled; “Come and See” in the Lumen Gallery. As well as this being a great opportunity for the participants to display the work they’ve created over the past twelve weeks, some have said they would not have had the courage to partake in anything like this without the workshop. J said that the workshop has given her more “confidence” in her abilities; “Before I felt scared about taking pictures but now I feel very confident.”
J, who had an interest in photography beforehand, says she had no idea about storytelling through photography before enrolling in the workshop, and feels that she now has “a new skill”. She also believes that while the workshop has allowed her to develop new skills, what she really enjoyed was “going out with others and to places I’ve never been before. Taking pictures in beautiful places in Wapping, near JRS’s office, and in the city, and taking self portraits with a real camera. I want to have brand new skills and this can open the doors to being self-employed.”
What’s even more positive is how the workshop affected the group as a whole. J said that her favourite thing about joining the workshop was “attending the classes, it’s very sociable. Watching others tell their story. It brings us closer together. The support from everyone - from the teachers and the volunteers.”
Participants, teachers and volunteers invite you to join them at the Lumen Gallery for “Come and See” photo exhibition, which opens for a preview night on the 26th June from 6pm-8pm and continues until the 10th of July from 8am-4pm when it will be open to the public. The Gallery Tour will be on the 5th of July and will be an excellent chance to hear about the experiences, inspirations and what the workshop and exhibition has taught everyone.
For more details, see www.jrsuk.net
Lumen Gallery, Church Cafe, 88 Tavistock Place, WCIH 9RS.
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Tag :
accompany,
advocate,
crossing bridges,
exhibition,
expression,
globalisation,
JRS,
life,
london,
photography,
refugee,
workshops,
Come and See: Photography Workshop
For the past weeks, a group of nine men and women have come together at JRS-UK to take part in a photography workshop run and facilitated by Fotosynthesis, a not-for-profit organisation that uses participatory photography to develop skills, give a voice to people and encourage community cohesion. The exhibition launch is just 2 weeks away…
Every week, we meet with the group of nine, who are all from different countries, to learn techniques, share ideas and practice different types of photography - portraits, candid shots, narrative, scenery and landscape. It has been great so far and the feedback we have heard from participants has been really positive with everyone taking something different away from each session.
Sergei, whose father was a photographer, shared he joined the workshop to “avoid depression”. He said that he felt the workshop gave him an opportunity to “communicate with creative people” and to revisit his previous interest for photography, now revived with a new knowledge of modern technology. “When I learnt photography, everything was black and white and manual cameras. Everything changed for 20 years, it changed completely”.
Yus, who hopes to do blogging in the future, joined the workshop when the opportunity presented itself, although he admitted to us he had not had an interest in photography before enrolling. He told us: “What I enjoyed most about what we’ve learned so far is the positioning of the camera and also the lighting. How to make sure you position yourself to get the quality you are looking for, 1. And 2, you have to have a picture in your mind of the story that you are trying to tell. “
Since joining he has been very pleased with how much his skills have advanced, by learning different techniques and tips from the workshop: “You don’t have to be in a rush. Sit still, or stand still, make sure you have the picture in your head before you snap. And as a result of doing that, it will translate into the picture which has helped me a lot,” he said when talking about the new techniques he has learned. He even expressed an interest in continuing to study photography after the workshop ends: “Maybe in the future I might go back to study it more, maybe in the college or something because I’m beginning to see that there’s certain things to consider, you don’t just take the camera and snap.”
"Come and See" opens on the 26th of June for the preview night from 6pm-8pm and continues until the 10th of July from 8am-4pm when it will be open to the public. The Gallery Tour on the 5th of July, will be a great opportunity to hear more from Yus, Sergei and the other contributors about their ideas and inspirations and what they have learnt.
More details see: www.jrsuk.net
Lumen Gallery, Church Café, 88 Tavistock Place, WCIH 9RS.
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Tag :
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crossing bridges,
exhibition,
expression,
globalisation,
JRS,
life,
london,
photography,
refugee,
workshops,
A Short Interview on a Workshop Experience
Recently, Nas and Kate visited Stonyhurst College for a workshop in order to explain the situation that asylum seekers are facing in the UK. It was by an invitation from the college for a special day for the pupils to look at their values and learn about different communities or issues outside of their own experience.
Nas said “We tried to explain to the pupils the difference between a refugee, an asylum seeker, a migrant and an internally displaced person. We also showed them a video about people who experience destitution in the UK. We did a quiz to challenge their assumptions about why refugees come here. I took the opportunity to talk about my experience of destitution.”
Kate said “We shared the approach of JRS to be welcoming and to respect people as individuals, not to stigmatise them or think that refugees just come to Europe for better opportunities. We tried to explain that people come for safety and they are courageous.” She also shared “I think to start with they had some understanding but did not really appreciate the difficulties; but when they saw the stories of our JRS refugee friends and heard Nas’ story, they had a new respect for asylum seekers.”
Nas agreed. “They were emotionally responsive and also they made comments and suggestions about what should be done to help asylum seekers in the UK. We talked about JRS values such as compassion, justice and solidarity which help to change our attitudes.”
Regarding the meaning of workshops like this, Nas thinks “It is important to do such workshops in order to send out awareness about what asylum seekers are facing in this country and to help to change the way people think about them. For example, one pupil said it was important not to judge until you know about their real situation.”
Kate remembers “When I was at school we did a similar workshop and it made a big impression on me. I don’t think I would have chosen to work for JRS as an adult, without these opportunities in my own life. So it helps inspire people to live and work to serve others.”
Both of them had a very good day. For Nas, “It was hard speaking in front of everybody!” but he also said “I enjoyed the environment of the school and the pupils were well behaved. They were willing to listen and to learn.” Kate said “I liked it when the pupils in the last workshop gave Nas a round of applause after he spoke!” She added “I was nervous beforehand, but it went well.”
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young people,
My Name
When did your name change
From a proper noun to a charm?
It’s three vowels like
Jewels on the thread of my breath.
Its consonants brushing
My mouth like a kiss
I love my name
I say it again and again in this summer,
I see it it, discreet in the alphabet,
Like a wish
I pray it into the night
Till the letters are light
I hear my name
Rhyming, rhyming
Rhyming with everything.
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One of our bags is missing...
Volunteers and staff took part in the National Justice and
Peace Network Annual Conference 'Breaking Open The Word' in Derbyshire. It was
quite a journey...
We were
invited to run a workshop from JRS and decided to offer one on Gospel Based
Attitudes to Welcoming Refugees. A lot of
advance planning was needed, which helped structure our contributions. The workshop was led by Liliane and Br Joe,
two of our volunteers at the JRS day centre, who were able to share their
personal experience of accompanying refugees and making an asylum application
in the UK.
We were
invited to run a workshop from JRS and decided to offer one on Gospel Based
Attitudes to Welcoming Refugees. A lot of
advance planning was needed, which helped structure our contributions. The workshop was led by Liliane and Br Joe,
two of our volunteers at the JRS day centre, who were able to share their
personal experience of accompanying refugees and making an asylum application
in the UK.
Liliane
was so nervous in advance that she was shaking, but she was happy while
facilitating the workshop. None of the
participants would have known she was so nervous in advance! Most of the
participants were already interested in the topic and were in fact already
accompanying refugees themselves.
"It was very encouraging to see their involvement. They wanted affirmation and hope from the workshop",
says Liliane, who was encouraged herself by their response to her story.
The
workshop was able to share hope, while pointing out how perilous the asylum
process can be for people going through it, and participants left renewed in
their will to act positively; some wanting to engage local parishes in
awareness raising, or wanting to volunteer in local projects.
The
workshop took place in a wider context of the conference which invited those
present to reconsider, through worship and through the input of Megan McKenna,
to hear the Gospel afresh and to live it out every day.
The
conference was a fantastic experience, though we ended on a bittersweet note of
losing the bag full of crafts made by refugees in Kenya at Derby station. We hope whoever has them now enjoys them
fully! Unfortunately the bag lost is the
one we normally use at the day centre to collect sandwiches donated by Pret a
Manger... Oops!
Tag :
crafts,
Gospel,
Justice and Peace Network,
lost bag,
refugees,
volunteers,
welcoming,
workshops,
My Journey
We have been lucky to run more creative writing workshops with
English PEN, the charity working for freedom of expression. They are very
popular with the refugees who participate in them.
Nurjahan took part and says: “I enjoy writing about my feelings and
I enjoy writing in English. I want to learn more about writing. I enjoy
listening to other people’s stories, from different countries, making new
friends, hearing their feelings about their journeys and memories. It is interesting
for me. The teacher (trainer) explaining about writing skills gives you
confidence and you also learn from others in the class about the meaning of
their poems.”
Nurjahan’s poem here is one of a few that she wrote during the
workshops. This poem is about when she was young back at home in her country.
Now when she travels around London, she remembers journeying around the
villages with her mother, and she remembers her mum and her friends.
Journey
My journey is like dark
black
My journey sounds like
easy listening
My journey feels like
dry skin
My journey smells like
flowers
My journey tastes like
coffee.
My journey, black and white; I feel, I think: when I was very
young I played with my friend and I felt like a small flower and I think to go
with my mum, somewhere; my journey is easy listening music.
