Black History Month at Christian Action Housing 2024
Fire Brigade Visit
We kicked off the celebrations of Black History Month in great style by inviting a squad of firefighters, male and female, from Enfield Fire Brigade to hold a talk for our young people at Andrew House and Teresa House. The talk was extremely informative, and our young people enjoyed the concept and learning element of it. Questions flew throughout the room, making it an immensely engaging experience for all those who attended.
The visit aimed to encourage our young people to hear about the firefighters’ journey into this type of employment and how they decided to make it a career for themselves. It was interesting to hear how many of the firefighters were changing the narrative of their stories into a positive one, which really encouraged our young people to open up and see the possibilities of joining the brigade.
Mosaic workshop popular in North Africa.
A relaxed and focused activity that our young people well received, the aim of the wellbeing workshop was to promote being calm and focused. During the session, the young people produced drinks coasters and suncatchers using a diamond painting technique to create a mosaic pattern effect. The young people were so focused that the workshop ran over and lasted for 3 hours!!
The feedback we received was extremely positive:
‘I learnt how to focus and have patience’
‘I enjoyed learning to be part of a group’ and ‘making new friends’.
Brown stew chicken with rice and pea recipe from the Caribbean Islands.
This workshop was led by a young man from our semi-independent living scheme, who came to do the preparation of the ingredients prior to the workshop, during this time he was supported by a resident from Andrew House, one of low support young person housing scheme, which demonstrates the collaborative working that takes place between our housing schemes.
The food was amazing, and Vanessa, The Operation Manager for young people, commented on how this young man should go into catering for a living as the standard was so high. This committed young person spent four and a half hours prepping and cooking and this was followed by apple crumble made by residents in Andrew House.
African Adire (Tie Dye) workshop.
A great fun workshop that led to so much creativity and competition between staff and residents!
The hardest part of the workshop was the anticipation, waiting for the dye to set takes patience, as we left the t shirts to ‘marinate’ overnight.
WOW! I think you would agree that the results were amazing and the reactions from all of our participants were ones of joyfulness!
Young Voices Ignite Enfield Foyer Podcast Hub
The Enfield Foyer Podcast hub was buzzing with energy as young people from Andrew House took the stage. The atmosphere was electric, filled with hot discussions, debates, laughter, and the sharing of real-life experiences, all within a safe and supportive environment.
Black History Month is always a significant topic, but this year, we handed the reins to our young participants, allowing them to choose the subjects they were passionate about. They selected two compelling themes:
- What has my sexuality got to do with it?
- Who I am and being proud in what I believe is right for me.
These sessions provided a platform for our youth to express their thoughts and feelings openly, fostering a sense of community and understanding. The discussions were not only enlightening but also empowering, as they navigated through personal and societal issues with confidence and pride.
The Enfield Foyer Podcast hub continues to be a beacon for young voices, encouraging them to speak out and be heard. We look forward to more vibrant and meaningful conversations in the future.
you can listen to the podcast using the link: https://on.soundcloud.com/jonoD3Y95hcKLi1NA