University staff and students join local community members to explore belonging in ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ
Staff and students from the School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) joined local community members to mark Refugee Week for a workshop bringing people together and exploring belonging through food, creativity and movement.
βEat Chat Rise & Moveβ was organised with grassroots community group , a non-profit organisation founded by Hanane El Hadioui, bringing together recent migrants and more established ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ residents through English lessons, cooking classes and movement workshops.
Volunteers who have come to live in ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ from different parts of the world led short workshops, encouraging attendees to share ideas about identity, belonging and connection whilst sharing new recipes, crafting ideas, poetry and movement.
Geography PhD student Clare Courtney who co-organised the event said:
βWe had 30 people atβ―the event, a mixture of ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ University students and staff, and community organisers and service users of third sector projects in and around ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ. Different ages, different languages and different backgrounds sharing experiences and connection in one space.
βMany people pass through and settle into our wonderful city but often questions of who belongs and who does not, particularly in this current political climate causes further rifts within our society, breaking down community links and commonalities. I really felt it was important to have a space where people from within and beyond the university could get together to share their own ideas of what it means to belong and live in ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ today.β
One of the event attendees commented: βSuch a wonderful event, I loved meeting people of all ages, genders and ethnicities, moving and being creative together makes me feel less lonely.β
βEat Chat Rise & Moveβ took place at the University of ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ last month, hosted by Geography PhD student Clare Courtney and community group Rise & Flourish, with support from the SEED Social Responsibility Fund. If you are a University of ΎΕΎΕΙ«Σ°ΤΊ student, and you would like to be involved in volunteering with Rise & Flourish, please .