2007-03-15
Thursday 15th February 2007
Our Baltic friends arrived late on Thursday 15th. Some of them had flown from Latvia, some flew from Estonia and the Lithuanians arrived on their coach having driven for three long days! They checked themselves in at the UEA Guest Suite and got some rest ready for an early start the next day.
Friday 16th February 2007
Friday 16th was jammed packed with radio appearances from some of the musicians and fashion designers on a number of different Radio Norfolk shows. Interspersed with this were tours of Norwich city centre and visits to nearby local landmarks, along with some English refreshment, yes you’ve guessed it, good old Tea (and lots of croissants!).
The main event for the day was the official Civic Reception at City Hall, which took place in the evening. It was a chance to hear some speeches from the Lord Mayor of Norwich, the head of Lithuanian Association Norwich and a member of the Lithuanian Embassy. It was also a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, consume some tasty English food and drink and celebrate the fact that it was the first time that these cultures had ‘officially’ met. We also enjoyed some music from the Lithuanian folk band, Griezyne, and the Estonian band, Ro:toro. Our guests were then able to experience the grand tour of the BBC at the Forum.
Saturday 17th February 2007
The big day had arrived and the festival got going at 10am. Many of the Lithuanians that came over were crafts people and they displayed their talents to the public throughout the morning and afternoon. Among them was a blacksmith, a woodcarver, a clothes maker, a weaver and a painter. People had a chance to experience the scenery of Lithuania by way of BBC ‘green screen’ technology. They were able to sit and watch themselves being super-imposed onto background urban and rural Lithuanian landscapes. It was a hit with many local Norwich folk. And those from the Baltic States who reside in Norfolk had a chance to make a DVD postcard to send back to their relatives. We also showed some Baltic films on a plasma screen TV and people were able to brush up on their knowledge of the Baltic countries thanks to display boards and by chatting to members of the Lithuanian Association and a Baltic travel agent.
Meanwhile outside, the public had a taster of what was to come later that evening, with some showcasing of the Baltic musicians, who played a couple of songs each to amazed crowds. The use of rare instruments brought much interest, with Ro:toro using upside down plastic bowls laid in tubs of water as a drum kit, combined with Saxophone and bagpipes all played with sophisticated musicianship, to create a highly original sound. Latgales Damu Pops brought their own brand of Euro-pop to cheer up the locals with their high energy dancing and vocal harmonies. While Griezyne took the crowd back to their folk roots with their Lithuanian folk music, which used a home-made double bass, an accordion, harmonica, fiddle and wonderful singing. The Welsh/Estonian folk duo Sild used guitar, singing and violin to beautiful effect.
This daytime taster proved to be a great PR exercise, as we ended up selling out of all our tickets for the evening concert. The concert itself was a brilliant experience. The forum looked wonderful. The flags from each Baltic country had been put up along with a huge stage, including a catwalk. The anticipation was immense, and people kept arriving to get tickets, even though we’d technically sold out. We ended up having to let people come in and stand at the back, as the seats were all full. Once the concert started no one minded having to stand!
The concert began with the Lithuanian choir, which was a group of Norwich based Lithuanians who had got in contact with Community Music East in Norwich to create a piece of music especially for this event. It was great to see those guys getting up and delivering a solid showcase of the musical talents they probably didn’t realise they had until a few months ago. Great stuff.
The four acts who came over from the Baltic region then gave us a full 20 minute set each to add to what they showed us earlier in the day. The crowd loved the range of music and different types of instruments. People were clapping and dancing in their seats. It was so great having something like this all happening in the middle of the Forum. There were many comments from those in the audience made throughout and afterwards saying how privileged they felt to have seen something this unique in Norwich.
After the interval, we were given the opportunity to witness a play by the Kelme Little Theatre from Lithuania. The extent of their costumes and set designs were unbelievable. They wore huge faces which were the size of their bodies, and then controlled different features of the face with their hands, while speaking in funny voices. I couldn’t understand the dialogue because it was in Lithuanian. Even so the play was still really enjoyable and full of visual humour for all to appreciate and the people from the local Baltic community loved it.
Lastly, but most grandly, came the fashion show. Two Lithuanian designers using local models, including our very own volunteer Zack Cochrane, displayed a glorious array of cutting edge European fashion ideas. All handmade out of Linen and containing a fine sense of style and acute attention to detail (I was able to see the clothes close up when I was back stage), the crowd were stunned by the sheer class of the clothes and the energy of the show. What a way to end a truly exhilarating day.
We would like to thank everyone who helped with the organising and running of the event. There was an immense amount of effort and time spent on the whole festival, a lot of which was provided by volunteers, so thanks again. Everyone involved should be proud of themselves for creating such a special occasion on many different levels for many different people. Well done to all!
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2007-01-18
On 6th January 2007 the Voices Project held an all day event at The Forum in Norwich City Centre to celebrate Latin Culture. The day was designed to appeal to all age groups and we invited the whole community, over five hundred of whom came throughout the day, to join in the fun.
We started at 10am with a Family Learning workshop, where children had a chance to make masks, drums and all sorts and to take part in some storytelling. Following this at midday was the Latin concert featuring a Mexican band, a Mexican dance group, a Brazilian dancer, a Portuguese Keyboard player/singer and a Flamenco guitarist, who both played popular songs as well as performing some live improvisation. Many people gathered round the stage during this two hour entertainment extravaganza including a photographer and journalist from The Evening News, and some couldn’t help but break into their own Latin dancing. One person even got up onstage to join in.
The evening disco kicked off at 7.30pm. Between the concert and disco we managed to transform the main atrium of The Forum into a suave, Latino venue complete with big plants, tables and chairs, low lighting, a massive Noche Latina banner, flags from many Latin countries and a full-on disco with sounds provided by DJ Juanito, who travelled all the way from Liverpool to perform. The music was brilliant and mixed all Latin styles from Merengue, Salsa, Samba, Rumba and Tango amongst others. We had a large number of local Salsa dancers impressively displaying their moves and at points the dance floor was completely jam packed! The atmosphere throughout the whole evening was amazing. Loads of passers-by were drawn in from seeing how vibrant the occasion was and many people commented on what a great time they were having. All the staff and volunteers involved in putting the event on were stunned at how successful it was, if only we could do one every month! Maybe we should.
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2006-12-14
Voices Showcase 26th October 2006
The evening of the 26th October 2006 was the Norfolk Black History Month showcase for the Voices Project. The aim of the evening was to display a range of what has been going on for the project over the last couple of months. Features of the event included:
1 “Life In Norfolk” – a short documentary style film made by Gary Standley showing several members of Black & Minority Ethnic Communities talking about their day to day lives here in Norfolk. The footage was gathered from visits to Swaffham, Thetford, Great Yarmouth and Dereham and looked at the lives of Portuguese, Lithuanian, Greek and Polish working immigrants who have come to Norfolk to seek a different life. The film examined people’s expectations prior to their arrival, what they found when they got here, and how their lives, and Norfolk itself, have evolved since they’ve been part of the community. The film was introduced by British/Caribbean T.V. Personality Trisha Goddard.
2 The showing of Mexican PHD student, Teresa Gomez’s, Digital Story.
3 The opportunity to hear Audio Stories of 8 Voices participants, collected all over Norfolk. They included two Black British inmates at Norwich Prison, a Lebanese Asylum Seeker, an Australian/Caribbean teenager and a Brazilian Christian Missionary, amongst others.
4 Free African & Caribbean Food & Freshly made Juices provided by Finnie’s Juice Bar on Lower Goat Lane.
5 Talks from some Voices Project particpants and Norwich Mind CEO Peter Gianfrancesco.
6 The announcement of the Norfolk Voices Cover Design competition winners.
7 Finally, and arguably the most exciting feature, was the opportunity for all event attendees to have a “DVD Postcard” made on their behalf by BBC Voices – They simply recorded their message on camera and wrote down who they wished to send it to (perhaps a friend or relative) anywhere in the world and BBC Voices did the rest.
Many attendees were really impressed with the amount of different people of different nationalities the Voices Project has managed to reach over such a short space of time. We displayed a large world map exhibiting the countries from which all Voices Project participants have originated, the total number was 39 countries across 5 continents.
Overall the evening was a great success, everyone seemed to enjoy the stories, speeches and food and there was a friendly and excited atmosphere throughout Origins. Putting on the event has made us want to do more things like this, and we are now planning to do similar nights at other locations in Norfolk. Making the film has inspired us to collect more and more of these short insights into people’s lives, and so we are planning to go back to different areas of the county to do some more filming, so watch this space. We are also in the process of conducting further interviews and collecting more written stories from all walks of global/norfolk life. So a very big thank you to those who came, those who took part and those who are going to contribute to this celebrated project in the future.
Here are some comments from those that attended:
The event was great,everybody enjoyed.
The film was very intersting to see how people can find place in foreighn country,they can do business or arts,even can find their love.
People who told their stories were sincere,their stories touched everybody.
Food was also nice,
thank you for great job,
Audra Strasauskiene
Lithuanian Association Norwich Branch
As you already know we are hoping to have a repeat performance in Yarmouth sometime which in itself I hope demonstrates how much I enjoyed it.
The film was great and very enjoyable - I now know what you did in your lunch break when you came to Yarmouth. I also enjoyed the Mexican film about the contrast between Mexico City and Norwich.
I was very impressed with the people who spoke, especially as they included one or two familiar faces from Yarmouth but also some new ones.
The venue and food were fine and the whole event had a really good atmosphere.
Peter Cawley
Great Yarmouth Library
The programme - excellent and moving, but I would have liked more varied ethnicity. The majority were Portuguese. I missed the first event, so probably I missed many stories from other countries. The Voices Project itself - brilliant and very important step towards greater community cohesion. The activities, the people, the food, - delicious food and great venue. Lovely to meet up with so many friends. A really well-attended event whcih speaks volumes about how well received your work is in the community. Well done.
Dee Robinson
New Routes
It was a wonderful event – the concept and the delivery were ground breaking and inspirational. Thank you.
Isabel Farrelly
HR Diversity Advisor
Human Resources Department
Norfolk Constabulary
Thank you Dr. Barredo for that unforgettable night experience. The documentation of experiences of migrants from different countries had helped me to understand the exodus of people searching for a greener pasture. It is also an event to nourish cultural unity in diversity of different races. More power!
Noeme Delmigues
British Council Scholar
It was wonderful. The films were great: emotional, inspiring and thought provoking. They were excellently put together and gave people the chance to show a side of themselves that is normally personal and hidden. It was a privilege to be allowed for a few minutes to be given access into their lives. I didn’t get a chance to hear any of the audio stories, but the people who spoke were confident and it made me want to find out more about their stories, the guy from Namibia made me think about how racism can affect ones mental health.
I am fully supportive of the Voices project, its a great partnership between MIND, the participants and the BBC and after the speech by your Director I am better aware of how the project meets the aims and objectives of MIND as well as tackling the wider social exclusion/community cohesion issues that are immediately obvious.
The food was yummy, especially the apple juice
I liked the badges!
Janet Holden
Library and Information Services
Well done on another successful evening! It was very enjoyable. I particularly liked the diversity of the speakers being different ages and background. The food was excellent and the whole event was well organised!
Rowena Kerr
Diversity Manager
Norfolk Probation Area
I loved the stories and what they were about, I think that the voices
project is a great project and I love its message and how it’s going. I think the food was great (I loved the apple juice!)
Madi Gianfrancesco
Voices Project Contributor
Yes, it was an excellent event and gave an opportunity to meet others who I have not met before. And the video’s itself an encouraging one, to see how people are integrating and making a progress in their own lives and for the benefit of others. I was most impressed with the BBC’s willingness to send a recorded message to peoples relatives and an excellent idea. I hope many have availed the opportunity. Finally, what can I say about the refreshment it was just so nice. Thanks for all your hard work and your team. Much appreciate it.
J Vinookumar.
Thanks for inviting me, I had a good evening. The films were very varied about different people living in different parts of Norfolk, giving an overview of Life in Norfolk. Great to meet so many people who were featured in one way or the other.
Ms Laura Fellows
Regional Manager East of England
British Council
The video diaries and audio recordings of immigrants living in Norfolk were both moving and inspiring. I think the Voices project is a fantastic idea: it brings together people from different backgrounds and promotes mutual understanding. By utilising the BBC’s production facilities, it has created a visual archive of memories and experiences that will be an invaluable resource for generations to come. Our aim at the East Anglian Film Archive is to collect and preserve moving images that are a true reflection of life in the region during the 20th and 21st century: the eventual addition of the video diaries to our collection will help us to achieve this.
I’m afraid I couldn’t stay for the food but it smelled delicious, the atmosphere of the event was very welcoming and friendly.
Amelia Hamer
East Anglian Film Archive
I want to start by saying thank you for the eveining. It was most enjoyable and I am glad I did not miss it.
The Program:
I thought the film design and layout was very professional. It created anticipation and I could tell that a great deal of thought and preparation went into the making of the film.
The audio stories were great, funny, sad, heart warming just simply human!
The Voices Project:
I have always and will always be a great supporter of the Voices Project. It is a very exciting and honorable piece of work. It allows people to be heard, something that is intrinsically a great need in us as people. The Voices Project gives people a voice that is healing and restorative. For those of us who are now healed, it gives us time to reflect on where we come from and how far we have come. It also reminds us that we are part of a community, a greater whole. We are reminded that there are also others experiencing “hardships” or challenges or even stories of overcoming and victory!
The Event:
The Event itself gives one an opportunity to catch up with others, our collegues that we never get to see due to hectic work schedules. It is refreshing to meet new people too. The food is always exceptional and I am already looking forward to the next one.
Once again thank you for inviting me.
Let me finish by saying I salute you, Gary and those who make the Voices Project such a resounding success. I am truly blessed to be associated with colleagues of your calibre and committment.
Amalia Hendricks
Rainbow Nations
Thank you for a lovely evening. I thought the whole event was fantastic, and I loved the food!! All the stories captured on film were very interesting, entertaining and touching. I believe the Voices project with its innovative approach has made a difference in people’s lives. Congratulation to everyone involved!!
Elisa Pinto
Keystone Trust
A BIG THANK YOU for inviting me for that event.
It was a nice event, I feel that it touched many peoples hearts as they were able to tell their stories….to someone who was willing to listen to…wheather it’s a sad or happy story….and I personally had a chance of meeting people with different cultures..which I like most….food was lovely too…finally as a whole the event was organised really well.
Rushitha Karunaweera
Voices Project Contributor
A very good and interesting event which demonstrated the benefits and values od diversity and community cohesion .
John Brierley
Learning and Skills Council
It was excellent! The videos and audio stories were lovely and a little window into people’s lives; the food was absolutely delicious and the atmosphere of the whole event was very warm, welcoming and happy!
Alexia Zinonos
English Language Support Service
I enjoyed this project and event, as through the evening I met new people and get to share how they felt when they first arrived in Norwich and to understand how they lives have changed since then, as well as mine. It was also interesting to see and hear the stories from other people who are not students at UEA, and to understand their experiences as well. I am also thankful for the opportunity that this project gave me to learn different skills.
Teresa Gomez
UEA PHD Student
I really enjoyed the film containing all the different interviews as there was quite a contrast between them. It was great seeing and talking to some of the people who were in the film. The lovely drinks and amazing food added to the ambience of the evening.
Catty Stoll
UEA Drama Student
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2006-12-01
The Festival of Cultures brought together so many things. It was a celebration of the world at large, carried out through the sharing of different national cuisines, the displays of a variety of art forms, the mixture of people and the activities for all to participate in. The event was opened by the lord mayor of Norwich Miss Felicity Hartley, this was then followed by a speech from local Labour MP Dr Ian Gibson. The Egyptian dancing was great, so many people joined in, moving their bellies to the Arabian grooves. The food went down a storm, all that was left at the end were a few tiny crumbs on the table and the look of satisfaction on everybody’s face. Many people took part in the African drumming and Capoeira while others relaxed with some free complementary therapies. It was great to see so many people taking part in the activities, the day was about trying your hand at something new, to experience some aspects of different cultures from all over world here in Norwich. Overall, it was such a sunny day, and that was not just down to the weather! Everyone who we spoke said they’d had a great time. We’d like to thank everyone who came, took part and helped with the running of the event and look forward to hopefully seeing you all next year.
Feedback: Festival of Cultures
I really enjoyed the opportunity to talk with people who had come to Norwich about their experiences in the City, in particular I remember talking with a group of people from Lithuania. It was also good to meet up with friends I hadn’t seen for a while. I also made some useful contacts which could lead to new activities for my son. So it was a day for renewing friendships and some useful networking - and the food was good too !
Cllr. Felicity Hartley
Lord Mayor, Norwich
***
Just a quick e-mail to congratulate you on Saturday and to say that it was really enjoyable and I had a great time!
Alexia Zinonos
***
It was a great opportunity to meet people who don’t usually attend other sorts of public events. The cosy setting of the festival made it easier to sit down and talk with people. The food was the best bit!!!
Fiona Cutts
NHS Trust
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It was a lovely day, in a warm and friendly environment and I loved meeting up with so many old friends and making new contacts. The food was delicious and the music terrific. Everyone had a really good time.
Dee Robinson
Asylum Voice
***
I found the event enjoyable, with a friendly reception. I gained insight into the difficult issues the organisation has to deal with and the constant chase for funding. It was also good to meet friends and colleagues I haven’t spoken to for a while.
Chris Thomas
Norwich City Councillor
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2006-06-18
On 5 August, 11:30am, Norwich Mind will celebrate their Annual Festival of Cultures at their Head Office. This will be a potluck lunch, wherein everyone will bring food from their own particular culture. A lot of people will join us from the Filipino, British, Caribbean, African, Russian, Chinese, Indian, Malaysian, Portuguese, and other communities. This is your chance to learn about other people’s cultures first hand. There will be:
1. A raffle – with fabulous prizes to be won
2. Music and dance from different cultures
3. Face painting
4. Free complementary therapies – Indian head massage, reiki and reflexology
5. Capoeira demonstration
This is also a good opportunity to meet Lord Mayor Felicity Hartley. She will open the event and share with everyone her inspiring story.
And you will also get an opportunity to share your own story! The Voices Project team will be around to talk to anyone who would like to know more about the project - or to record them on the spot if they wish.
There will also be a number of organisations coming over to share with you the services and support available to Black and Minority Ethnic groups in the city and the county. Download a postcard invitation here.
Ring 01603 432 457 for queries - or to simply tell us if you’re attending and what dish you are bringing.
See you there!
2006-06-17
On the 24th of May 2006, the Voices Project was launched by Norwich Mind in collaboration with BBC Voices. It was attended by the diverse members of the Norfolk community. It was an evening filled with amazement, excitement and discovery.
Those present were moved by the six different stories shared by people who came from six different countries – each with a unique personal story to share. One storyteller shared her experiences of being of mixed heritage – British and Indian – and how her visit to India to meet her Indian relatives created a poignant memory for her. Another storyteller talked about his country of birth, Lithuania, and how he misses his friends and country – a country of ‘love, love, love.’ And then a mother from Ukraine opens her heart about bringing up her daughters in Norfolk, and how, slowly, they are leaving behind their Ukrainian heritage. The other three stories are just as fascinating and make one stop and reflect upon their own roots and life in this country.
There were old friends and new faces present. The attendance was definitely a pleasant surprise. The Origins Suite was overflowing – and it’s not just due to the lovely mix of food that was provided for those present. Although the pyramid of pappadums was a sight to behold!
Read below the feedback provided by some of those who were there, and went home clamoring for more stories!
Thank you very much for the invitation to the Voices Project at the Forum in Norwich the other week. It was most impressive - in content, presentation and impact. This will be a major contribution to better understanding and collaboration between the rich ethnic cultures we are privileged to have in Norwich. It will also be a good piece of social history to put on archive. I could tell that it had real impact with the audience and the contributors themselves. The meal at the end was a nice touch, and gave time to meet the contributors and mingle. It was also a very good curry! I am glad it was Mind that took the initiative here, with the BBC and support from English Heritage. That also helps in breaking down stigma and barriers. Congratulations to you, Gary and all involved. I wish you every success with the roll-out of the project. It deserves a very wide audience.
Dr Peter Brambleby MBBS, DCH, FRCP (Edin), FFPH
Director of Public Health, Norwich PCT
Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of East Anglia
***
I thought that the six films presented at the launch event provided an interesting assortment of personal narratives which effectively drew attention to a cultural diversity which people rarely associate with Norfolk. I liked the fact that the participants were drawn from a wide range of backgrounds, encompassing people who have only recently arrived and have yet to put down roots, and others who have been here many decades, or even grew up here. Despite the variety in style and content, however, it was interesting to see how certain common themes emerged, such as the attachment to a distant homeland, and the issues faced by those straddling different cultures. All in all, I thought the event provided a very good introduction to what the Voices Project is all about, and I very much look forward to seeing more.
Noah Gins
St. Martins Housing Trust
***
Thank you for the invite I very much liked the venue and presentation. I thought that the stories were a good selection but not what I would call fully representative of our diverse ‘family’. If the intention was to show the journey through to this point then I think it was a little light in material. I think that we should not focus on negativity but equally we need to make the people who will never have to make those kind of journeys (our safe populations) aware of what migrants have to endure in order to get a life that they want or that they still seek. We should include comment on what they think of our society given that they have unique experiences from outside our society and we could take suggestions from the travellers as to how we could make it easier for others who want to make the same journey.
Glenn Scoular
Norfolk Constabulary
***
The venue was a great idea, just ended up a little too small and hot (thanks to people like me by bringing a whole team, sorry Joy). The menu was fantastic by avoiding extra worries and concerns on who eats what.The Voices Project has given me a life present, my 8 year old daughter was with me and she has been always concerned about her Greek-Portuguese background, and mostly of the time hiding it, in that day she told me ” Mum can we be part of a movie like this?” I said yes and asked her why? This was Ina’a answer–”because we could show it to lots of people and then they would know that we are all from diferent colours and countries but we all leave on Earth, because Mummy thats the true.”
Alex de Almeida
Herois Do Mar
Sol Project
***
Thanks for this. I enjoyed the digital stories. They give an impression of living in Norfolk which is unique to the individuals. I liked the variety of the stories and how people had decided to portray themselves and their story. From feedback from BC scholars, they are interested in taking part and giving their impressions and stories of what it is like to live in Norwich. Concept is good, raises the profile of Norwich as a destination for people coming here to settle and live from around the world. I enjoyed the launch event, good to meet people.
Ms Laura Fellows
Regional Manager East of England
British Council
***
Thank you for inviting me to the launch of the ‘Voices Project’. I found the story told by participants very interesting. As Marcus Garvey said, “a man without a history is like a tree without any roots”, we as ethnic minorities need to tell our story’s to ensure our experience, our history, our joy, our sorrows and thoughts are heard by everyone and kept for the future generation. Every face has a story to tell and this project allowed people to tell their side of the story. The project is also a good tool to tackle stereotyping, ignorance and prejudice. It will also promote harmony and community cohesion. Let’s face it ignorance breads hate as Plato said “better be unborn than untaught, for ignorance is the root of misfortune.” Sharing our personal story will contribute towards our collective knowledge, desire, and our hope for the future. It’s also a testimony to our achievement, illumining choices we have made and to our collective wisdom.
Thank you again.
Abraham ESHETU
Diversity Advisor
Operation Command - Community Safety
Norfolk Constabulary
***
Just a note to say how much I enjoyed, and how impressed I was with, the VOICES film narratives. I thought they were all really wonderful: touching, inspiring and with flashes of humour. You’ve all done a great job so far – and I wish you all the very best from now on, too. Thank you so much for inviting me to the launch. I do hope I’ll have another opportunity to see some more!
Debbie Campbell
Norwich Amnesty Group
***
This event was very good. I didn’t thought that there will be so many people. But it was really fantastic. Movies were great, and the stories were interesting. It’s good that people has a possibility to improve them selves. It was great experience for my self as well. After event I got new ideas and more planes. And I met many useful people.
Aras Tikuisis
St Martins Housing Trust
***
On behalf of St Martins Housing Trust, can I say thank you for what was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative evening.
Paul Cheeseman
St Martins Housing Trust
***
Many thanks for the invitation. I enjoyed the evening very much. I found the digital stories fascinating, and heartwarming. It was good to have reinforced the things that are important to all of us: family, friends, home, a feeling of belonging. I think the Voices Project is a great idea, and I’d like to see it extended to the stories of other Norfolk residents who are discriminated against, or disadvantaged for whatever reason.
Joan Emerson
Norfolk County Council
***
I really liked the stories, the different ways people presented themselves, would love to see more of these. The project itself is invaluable as it gives us access to the ‘hidden history’ and contributions made by people from diverse communities; a positive spin but perhaps ignoring the difficult experiences that so many people have in coming here. So, a lovely event, and much appreciated! Any more coming up?
Sue Gee
County Asylum Team
***
Thanks very much for arranging the launch. The concept is very exciting and the event was most engaging. It was very well organised and I was sorry to have to leave early because I had arranged another commitment thinking that it would be quite a short meeting. I look forward to hearing about the output and the outcomes of the project.
Derry Kelleher
Norfolk County Council
***
It was an inspirational event and one that touches my heart. Seeing all the images of such courages human beings enduring hardship and shine through like a ‘bright star’ on a dark night. I feel very lucky to have experienced the community spirit on that special day.
Soo Mollahan
Hellesdon Hospital
***
I would like to congratulate you for the quality of the extracts. These were very touching stories. They made us feel the person in question. We could see how much our personal background, where we come from, what we lived before, makes us what we are now. For people who do not understand much about diversity, they could see the richness/wealth of what diversity brings in to the country. They could also see how difficult it can be, even if you are genuinely positive, to settle down in a foreign country initially and that therefore even a smile from a local can make a big difference to how people will feel settling in Norfolk.
I loved the fact that each story was so different. That each story gave a small insight about something related to the home country. All of them were extremely well done, and there was never any repetition, from one story to another, because the story came from the person themselves.The length of each story was just right. I liked all of them. The Zimbabwe one was poignant and very real. My heart felt a lot when I watched it. As a foreigner myself, I could also identify with some of the things that Amalia and Marina said.
An additional point is that when you have been away from your home country for a long time, when you go back, you are different. You are not the native that you were anymore because you do not feel like that yourself but also because people see you as different. However, if you have an accent in the UK, you remain a foreigner. I found the first extract of having a double-identity fascinating. I have bilingual children myself and although they feel mostly English, they are also very open-minded because of their double identity and tend to make friends easily with people in the same situation, without even knowing why. The launch itself was great. Nice venue. Great to see so many people. I really hope that you will carry on because it is fascinating and you can see that it is definitely done by the BBC, which means at a very high standard, just like any excellent BBC documentary.
Valerie Gidney
INTRAN
***
The Launch event was well organised. The 6 video clips provided an excellent introduction to the project. They all told a unique story and the personalised presentation is a nice way to highlight the personality of the storyteller and their unique character. Such a project is very good for Norfolk especially as a project for young people to explore their identity and family roots. This is an excellent project to promote community cohesion and diversity in Norfolk. Well done!
Rowena Kerr
Diversity Manager
Norfolk Probation Area
***
Personally I enjoyed every moment of it. The digital stories were short but meaningful because it represents the individuals in each segment. I am sure if we browse in the internet, most of the picture will be much clearer. The project itself is very interesting because it allows individuals to share their own experience and views about the place and the communities they involved with. About the event itself, I felt very comfortable. I was able to meet and to know more minority groups of people who were very friendly. The launching went swiftly. More time were given for mixing around. To me this is good.
Azhar Md Adnan
Post graduate student, UEA
***
Insightful and inspirational. An interesting snapshot of individual character adaptation to life transitions and the impact of geographical relocation. An innovative project which enables individuals to share their life story in their own way. I would have liked to have heard about the psychological challenges of settling/resettlement in Norwich. We may learn something of coping strategies employed by other cultures and gain insight into the precursor of mental health. Good for future educational purposes as well as personal archive. Good venue, good food.
Beverley Hallpike
Nurse Consultant-Dementia Care
2006-04-21
The Voices Project needs creative people! If you think you can come up with a good cover design depicting cultural diversity, click here for more details! And if you want to download the form, click here.
The Voices Project will be officially launched on the 24th of May 2006. This event is by invitation only. If you particularly want to join us on that evening, please let us know. Click here to download the postcard.
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2006-04-17
The VOICES PROJECT is a way for people from different Black and Minority Ethnic groups to reconnect and take pride in their heritage and share their journey, achievements and stories in formats which will reach a very wide audience: on camera, in written form and on a website. This is a way for others to acquire a deeper understanding of BME people’s history and culture creating community cohesion and social inclusion.
Within this project BME groups will be highly involved in the recording and production of digital stories about their history. Those who will participate will be provided training to learn the necessary skills - filming, editing, and writing. The material will be available for viewing on the web and will be launched at the Origins at the Forum and shown at various libraries within Norfolk, both rural and urban locations.
