PYF have created a month-long programme of engaging sessions with young people in preparation for the arrival of Little Amal to Coventry (https://coventry2021.co.uk/what-s-on/the-walk/). This has been a fantastic opportunity to explore the impassioned voices of a variety of young people currently engaging with PYF services; those born here in the UK, those who resettled here several years ago, and those newly arrived to our city.
PYF young people will welcome Amal as the collective voice of Coventry young people on Wednesday 27th October.
Little Amal is representative of the 82.4 million forcibly displaced children below the age of 18. If Amal came to Coventry – it is likely she would be referred into PYF through Coventry City Council’s Integration programme.
@3.30pm in Millenium square a welcome and gifting from PYF young people to Amal – My Coventry is your Coventry
@7pm in University Sq – PYF artwork will be displayed during THE WALK – COVENTRY EMBRACES. Children’s citizenship ceremony, and theatre performance. Book your free ticket here: https://coventry2021.co.uk/what-s-on/the-walk-coventry-embraces/
A number of our funded programmes focus on the support and meaningful integration of newly arrived young people* to Coventry (both to their surroundings and to their peers). By focusing on young people’s personal, social and emotional wellbeing, we try to assist all young people move towards a goal of living a happy, healthy and inclusive life.
Our My Coventry AMIF Programme actively promotes integration within the local community by celebrating diversity and difference.
Our BBC Children in Need – A Million & Me project supports newly arrived young people who are faced with several health inequalities. Early interventions aim to stop, where possible, these young people from ever reaching the threshold of crisis point where they need a more clinical intervention.
Our Changing Trax strand, funded and supported by Youth Music and Coventry city of culture trust harbours an ethos of ensuring that opportunities should be accessible to all. Innovative creative provision has been developed for those less likely to be reached through traditional recruitment and referral methods. Young creatives from culturally diverse backgrounds are supported to become creative leaders, producers, and artists of the future.
Collectively these programmes have facilitated a number of engaging activities since September:
- Creative sessions exploring the notion of ‘Home’ – spoken word, poetry.
- Who is Amal? What is her story? And what does she represent? Education regarding the plight of displaced communities for host community young people
- Sharing of stories – Recounting personal journeys and memories of past and present
- Our new family – meal time for all
- Protest Art – messages directed at policy makers – around refugee/migrant rights
- Youth Voice – key things which matter to young people today
*’Newly arrived young people’ include those who are refugee, asylum-seeking, EU/EEA, Non-EU/EEA migrant, Third Country Nationals (TCNs).
Join us on the day by following us on Social media:
Tag @walkwithamal using #actsofwelcome #LittleAmal #ActsOfWelcome #TheWalk
Funded by:
My Coventry – @my_coventry #MyCoventry
AMAM – @BBCCiN
Changing Trax – #ChangingTrax @youthmusic @Coventry2021
