This film showcases the ''Exchange of Cultures" event organised by Voice of Congolese Women as part of the Ashbourne Festival in Derbyshire. This event was part of a project supported by the University of Derby as part of its commitment to engagement with the communities it serves, and the film explores this work and how it developed. The African Institute for Social Development also give their perspective on collaborating on the event.
Transcript
Lily – Member, Voice of Congolese Women
Today’s event is mainly about introducing the Congolese Culture and and our involvement in the community.
Betty Phoba – Chair, Voice of Congolese Women
[It’s about] coming together to make friendships, sharing food, sharing culture – our favourite fabric, garments, everything.
Peter Walker – Community Relations Officer, University of Derby
As part of a University that really wants to engage with its community, I started some work a few years ago to understand from the community perspective what we could do for them and how we could work together. I was really pleased that the Congolese community in particular came forward and they wanted to understand this better.
We formed a steering group and started to explore what it was that the Congolese community wanted help with and how we could work together to make things better. The work grew from there and we got funding for a drop-in centre so that we could help individuals who were still in the asylum process.
We thought it would be a good idea to have a sewing group, so that people could share some of the cultural things that they were missing: how to make their own clothing with the beautiful waxed fabrics that come from Congo; how to share their food, not only with each other but with to invite others to come into their community to share; and also for the women to have some fun, share their problems and realise that coming together as a community they could do so much more.
This led on to a fashion show and I was amazed because on these women who are often rather isolated walking down the catwalk and having a lot of fun.
Amdani Juma – The African Institute for Social Development
This is a really great partnership between The University of Derby and The African Institute for Social Development and Voice of Congolese Women. This partnership came about to strengthen each other and support the community we work in.
Member of the public – 1
The music has been totally captivating – it gets right into your very fibre.
Member of the public – 2
My interest in the event was primarily the sewing as that’s where I’m active professionally and the social enterprise, and then also the good food and the music topped it off
Member of the public – 3I
like the costume, I like the music and the very friendly people
Betty Phoba – Chair, Voice of Congolese Women
I'm so happy, I’m very pleased [with the event]. For the planning we came together in Normanton in Ashbourne as one community, one nation.
Peter Walker – Community Relations Officer, University of Derby
I would like to thank hugely the work of Voice of Congolese Women over the past year in particular. They have put on over 70 events and more than 1,000 people have come to those events. And all that work is focussed on raising people’s confidence and self-esteem.
