Afrik
Who has been helped?
Adrien is from the Democratic Republic of Congo and met Moji of AFRIK over a year ago.
“I came to the UK three years ago and was really struggling to get a job, my first language is French and I couldn’t understand the forms for the job applications. It was very hard and it made me unhappy. I met Moji and she really encouraged me with my English, helped me to fill in an application form and gave me advice on questions to ask about the job in the interview.”
“I got the job! I cannot tell you how much I recognize her value to me”
“She has gone on to help with our work at Satellite advising us how to set up the business and getting our own funding, which we have got through Nottinghamshire Community Foundation.”
Satellite is a group working with French speaking asylum seekers and refugees mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who come from very difficult situations and find it difficult to access mainstream services.
Who has helped them?
Moji Adeiga runs AFRIK, an organisation to help people from African continent. She used to run the only African Shop in the East Midlands – Kunmoj African Stores in Nottingham, but changed direction after hearing peoples concerns.
“People used to use the shop as a meeting place and talk about their worries and ask for help about jobs, education and training, career development, welfare advice including housing, health and their childrens needs at school and social development. Most were feeling frustrated, confused, isolated and lonely.
I did some research to see if we could create a network to help local African people. Strengthened by the goodwill of local people and agencies it gave me the confidence to start AFRIK.
One of peoples greatest needs, whether African or born and bred in Nottinghamshire is the need to share nostalgia. Who ever we are and where ever we are from sharing our stories brings us together.
My passion is to meet peoples needs and bring people together to celebrate our different cultures. We have worked with other community associations including the Somalians, Cameroonians, Ghanaians and Caribbeans.
From a small start we have grown to help other organizations and have done lots of work to promote our culture; organised drama workshops for children exploring issues in crime and work with local universities on their cultural studies courses and had story telling on BBC Radio Nottingham and Leicester.
Nottinghamshire Community Foundation gave me an award to start this work and has carried on to provide AFRIK with funds to train and develop our team in good business practice and run events, they have also been at the end of the phone offering advice and encouragement. I couldn’t have done it without them!”
The Bigger Issue
In Nottinghamshire there are some of the most affluent areas in the country, while others, particularly the former mining areas, are among the most deprived 10% in England.
The number of people who live experiencing social need (which is a collective term relating to housing, education, skills, health, employment, income and family difficulties) is 37.5% of the population in Nottinghamshire. This proportion rises to 75% in Nottingham City.
2.6% of the county’s population is from the minority ethnic communities, with the majority of people living in Nottingham. This social mix is particularly marked in the city where there is high diversity with low inclusion.
If we had a better understanding of the issues relating to the people around us and more opportunities to draw together and share experiences, it must be a way of breaking down barriers and building community