From Aissata: These past three weeks, we have had the opportunity at MRCF to learn some techniques in the art of paper crafting. This was really fun as we made some very nice greeting cards. Some of them were donated to the elderly and we were lucky to keep others for ourselves. It is very good to be able to attend those kind of activities. While making the cards, we had some nice talks and laughs. It was great! That is why I am very grateful to Sonia who offered the material that we all worked on and Sue who was so dedicated in teaching these new techniques. Hopefully, we will see them soon for more workshops.
Depression is a word used often and often misunderstood. The stigma attached to depression can be due to a lack of understanding of the disorder. If people understood that depression is something that could affect anyone at anytime and is actually very common and nothing to be ashamed of, then maybe more people would be able to come forward and seek the support they need in overcoming it.
Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, guilt, unexplained episodes of tearfulness, bleak thoughts about the future, fear of going insane or losing control, thoughts of self harm, irritability, indecisiveness or a loss of interest in activities usually enjoyed including sex....are all signs that one may be experiencing depression. These are by no means the only symptoms of depression. There are many, including physical symptoms such as chest pain, digestive problems, headaches, bad memory, lack of appetite and sleep, back pain, body aches, weight gain or loss amongst many others!
So why do people get depressed?
Recently, Shazea Quraishi, English PEN's writer-in-residence at MRCF, led a workshop with the Theatre Group entitled Letters from Tomorrow. We invite you to listen to the group's moving podcasts by clicking on this link.
Check out this exciting upcoming event through St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace...
Stories that heal, stories that harm
Friday, 29 June, 2012, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
A participatory day of cross-disciplinary dialogue and discussion. The aim is to pool learning from those working with personal and community narratives, in order to build a more complete picture of the field, stimulate best practice, and allow cross-fertilisation of ideas.
In collaboration with the London Inter Faith Centre, The Forgiveness Project and The International School of Storytelling
You are invited to attend the Migrant and Refugee Communities Forum's
Engage to Change: Integration – Where next?
Thursday, May 24, 2012, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Our key note speaker is Don Flynn, Director of Migrants Rights Network.
The government’s Creating the Conditions for Integration strategy transfers responsibility for integration to local areas, without refering to any models or guidance about what successful integration looks like, whilst also hijacking integration as yet another excuse to speak about security and extremism. Resources, of course are not attached to any of it. It was also disappointing for those of us working on the integration of new citizens that the government completely ignored our efforts, expertise and contributions.
