Earlier this year, Afrocats were able to break down barriers to accessing digital provision, dismantle digital inequality, and improve access or support to return to work or education for 75 women of global majority and asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds.
This project focused on researching and addressing how life could be improved for refugee and asylum seeker communities, with the goal of better integrating them into society upon arriving in the UK.
And so together with the Cellnex Digital Inclusion Fund, and in collaboration with partners WAST, Manchester City of Sanctuary, and Rainbow Haven, we supported women to access computers without increasing financial burden, find free activities online in Manchester including sports, creative, or cultural, and enriching experiences for participants’ children, and help them complete basic tasks such as typing, or using a mouse.
They were also able to find out tips on how to create a CV and search for appropriate job roles for when they receive their leave to remain in the UK.
Many women with children rely on them to complete digital tasks, while others have turned to YouTube or their local library for assistance.
We were able to deliver:
4 computer support sessions
2 Google Maps navigation activity
1 career development support session
And 5 cultural visits to free or heavily subsidised activities found online or through partner organisations.
Many participants gained a better understanding of how to use a mouse and keyboard, and one participant shared that being able to come to the library was hugely beneficial not only for accessing the equipment but also for her concentration, productivity, and mental health.
She said:
‘Being here, I was able to apply for many volunteering roles; I wouldn’t have done it if I were at home’.
We also integrated computer drop-in sessions into our Table Talk group, a social and learning space for women to connect with each other twice monthly.
Through these sessions, we delivered group challenges on the computer such as asking them to find a new recipe at low cost or finding cheap rail/bus fares.
As well as this, we provided support for digital tasks, such as registering for a Tesco Clubcard and how to do an online food shop, to finding e-learning for a driving theory test, and navigating the new eVisa application.
We also supported seven participants to attend a Careers Fair run by Southway Housing Trust employers and training providers across a diverse range of sectors, where participants learned what opportunities and further support were available to them.
Those who attended commented on how it inspired and gave them hope, having access to events like this is vital to connect them with the pathways they need to succeed in the workplace.
In collaboration with Simone la Ronde, a local tour guide in Manchester, we also created a walking tour of Manchester city centre tailored to the needs of our communities.
The tour began with visits to locations where Afrocats typically deliver activities, providing historical context about the buildings and organisations we partner with in the city.
[The careers fair]... gave them hope, having access to events like this is vital to connect them with the pathways they need to succeed in the workplace.
We then demonstrated practical skills, such as buying Metrolink tickets, using Manchester’s free bus service, and efficiently navigating with Google Maps.
Throughout the project, we were also able to introduce the women to a range of exciting cultural offerings at no to low cost in collaboration with Louise Thompson, Health and Wellbeing Manager at Manchester Art Gallery.
Here, we hosted a mindfulness session that demonstrated how approaching art with a more present and conscious mindset can serve as a form of meditation, supporting overall health and wellbeing.
We then spent an hour focusing on a single artwork, exploring various elements such as colour, texture, composition, shape, and size, all of which contribute to the story within the image.
Following the sessions, one participant shared that she previously relied on her son to help her get around, but now she feels confident using Google Maps to navigate new places when volunteering.
At the end of the session, another participant Helen expressed her desire to one day deliver a similar session to a group in her community.
Currently enrolled in an interpreter course, Helen saw this as a goal to work towards as a way of giving back along the course of her journey.
Ultimately, these stories showcase how Afrocats are helping participants overcome significant barriers, whether digital, geographical, or linguistic, to achieve greater independence, empowerment, and access to further opportunities.
Find out about project assistant Amina’s experiences and insights on our Digital Inclusion project here.
Comments