FiCDundee News

Beckys back!

Our Development Worker Becky Stojanovic has returned to the FiCDundee team after being on maternity leave for the past year. Her little girl is now 14 months old and full of mischief! She says that she is enjoying being back, and it is especially exciting to see how projects tackling poverty have started/developed over the time she has been away. She works part-time, usually on Mondays and Tuesdays.

 

Annual Gathering

                  Readings from Buddhist faith tradition and thoughts on poverty by Lama Jiga

      

On the 27^th June over 70 people from faith groups and projects across Dundee came together for the FiCD Annual Gathering. It was a great event, with highlights including readings from different faith traditions, art, music, stands, and an opportunity to hear about the Poverty Truth Commission.

The gathering heard from representatives of five different faith traditions who spoke about what their tradition has to say about poverty and how they are called to respond to it. There was an overwhelming message of how all faith traditions are called to help those who are suffering because of poverty and work for a more just society.

                                               Representatives of the Attic Youth Project

Lunch provided an opportunity for people to speak to others as well as to visit stands displaying the work of some of the projects initiated by faith groups in Dundee. People also had an opportunity to contribute to ‘Brilliance in brokenness’, a project that uses silk textile art to capture some of the elements of brilliance found in the lives of people living in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities. If you would like to see it the finish article will soon be hanging in the FiCD office.

Following lunch we heard from the Poverty Truth Commission. Their motto is ‘nothing about us without us is for us’ and they bring together those living in poverty in Glasgow with decision makers to help create a more just society. We heard first hand from Ghazala Hakeem, a lady living in one of Glasgow’s most deprived areas who had experienced empowerment through her involvement. We then moved closer to home and heard from a representative of the Dundee Poverty Alliance Group and their input into the Dundee Councils Fairness Strategy. Many people have since shared with us their interest in the work of the Poverty Truth Commission and if you would be interested in being involved in exploring a similar initiative in Dundee then please get in touch.

A reflective song by a young person from the Hot Chocolate Trust drew the gathering to a close. We are very grateful to them and to all who contributed to the gathering, including those that read and those groups that put together stands displaying their work. It is always exciting to bring together people from Dundee who are seeking and acting for change in the cities communities.

Update on DDI Participatory Action Research

 

A group composed by Dundee Drop In (DDI) organisations and service users are developing an action research project in collaboration with the University of Dundee. The research aims to identify gaps and needs of DDI users and provide evidence for advocating as well as projects to improve the life experience of vulnerable people in Dundee. At this stage the group is exploring the key topics for the research. Dr Fernando Fernandes who is collaborating with the project considers that the participatory dimension is a key element of the project. According to him - ‘This is not only about a research. This is about an inclusive and reflexive process in which everyone’s experience and knowledge is considered. The project will increase capacities and at the same time will produce evidence to improve our understanding of the challenges marginalised people are experiencing.’