HideOut’s six-week South Asian Heritage Girls project comes to a close with final celebration meal.
In January, HideOut Youth Zone began a six-week South Asian Heritage Girls project named ‘HoneyComb’.
The group made up of Senior Club members, met weekly over the six-week period to take part in activities, including care package creation, exploration of South Asian poetry and art, a bhangra drumming workshop, authentic South Asian cooking, and a movie night featuring Marvels first South Asian superhero Kamala Khan.
The project was set up by two of HideOut’s South Asian Youth Workers who recognised engagement from this demographic wasn’t as high as desired. HoneyComb was also set up in response to one young girl from this demographic expressing shame around her identity.
At HideOut, we ensure our youth provision is inclusive, supports community cohesion, and provides an environment where members from diverse demographics, ethnic communities, and those with additional needs or disabilities feel safe, involved, and welcome and have the opportunity to explore and celebrate their culture and heritage.
HoneyComb was set up specifically to help young South Asian females understand and be proud of their culture.
The project was developed with young people at the core of its creation, and young people came up with the groups’ name, supported the marketing material design to promote the project to local schools and community hubs, and created the weekly agenda of activities.
The project came to a close on Saturday 4th March with a final celebratory trip to Manchester’s famous ‘Curry Mile’. The group had the opportunity to reflect on what they had learnt, were treated to a meal at Sanam, and even watched the classic Indian dessert, jalebi, being made.
Reflecting on the project, Senior Club member, Anam, said:
“I found it [HoneyComb] amazing because we got to try different stuff and there were lots of activities to try – I’m more of an active person – so we got to watch movies, eat stuff and it was just great. We went to a restaurant as a celebration trip.
“Before I didn’t feel like I liked my colour or my culture or who I am, but now I feel like it’s alright to be Asian.”
HideOut currently has a membership of over 6,000 young people, with 66% identifying as those from ethnically diverse communities. HideOut also offers ‘Girls Only’ sessions and activities for those who may be reluctant to take part in mixed universal sessions.
