The Scottish Minority Ethnic Achievment Awards 2009

My colleagues kindly nominated me for the Scottish Minority Ethnic Achievements Award 2009 and I have been SHORTLISTED for the Arts category! Me, my colleague Laura and co-worker Shamaalia are heading off to the Hilton on the 25th June for a lavish evening of food, entertainment and networking. Also on the same day, there is the GWL’s ‘Moving on up’ event at the Mitchell Library, therefore we are pretty busy all day and will just about make on time for the awards ceremony. So if on the 25th June around 7.30pm you see three dashing ladies in party frocks and high heels running frantically over the bridge from Mitchell Library to the Hilton then YES, it will most likely be me, Laura and Shamaalia! Keep the roads clear!

Now on a more serious note…Why was I nominated? Well…..as you may be aware, one of my underlying aims at GWL is to promote creative learning for BME women in a fun and meaningful way. Being creative myself, I was overjoyed when given the opportunity last year to document stories of migrant women who enriched the city of Glasgow by bringing with them their distinct cultural heritages, traditions, faiths and cultures. My work initially focused on migrant women settling in the south side of Glasgow. I facilitated reminiscence sessions for BME elderly women. Using creative tools such as the object handling kits from the Open Museum, I was able to stir old memories and stimulate fantastic discussion within the group. As well as this, I conducted a fabulous artistic project working alongside a community artist and elderly Punjabi women to build a model house of their home in Punjab before migrating to Glasgow. Furthermore I partnered with the Pollokshields Development Agency to record, document and exhibit untold stories of migrant women settling in the Pollokshields area since the 1960’s.

The women enjoyed engaging in this type of artistic interaction and many, for the first time, felt heard and acknowledged for their efforts and contributions made to society. This fabulous work was recently celebrated and exhibited at the Tramway.

It would be great if I am selected for this award as I feel it will bring recognition to the valuable and fantastic work of GWL. Even if I am not selected I am sure it will raise the profile of the library. And if nothing else, we will enjoy the 5 course meal, showing of our new dresses and meeting new people!

Syma Ahmed. BME Development Officer