Chillin’ the Welcome way
As part of the Welcome initiative a music charity was asked to work with a class of teenage asylum seekers and refugees in Barnet, offering many of them an opportunity they had never experienced before.
For many of these young people, this was their first chance to sing, play musical instruments, explore rhythm and rhyme, and express themselves through music. Over eight weekly two-hour workshops, they worked together in small groups to write original songs, building towards performing them for one another.
By the end of the programme, the transformation was clear. Learners who had started with little or no musical experience had created their own music and songs and found the confidence to perform in front of classmates, teachers and fellow students.
Along the way, they experimented with a wide range of percussion instruments, as well as guitar and keyboard, often for the first time in their lives. Working alongside experienced facilitators in a supportive and safe environment over two months encouraged them to step beyond their comfort zones. Many were pleasantly surprised by what they could achieve and left feeling proud of their creativity and growing confidence.
The experience also had a lasting impact on those who witnessed it. A short film was produced so that the students would have a lasting record of their achievements and the journey they had shared. Just wow!