On Saturday 07 June the Leicester New Walk hosted a free Voices Open Day. The Somali community had a range of activities to offer.
There was the chance to join in a drumming and a batique workshop. You could even find out more about Somali arts and crafts - as well as try traditional food and drink.
 I would like to acknowledge the Somali community groups and people from the community without whom it simply would not have been possible.  | Helen Cockle
Leicester Voices Producer |
I would like to acknowledge the Somali community groups and people from the community without whom it simply would not have been possible.
Leicester Somali Community & Education Centre, The SWCOL (Halima's Group, Farhiya's Women's Group, SVOP, Somaliland Community and Jawaahir Daahir's as Somali Community Development Worker contribution.
A big thank you to...  | | All ages took part in the Voices Open Day |
Drumming by Drums Please
Outside the Museum we had some fantastic performances by Drums Please who are a Leicester based group made up of African drummers and musicians from all over the African Continent.
They ran workshops for the children and young people who came along to the Somali Open Day. Everybody - young and old - had fun joining in I am sure there were some music maestro's in the making!
Mohad Tarrah
He has started the Somali ecological society and is working on a project with Envrion to make allotments available to people in the Somali community. Watch Mohad's Setting Down Roots video.
Exhibition / Open Day
Many People came to the New Walk museum to visit the exhibition / Open Day about Somali culture. (I even wore Somali traditional dress - far right- although I struggled a little bit with the style... I definitely need more practice!)
 | | Hashim in the middle and Mohad on the right |
Hashim Duale
He loves his job as a Somali development worker for Leicester East Primary Care Trust and Abdirahman Koronto - BBC Somali service. Find out more about Hashim's life changing experience.
Halima
She runs an active Somali Women's group in Leicester. She came along to the Voices Open Day with all her family.
Ruqia
She works closely with Halima's women’s group and was the interpreter for Mona Lisa who did a very successful batique workshop.
She was part of a very important project in Somalia ran by the African Education Trust in collaboration with the BBC called the Radio teacher. The project aimed to teach over 12,000 people to read by using the radio.
 | | Ruqia on the left with Mona Lisa |
Having recently come to Leicester Ruqia has quickly found herself in the middle of many projects!
We had visitors from all walks of life and it was a truly integrated day.
Helen Cockle
Leicester Voices Producer
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