An Introduction to the Stories  by Meena Khatwa

This project is the result of a project which ran from January 2003 to January 2004. It was funded by the Community Fund, and worked in partnership with Greenwich Council for Racial Equality and Greenwich Arts and Culture Office. I was employed by Age Exchange to co-ordinate the project with my colleague Indie Choudhury as Project Administrator. Our aim was to deliver a very exciting, ambitious and richly developed resource of black and ethnic elders' memories.

The project focused on interviewing elders within the borough of Greenwich. Our starting point was to carry out extensive outreach with the African, Caribbean, Asian, Chinese and Vietnamese communities.

The first four months of the project were spent networking with housing schemes, day centres and luncheon clubs. We were new to the area, and strangers to the groups, so it was important to make good connections with them and build-up trust. This we did, with the invaluable support of Satya Devi Paul, the Ethnic Elders Officer at Greenwich Council for Racial Equality. The commitment and enthusiasm shared by the managers and community leaders such as Helen Kon, Aimee Soodoo, Nassim Khodabux, Joan Scantlebury and Atia Malik played a crucial role in the successful engagement of all participants. Part of the remit of the project was to organise forums for all the community leaders and managers and to provide training in reminiscence and creative activities. From the outset we aimed to involve the leaders in the process, development and delivery of the project.

The first months of the project highlighted many important issues which were vital to its successful development. We realised that we couldn't just walk in and expect individuals or groups to volunteer their life stories or eagerly participate in reminiscence sessions. It became apparent that many were not aware of what reminiscence was or what it could do for them.

Regardless of their backgrounds, we heard the same concerns from the older people: "Why do you want to interview me?" "My life isn't interesting" "Who would want to hear about my stories?" Naturally the elderly groups were cautious and it became clear that we had to spend time with them before they could feel confident about sharing their memories and proud of their experiences. We shared our feelings and reasons why their stories needed to be heard and how a legacy should remain of their hopes and struggles. Furthermore their stories could be educational, challenge ignorance about different cultures and raise awareness about how these communities lived in their native homes. Their experiences were in danger of being lost forever, but they could now be shared with future generations who may not have a close relationship with their grandparents or older people in their communities.

Meena Khatwa and James Adebayo Adesina

We gradually became familiar faces at the centres and the sheltered housing schemes and the groups began to look forward to the reminiscence sessions. As a result of the time and effort put in, individuals began to come forward. The interviews took place in different spaces and with groups as well as individuals. It was wonderful to see how the storytellers shared all types of emotions when being transported back to their past lives and their childhood homes. There were many sharply remembered details and descriptions of fascinating rituals, customs and events which were recalled through gestures, actions or replaying their memories. There was a genuine sense of contentment, excitement and at times feelings of sorrow in what was being revealed. At times, as the interviewer, I felt as though I had travelled the world without ever leaving the borough of Greenwich.

During the year it was interesting to see how a deeply-buried sense of value had returned to these elders' memories. This growing confidence has also been the result of close working relationships between the elders and the project arts workers who have developed and produced drama and artwork pieces based on their memories.

Looking back over the year, I have learned much more about my own community as well as the Chinese, African and Caribbean elders. I have been made aware of the struggles and harsh reality that many elders face, and how there has been a shift in the cultural and traditional structure of the extended family. As a second generation Asian, I have felt fortunate to have grown up with my grandparents and learned about customs, rituals, tales of life back home.

This project has given the participants an opportunity to share their stories with others, but there are many isolated elders who still remain invisible. This work needs to continue and be developed, whether through future projects or through initiatives by community groups and their managers; otherwise it will be the black and ethnic minority elders themselves who will become just a distant memory.

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© Age Exchange 2006