Leicester Somali Community Summer School Project

Over two weeks of the 2002 school summer holiday Speakeasy ran workshops with young people of all ages from the Somali community of Leicester. The sessions concerned issues of identity and community for the young people, exploring their experiences of living in Leicester, their schooling and the attitudes of their peers from other communities. Speakeasy’s work was just one part of the Summer School. Each One Teach One, The Health Promotions Agency, Leicester City Council Education Substance Misuse Team and the City Learning Centres at Crown Hills and Beaumont Leys schools being the other providers.    

Speakeasy's work on the project threw up a wealth of valuable and fascinating information about the young peoples' lives, education and identity- all in their own words. A copy of the evaluation report detailing or part in the fortnight is available on request.   

“It was overall a huge success and a terrific learning experience for those of us involved from the LEA and other agencies, the community volunteers and of course the 150 or so young Somalis that took part"

Paul Conneally, Project Organiser, Leicester City Council