UPDATES

Projects

The “Migrants Voices from the North” project in conjunction with Migrants Supporting Migrants and North Manchester Radio FM 106.6 aims to help refugees and migrants to integrate into British life, access information, advice and guidance and participate

in local activities.

The project is presented by four teams – Spanish, French, Polish and Chinese. More information about the project can be found at http://migrantsvoicesfromthenorth.weebly.com/

Events

Starting March, we have committed to organise a monthly cultural event. This aims to integrate the migrants from Manchester into British society through arts.

8^th of March – Movie Projection and Debate on migration issues. Film: Ae Fond Kiss, Ken Loach. It is a movie about the power of religion, family and community. It is about hybrid identities, identitary frustration and (non-) integration. It is about the experience of migration of two distinct groups – Irish and Pakistanis in Scotland.

19^th of April - Exhibition Cornerhouse. Given the social unrest in North Africa, we thought it might be a good idea to visit the exhibition organised by Cornerhouse: Algeria-France-UK. "Making a timely intervention in current debates on colonial and post-colonial politics and culture, and exploring the links... and frontiers between Europe and North Africa in the age of neo-liberalism, New Cartographies examines issues of diaspora, migration, memory and identity by investigating the cultural and personal aspects of journeying across politically connected countries." (Cornerhouse)

6^th of June – Theatre Play at the Royal Exchange. Eddie Carbone, a longshoreman, lives with his wife Beatrice and young orphaned niece Catherine in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. Two cousins from Sicily, relatives of Beatrice, come as illegal immigrants to stay in the Carbone’s home and find work on the docks. When Catherine is attracted to Rodolpho, Eddie’s life is thrown into turmoil. One of Arthur Miller’s masterpieces, A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (Arthur Miller) is a powerful, passionate and gripping drama that uncovers the tensions in a tight knit community with its strict codes of behaviour.

“You won't have a friend in the world , Eddie!

Even those who understand will turn against you, even the

ones who feel the same will despise you!”

11^th of June 2011 Language Party

Migrants Supporting Migrants and the International Society held a fantastic event where everyone had the opportunity to share their culture, food, music and language.

Trainings we have received

9-10 April MSM team received a training from Manchester Central on governance. As a result, MSM decided to become a charity. The documents were signed on June 30, day when MSM officially became a charity.

Trainings we have given

15^th of March – Training Session at the Local Council. During the 3 hour training Sandra and Claudia, gave a training session on migration awareness. More precisely, the training looked at “Working to advance the welfare and rights of migrants in the UK”.

Social Benefits – MSM, in collaboration with Cheetam Hill Advice Bureau, organised a 6 weeks training (March-May) course on Social Benefits. It aimed to make the migrants familiar with the British welfare state and social system.

News and Updates

The monthly blog which looks at news and updates related to migration can be found at http://migrantssupportingmigrants.blogspot.com/