Building Bridges Amongst Diverse Communities
The continued focus on the diverse communities of Leeds and Bradford has overlooked how the different cultural groups of the region are working hard to create strong relationships with each other.
Key among this process is a unique project called MythBusters, a programme bringing together Yorkshire primary school pupils from across the racial and religious spectrum for a series of residential experiences. The project enables children explore their own sense of identity and to value the identity of others, thus contributing to the breaking down of ‘myths’ and stereotypes that have the potential to build up.
MythBusters uses the creative arts, the environment and circus related performance skills to achieve its goals. The three day residential is packed full of activities that encourage learning and reflection in a fun and creative way.
Khalil Hussain, a Learning Mentor at Springwood Primary School in Bradford, one of the schools that took part in the programme comments:
“The MythBusters programme is helping build a new a new awareness and appreciation, child by child, of the need to unite our communities and build on our commonalities’. Over 200 children have now participated in the programme and the project is seeking to develop the work with secondary schools.”
AFC has worked in partnership with Scargill and Urban Circus Arts to develop MythBusters and the partnership enjoyed the fruits of its success by winning the Bradford Vision 20/20 Vision Award at the end of 2005, where it’s significant contribution to community building was recognised.
