A YEAR OF CONCENTRIC CHANGES: HOW YOUNG PEOPLE HAD AN IMPACT ON ME, THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE CLIMATE, AND THEMSELVES
“A few years ago I might have answered the question about the meaning of life with a lot of confidence. I might have insisted it had something to do with love, peace, free will or some other inspiring human quality. I might have waxed poetic about the whole thing, painting into my response the kind of flourish and verbosity indigenous Yoruba people are recognised for. Today, I am not quite sure I can manage a direct response: you see, I met the world in its stunning material vibrancy. I learned that plants communicate with each other, and respond to emotions; that brittle-stars manage to do well without using brains; that bees have society and complex social rituals for navigating their environment; that the world has no pre-relational, determinate quality except within the context of relationships; that we live and thrive and die in the entangling orbit of other beings. Much like a wave is not just part of the sea but the very sea in its specific materialisation, my voice and my words only make sense within a commonwealth of other beings that make me possible.”— Bayo Akomolafe
I am on the minibus that is taking us back to London after three wonderful days at Wilderness Wood, East Sussex. I am with the young people who took part in three different youth programmes in the last year: the Generators, the Climate and Food Ambassadors and the Voices of the Earth Fellows, plus some of my colleagues from the Story Garden. Through the window, I can see a miniature London appearing in the distance and the countryside going further away behind us. Lots and lots of cars all around us. The sight of the first tall buildings evokes in me the memory of the very first session of the year that Kathryn and I led online: “Murmurs of the Earth”. In the session that opened the 2021 lockdown, we invited young people to reflect on the Golden Record that was sent into space with Voyager in 1977. The record contains images and sounds selected to portray the diversity of life and culture on Earth. Some kind of time capsule. Now after 44 years, what would young people of today send out there? What images, what sounds and messages would they write to explain their life on earth?
I think about the discussion we had online and now I ask myself what would I select for a golden record that portrays the journey of the Story Garden’s youth groups? What feelings, challenges and learnings would they want to speak about?
The drone of the minibus and the pleasant tiredness of two nights spent in a tent allow my mind to run back and forward in time and space. City and woodlands, roads and ancient trees, busyness and stillness. Ambulances and bird chirping. Silence and chaos. Multitude and solitude.
This year, in a continuous vibrancy of beings and sessions, in and outside the Story Garden, from the micro to the macro, change happened in all of us.
With Kathryn Oluyinka by my side, along with her ideas, freshness and critical eye, we planned a rich and solid programme that brought in many different ways of knowing, tools, values and collaborations. In an ever-changing dance of elements, the practical projects were made possible by a variety of themes and explorations into what philosopher and teacher Bayo Akomolafe would describe as the cracks in the concrete, the crossroads, the unstable and yet creative territories of life. We are a nature-guided organisation that articulates its mission in ways sometimes not so explicitly ‘green’. Sustainability could be expressed through stillness in the middle of a busy road, or reflection on gratitude, through live drawing or cooking bread over fire.
I, too, found myself being changed through these explorations, reflecting once again on what it means to be a youth worker, to help unlock children’s potential, to let go of plans and be led by others’ responses, to manage negativity and lack of enthusiasm, to understand when it is the right time to lead but also to step back. I am who I am in a context of relationships. This has guided me and the session planning over the last year. This is what I think it is a precious awareness to stimulate awakening in young people’s hearts.
I often find it difficult to explain what inspires me in the planning of sessions, and what seeds I would like to watch growing in young people’s lives. But on this journey back to London, right here on this seat, while the silence permeates the coach, I feel I’ve almost got it:
Because of our entanglement with other beings, our actions, even if small, have effects on others. Each of us is the world in its specific materialisation, and being grateful to nature is the ultimate form of activism. If we think we are part of something bigger than ourselves; if we think we are not isolated individuals but constantly changed by other beings, including animals, plants, clouds, planets, events, dialogues, images, situations; if we think this way, then we can think about a better future for us.
Through the Generator Programme, the Climate and Food Ambassadors and the Voices of the Earth Project, we made an impact on the local community but we also learnt a lot about ourselves. The impacted outside and inside are inseparable. There will be no real change in the world without us changing. A youth worker evolves and devolves every time, with each group, each session, each year, each community event, with each national and global event, with each colleague or garden.
With 90 sessions, 7 events (including a photography exhibition) and 1 summer residential camp, we have worked with over 35 young people, including senior generators who became fellows and 4 who did their work experiences and 1 internship during summer. We have collaborated with different organisations and extraordinary people like Simeon Featherstone at Central Saint Martins (UAL), Jan Kattein Architects, visual artist Amanda Mascarenhas, ‘We are Ageing Better’ programme coordinator Jess Grieve, designers at Make:good, Producers and Directors Hetty Hodgson and Bea Udale-Smith at PigFoot Theatre, filmmaker and Climate Network Member Martin Percy, Media Arts Co-ordinator at Holborn Community Association Chloë Plumb, Programme Producer and Photographer Rachel Kirkham at All Change Arts, Capoeira teacher Madeira Muzenza, Beekeeper and Gardener Esther Coles, Soil expert Franie Smith at Octopus Communities, events manager for Knowledge Quarter Bhavit Mehta, the team at Wilderness Wood - David Horne and Kent Thodsen, and our incredible colleagues at Global Generation: the garden team (Sue, Malaika, Hallie and Karari), the kitchen team (Giorgia, Sadhbh, Chaneti) and Glen MacDonald with his building skills.
We have hunted about the Story Garden and King’s Cross, Purchase Street Park, Somers Town, Phoenix Road and Drummond Street, Freeling Street and Tufnell Park, reaching also young people’s homes during lockdown (and on snowy days) and as far as Buxted for our summer camp. And, in the spirit of this beautiful and rich entanglement, all these expressions of change, creativity and collaboration were possible thanks to the financial, technical and spiritual support of all our funders: Regent’s Place with community manager Rose Alexander (funding youth programmes since 2018), Ambitious Communities Islington Council, particularly Luiza Mattausch and Holly Toft, the Ernest Cook Trust with Project Manager Robyn Riddoch, and also the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Right now, in this minibus that has almost reached our destination, with the memories of the camp that already seem like a dream I am waking up from, I recall the words of our generator Sam, who was involved in 2013. Despite a future that, at the time, was looking already unstable and scary, he said:
“Young people DO things, MAKE things and can BE something by CREATING a better world for all of us to live in. This is what I saw happening in the last year and this is what I want to share: Some of the words and images of those extraordinary young people (and families) who have given their time to do, make and be something for our planet.”
We are back at the Story Garden now. I can see the families waiting for the adventurous campers to get off the minibus. We are back to the city. It is a sunny day. My heart feels good and nostalgic and full of memories, and I want to thank each young person and each family for our year together. And thank you to my colleague Kathryn for being my companion in a complex, precious and ever-shifting journey into today’s complex, precious and ever-evolving world.
WORDS FROM OUR YOUNG PEOPLE:
“At Global Generation, I was able to be myself and I was able to have more friends that have something in common. I was able to learn something new. Coming to the story garden and working with Silvia and Kathryn it has inspired me to help the environment and look after the plants.”
— Grace
“By being a generator, I have learnt to come out of my comfort zone. To talk to people I didn’t know. I also learnt to appreciate the insects, plants and to take care of the environment.”
— Zahir
“What I really enjoyed this year was when we did urban camping in a day, cooking around the fire, watering the oaks and helping breaking down the compost and seed saving. I had many fun moments with my friends.”
— Dean
“I have learnt to be patient and listen. If I listen, I can appreciate and learn new things and learn more about my friends.”
— Emanuel
“I can name a million things I loved about global generation but some things that stuck with me the most was learning about the plants and how much I depend on them. I also liked helping others in the community as well as helping nature by watering plants in hot days.”
— Saiyara
“The one thing I enjoyed was everything because I love this project. Doing good things for people and nature makes me feel strong and happy. ”
— Kevin
“Changing Drummond Street makes me feel that my action and design can impact someone in a good way. A street brings people together and could give the feeling of working and living as one. I would like to bring Joy and relax to everyone and fun. Drummond Street parklets are a symbol of my ‘giving’ to the community and it makes me proud that my clay pot can be seen by many people. I want to show people that I care about them and help them leave behind negativity.”
— Samirah
“Tonight I made pizzas and it was special because we made it with organic ingredients and crops from the garden. Making pizza with my hands was exciting and it was exciting to see how happy everybody was by doing so with their hands ”
— Zeshan
“My best memory from the trip was being able to meditate whilst also surrounding myself with nature as well as beautiful souls. I also enjoyed stargazing in the pitch black. It reminded me that there are beautiful and magical elements that in the city we completely forget about.”
— Sapphy
“I can’t even express how rewarding the trip was and how it has changed me for the better !!”
— Ella
“Thank you Silvia, if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t have met such a lovely community of people which I can be apart of :) ”
— Mayim
“Thank you Silvia, sending you love and blessings on your maternity journey and thank you for everything and the wonderful opportunities you’ve handed to us you are truly a strong beautiful soul good luck!!”
— Lucy
“To Silvia and Kathryn , thank you so much for making the trip for Zahir a memorable one and something he hopes to keep for years to come! I want to say a big thank you to you and all the others on the GG team on making it happen !!! ”
— Halima
THE YOUTH PROGRAMMES GOLDEN RECORD
Notes from the Garden
A puncture is not how I envisioned starting the day, no one ever does. They always seem to happen when you’re in a rush, people are expecting you, and the weather is particularly…challenging.