Stories of place
By the bright yellow gate of the Story Garden, apples and quinces hang from the young trees beyond their harvesting month, still in half-way-home soil bags. Other young trees rustle their remaining leaves within embracing crescents, nourished by the stories that feed them, encircling a story-telling fire drum where I sit with one family of newly arrived Afghan refugees - invited to this space from nearby half-way temporary hotels. They escaped a war-torn country thrown into further chaos with the Taliban overthrow of the government a few months ago, at the end of summer.
Dr. Sediqa smiled, pointed towards the young trees and told me that this special place fills her heart with ease, where she can let go of her planning mind. She calls it “another medicine”. Her husband, Sayed says it’s where he immediately found the companionship of the city. And where his kids can play, dig, and learn surrounded by the happiness of all. They are welcomed here in a partnership project with local organisations - to cook and tell stories, do woodwork, garden and interact with the space and each other. Kids work on old bicycles through Your Bike Project and we explore other creative and educational activities. Mostly it's somewhere the new Afghan families can feel at ease and settle into a grounding within a new land - a breathing space within the excitement, but often disorientating and overwhelming, structures and energies of central London.
The families have had children temporarily enrolled at the newly rebuilt and wonderful, Edith Neville school, along with its even more wonderful headteacher, Ruby, who supports them in so many ways. A school they’ve cherished immeasurably. After dropping the kids off on Wednesdays, we explored and orientated around the green spaces, canals, and interesting buildings in Kings Cross before arriving to spend the day at the Story Garden. Here they cook traditional afghan foods in the quirky but simple modular kitchen, chat and make things in the roundhouse by the wood burner, and explore through stories and words.
From the start, families were excited to cook for the staff and for themselves. But it wasn't until everyone got their hands dusty with flour and fingers dexterous and warm with kitchen utensils, that the importance of the bonding, sharing and expression through making food together became so evident. After months and months of not making even simple things - of every meal being cooked for them, this creative, story bound experience revealed itself; it's importance in identity and in life stories. We made Afghan bread (experimenting with the pizza oven as a tandori!) and specialties such as ‘ashaak’ with leek dumplings and umami yogurt, dried mint and mince.
Food was shared not only with staff, but also with others who came and mingled at lunchtimes, health workers in tune with this wider vision of health, and members of neighbouring organisations that wanted to show friendship and support. It has been a precious friendship and wellbeing network as well as a party. For many of the new Afghan arrivals it was amongst the first few times they’d spoken to people outside the hotel, to non-Afghans and to Brits, beyond official appointments. This space gave both a grounding, and allowed them to open up, with the boundaries of guest and host melting as in all good occasions!
Two weeks ago, our 17 families left the area abruptly to another 'bridging hotel' by Gatwick. This despite being previously assured by the Home Office there would be one temporary accommodation before resettlement. This has meant their children being taken out of school (unlikely to find another temporary school near Gatwick). Likewise losing the proximity to the Story Garden and the newly engaged support of organisations and friends they had only just become familiar with. There have been many messages, expressions, and calls of gratitude, as well as for continued connection on both sides - we are currently working to bring the families back once a month. The first will be a Christmas occasion with the children having a party at the school and their parents at the Story Garden. There will be Afghan kite making, woodwork, and hanging out by the fire. The children will be given handmade presents from our young generators.
Homa, one of the young mothers wrote to us that the experience has given everyone the chance to get together, to learn together, and manage to do so much in a short time. It has made the children smile after passing through difficult experiences.
As the last leaves of the young trees shed for winter - having been saturated with these new stories and laughter, it is clear that their roots and branches remain strong as ever, flexing right now with the tensions, but ready to leaf and listen again.
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.