Starting with three people ...
Three people, all of whom have links with Tide~ reflected on their personal experiences coming to England as children. Rohini Corfield, Vipin Chauhan and Phyllis Thompson each wrote articles and then came together with others from Tide~ to share drafts and discuss the implications. Their conversations helped us to consider some key ideas and issues that are important to what might contribute to Commonwealth Awareness.
See Elephant Times ET 2.3 for articles and refections.
After reading each other's stories, there was agreement about similarities – for example, the impact of racism on their emotional well-being, search for identity and their careers – they also explored differences.
They discussed four particular understandings that they hoped young people could gain:
- Migration is part of British history
- We can go through horrific experiences, but for some comes learning that shapes what you do going forward
- The person you are/will become is a consequence of the experiences (good and bad) that you face
- Cultures are dynamic and constantly changing, and we are both shaped by them and mould them through our experiences.
Building up ideas - Exploring the scope
Six issues of the Elephant Times featured Commonwealth themes - as we built up to 'The Games'.
ET 2.2 Commonwealth Awareness - the inspiration of 'Empireland'
ET 2.3 Three people Three life stories - the implications for Commonwealth Awareness
ET 2.4 How do we know? Articles exploring this question in the context of Commonwealth
ET 2.4 Supplement: Birchfield Commonwealth Connections
ET 2.5 Annual Review 2022 - including a focus on Commonwealth Debates
ET 2.5 Suplement - An Australian perspective