Power to the Young People

A few weeks ago we were exploring the topic of POWER in our young people’s Sunday group which we call FISH.    Who is powerful, who is powerless? What makes us powerful? That kind of thing.  A little girl from Pakistan joined us, she was two and a half.  She and her family were seeking asylum.  She quickly made friends with the children in the group, communicating in gestures and drawings. 

At the end of the session we shared some food.  It was obvious that she was very hungry and her presence led to a discussion about asylum seekers in general, since we have the privilege of meeting lots of people from different areas of the world at St. Brides.  The younger children were concerned that this little girl had left behind her friends, her toys, her pets, the older members of the group were surprised to learn that asylum seekers are given only £5 per day each to live on.

The children and young people responded by using their collective POWER to write letters to local Rotary clubs asking for donations for the HOPE+ Foodbank which is run by the Cathedral and operates out of St Bride’s. The Foodbank is a huge support to asylum seekers like the family from Pakistan who inspired the FISH group.

The result?  Thanks to the generosity of Liverpool and Prescot Rotary Clubs and Roundtables, and to some wonderful individuals, the power of the pen has raised £1,300 for the foodbank. 

We have a creative and very happy time in the FISH group on a Sunday morning. We have even made the odd movie or two! We operate in school term times.  If you are aged between 3-16 and you fancy joining us email sandra.dears@virgin.net.  We start up again in September!