Pan Intercultural Arts – Creative Expression For Refugees And Survivors of Trafficking and Human Slavery

The two Amies Choirs are joyous and therapeutic projects for female survivors of trafficking and human slavery. The power of singing together and creating together are wonderful ways of finding new strength and wellbeing to start their paths towards more positive futures. The Amies Freedom Choir works with those who may never have sung together before. The Amies Alumnae choir is public facing and performs for Anti-Slavery events, Women’s Empowerment Festivals and many more with music they have created from their many backgrounds.

Papillon is designed specifically for young Afghan women refugees who were flown into the UK in 2021 when the Taliban took power in Afghanistan. Since arriving they are housed in quasi-claustrophobic conditions of hotel rooms, often with whole families, and the young women have little chance to have a space to be free, creative and exploring their new lives. By giving them such a space, where hijabs can be discarded and physical and creative freedom can be encouraged, the Papillon women, including some young new mothers, can explore their new environment and imagine new futures.

Fortune is a weekly group for young adult asylum seekers, refugees and migrants trying to find their place in a new country. They have many languages, faiths and cultures and finding themselves in a pluralistic city like London can be bewildering. This group promotes bonding and respect, team building and reflection before creating a safe creative space where they can all bring their ideas, their aspirations or fears and embody them in stories, scenes, videos or monologues to share with their peers and then a wider public.