Friday 22 March 2024

Nurses' photos in Penzance

 


 Back in action today with a pop up exhibition in Penzance at Truro and Penwith College of photos by international nurses from RCH Treliske taken during our photography workshops with Mike Newman Photographer. Michael Apas is talking to students today and films from Royal Cornwall Hospital are on show ....#equalityanddiversity event for students



Thursday 21 March 2024

International nurses' photos on tour

 


An exciting day on the road for our photography project  - THROUGH MY LENS - working with international nurses at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro. The workshops, led by Mike Newman, a photographer based in Penzance, have given the nurses a chance to learn more about Cornwall - and audiences a chance to learn more about their lives.

Click here to view the films being shown in the college canteen. Click here to view Czes, who works in the Acute Medical Unit, posing in front of a film about her. (Films about the project, made by Adrian Pennington of the hospital's Communication Department, were shown throughout the day. Click here to view the full list.

Sunday 29 October 2023

Not to be missed - photos of Cornish flower pickers at The Box in Plymouth

The wonderful venue The Box in Plymouth is featuring some of Tom Pilston's photographs of flower pickers in Cornwall - taken as part of our project I PACKED THIS MYSELF, which throws a spotlight on the workers from overseas in Cornwall, who play such a vital role in the local economy.

Click here for more about The Box's Dutch Flowers exhibition -  open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am-5pm and selected bank holidays until 7 January 2024.

The exhibition explores the development of Dutch flower painting from its beginnings in the early 1600s to its blossoming in the late 1700s. The engagement space at the gallery features Tom Pilston's photos, taken as part of our 'I Packed This Myself' project, which explores the experiences of migrant workers making journeys to the UK and the pressures on local communities.

Monday 15 May 2023

Learning about a refugee's life - and Arabic

 

A morning (15 May 2023) in brilliant sunshine at Madron Primary School in west Cornwall - talking about a refugee's life and learning a few words of Arabic.
A stunning view overlooking Mount's Bay from the playground in this tiny school - scooters lined up here in the bike rack. Rawda Alater spoke about her life in Syria and subsequent experience of the UK in Truro. She arrived about six years ago as a refugee from Syria, and has now gained British citizenship. Children asked about the differences between Syria and Cornwall - in particular, the food the religion and the weather!
Rawda very kindly wrote children's names in Arabic and we learned how to say 'Hello', How are you?' 'Thank you' and 'Goodbye' in her language. To welcome any new students who might arrive from an Arabic-speaking country.

This is part of I PACKED THIS MYSELF, our project funded by Cornwall Council. We are working to break down prejudice and increase understanding of people from different backgrounds - from overseas - who have come to Cornwall to live and work. 

Friday 12 May 2023

A celebration cream tea in Cornwall

 A wonderful afternoon at the Hall for Cornwall to round off this season's THROUGH MY LENS workshops. A splendid cream tea - and a chance to meet the Royal Cornwall Hospital's Communications Team member Adrian Pennington, who is going to make a film about our workshops and the photos taken. Watch this space for more.

In the meantime, we simply enjoyed the time together - and seeing each other again.  A huge thank you to the Hall for Cornwall for arranging such a feast - and also for allowing us to venture into the theatre and have a photograph taken on the stage. It was the first time many - me included - had been backstage. High spirits on a sunny Friday in Truro as we waved 'Hello' to Cornwall (see above).

Very many thank yous to all involved- not least to photography tutor Mike Newman who worked so hard to make this project happen. The Hall for Cornwall for welcoming us in the cafe and theatre. The Royal Cornwall Museum and Penlee House, Penzance, for allowing us to visit and take photographs.

Biggest thanks of all, though, are due to our keen photographers who took time out of demanding and busy schedules at the hospital to join us and learn a little more about Cornwall.

Just a few comments today:

"I learned a lot during this activity, especially the rich history of Cornwall."

"The most exciting part for me was when we went to Penzance. Aside from the photography session, we were able to have a bond over coffee, and a small chit chat outside our workplace made us happy."

"I hope there will be more workshops as these are a breather for us."

 

Friday 24 March 2023

International nurses photograph Penzance

 Our sixth workshop with international NHS workers at the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Treliske, took us to Penzance. We were unlucky with the weather! But escaped the rain at Penlee House Gallery where we saw familiar paintings. Some depicted scenes we later photographed when the sun (just) started to shine!

Our new project - Through My Lens - throws a spotlight on the people who work so hard for the NHS - and save our lives. Click here to read about our workshop in Falmouth. And here to see how we started off in Truro.  We're planning a short film and exhibition of photographs produced.

A big thank you to Katie Herbert at Penlee House Gallery for welcoming our visit.

Thursday 9 March 2023

Learning about Syrian - and Arabic - in Penznce

 A wonderful day today at St Mary's Primary School, Penzance, with Rawda Alater originally from Syria, who came to the UK as a refugee about six years ago. Rawda told students (of all ages) how it was to experience war, and have to leave your own country. She answered questions - however difficult - about missing her family and life in the UK.

Children learned how to say yes, no, hello and thank you in Arabic - so that if an Arabic speaker came to the school they could at least try and make contact. Rawda explained that this would have made a huge difference to her when she arrived in Truro.

Rawda also wrote children's names in Arabic. This was very popular!

Everyone had language postcards to take home to practise phrases once school had ended....

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