The rich tapestry of diversity and inclusion
This week the social enterprise at Glenside Farm had several opportunities to celebrate and promote the vision for all people to experience farming, nature and community and through that, improve health and wellbeing.
On Monday I had the privilege to welcome Zuzana to record a podcast with The Sweet Spud. It was great to talk about farming, healthy living and share my mum’s recipe of Masala Dosa, which she loves to cook whenever Iain visits her on his trips to London. Zuzana also took a shine to our goat and decided to name her ‘Betsy’.
On Friday we celebrated with our three participants who have faithfully volunteered at Glenside Farm. As people seeking asylum in Northern Ireland they are unable to work, but for health and wellbeing and to begin to integrate into the community it has been great to welcome them on an eight-week programme with one day sessions every week funded by Ard and Down Good Relations. They really enjoyed their time with us and to acknowledge their faithfulness in working alongside us, we were able to present them with a certificate of participation with farm management and animal husbandry on the farm. We know we will continue to keep in touch, and they have promised to visit when the animals all come in for the winter.
Today I had the joy of supporting Minorities Awards Recognition (MRA) NI as I joined founder and chair Diane Davis, and Johann Vizagie at BBC Radio Ulster. It was an opportunity to share the vision of MRA to recognise and celebrate excellence among the minority community businesses in Northern Ireland. It is an opportunity to create a conducive atmosphere for migrant businesses and the local people to come together and positively contribute to society. How great, as Black History Month begins with the theme ‘Time for Change: Action Not Words’, to be celebrating minority groups in Northern Ireland and how they can play their part in business and society.
Thank you, John Toal, for welcoming us to BBC Radio Ulster on a Saturday morning.
As someone who has been coming to Northern Ireland since 1989 and is now part of the farming community, it is great to see the rich tapestry of diversity and inclusion being promoted and celebrated. I am excited for how this will impact society and the place I now call home.
For further information:
The Sweet Spud on a Farm Podcast - hear our story
