We caught up with Gregor from Pachedu, a small charity supporting people who are minoritised to be more visible and to shape their community in Renfrewshire. Pachedu began as a conversation between friends in 2015, and now works across the West of Scotland, punching well above their weight before and during the pandemic.
When the pandemic hit, Pachedu were rocked and it took a few months to get back on their feet. With the deepening of existing inequalities which are still getting worse one year on, Pachedu initially worked with WSREC to ensure their community had access to food, whilst trying to keep their previously successful Sharing Lives, Sharing Languages project going. However, with so much going on – from lockdown to Black Lives Matter – they struggled with their small team of volunteers to find their place in the midst of so much change.
After Black History Month in October 2020, the team regrouped. Worried that they had lost their community, they began to invite people to join Zoom calls on a Tuesday evening. What started off as sporadic catch ups – sometimes just between colleagues – has grown into weekly calls with up to 40 members of the community at times, with guest speakers, discussions and workshops. Pachedu asked their community what they would like to discuss during their new online Sharing Lives, Sharing Languages workshops, and health and wellbeing and youth empowerment came top of the list.
These discussions and workshops have done wonders to address loneliness and isolation in their community, and have led to vital discussions on subjects ranging from mental health in a cultural context, to physical health concerns, to growing food. Pachedu has also been able to restart their successful youth project – School of African Cultures – which supports children and young people to navigate their mixed cultural heritage.
Two young people supported by Pachedu’s School of African Cultures participated in an online engagement course this year run by Scottish Refugee Council, and recently used their new skills to run a session for their wider community.
As the weeks go on, Pachedu’s new digital space has grown from strength to strength, but they are also looking ahead to a time beyond lockdown and building towards a brighter, greener future. Discussions on Tuesday evenings have led to Pachedu procuring four raised beds in an allotment for a trial run, and they are hopeful that, much like the seeds they plant, that this new community project will grow over time.
Image: Francesco Gallarotti
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