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We are proud to have Sithule Mguni as a Local Delivery Partner on Levelling the Playing Field. Her organisation, Young Minds Together, uses performing arts to empower girls from ethnically diverse communities in Rotherham to overcome many barriers in life.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day #IWD2021 (March 8), it is female role models like Sithule that girls and young women rely on for inspiration and leadership.
Young Minds Together uses performing arts (principally dance) as a basis for self-expression, social cohesion and to challenge stereotypes that exist about black girls in the area.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day #IWD2021 (March 8), it is female role models like Sithule that girls and young women rely on for inspiration and leadership.
Young Minds Together uses performing arts (principally dance) as a basis for self-expression, social cohesion and to challenge stereotypes that exist about black girls in the area.
“People think because they are girls and black they will never achieve certain things,” says Sithule (pictured above). “We encourage our girls to go for what they want in life and make sure they know they can achieve it as long as they put their heart and lots of work into it.
“We try to help them to challenge the stereotype that every other black child around here is expected to end up in the justice system.
“We are working hard to try and change that narrative to make sure none of our girls ends up with that outcome. Instead, we want them to become ambassadors, to help, empower and encourage other children to do better things in life.
“We reach out to anybody in case they are struggling or are encountering barriers to what they want to do, such as racism and discrimination.”
“We try to help them to challenge the stereotype that every other black child around here is expected to end up in the justice system.
“We are working hard to try and change that narrative to make sure none of our girls ends up with that outcome. Instead, we want them to become ambassadors, to help, empower and encourage other children to do better things in life.
“We reach out to anybody in case they are struggling or are encountering barriers to what they want to do, such as racism and discrimination.”
Two volunteers on Young Minds Together are preparing to undertake Levelling the Playing Field’s mentoring training to enable them to offer a deeper level of support to the 15-20 young dancers and singers in their care.
The organisation is currently looking for a venue for when face-to-face sessions can resume postCovid. During lockdown they have kept girls engaged online through dance sessions on Zoom, with the girls set ‘homework’ to create their own dances at home and share them via video on WhatsApp. Staff have also done one-to-one welfare checks.
Building up solid relationships when girls first join the organisation takes time. Sithule explains: “It can be quite a difficult job because first of all you have to build the trust between you and the young person in order for them to feel they can come and talk to you about those things they’re going through.
“We welcome them into our group as dancers and singers, then gradually through the sessions, we have a chat, encourage and use words like ‘you are important’. Slowly they start coming to us one-to-one, and we build their confidence bit by bit. It takes time and patience.
"You can see when a young person doesn’t look right or isn’t feeling well in themselves. It’s often related to racism or discrimination they have suffered at school or in the community. It’s sometimes difficult for them to make friends. They may feel like they don’t fit into friendship groups. They may try so hard to fit in, that they are seen as aggressive. It’s so hard for them.
“But when they are with us we encourage them to talk about what they love, rather than the negative things. They can dance, sing and act and have that feeling of a ‘second family’ here, even if outside they may feel like they don’t belong. We can reduce that feeling of isolation, raise their self-esteem and make them smile.”
Follow Young Minds Together on Facebook.
The organisation is currently looking for a venue for when face-to-face sessions can resume postCovid. During lockdown they have kept girls engaged online through dance sessions on Zoom, with the girls set ‘homework’ to create their own dances at home and share them via video on WhatsApp. Staff have also done one-to-one welfare checks.
Building up solid relationships when girls first join the organisation takes time. Sithule explains: “It can be quite a difficult job because first of all you have to build the trust between you and the young person in order for them to feel they can come and talk to you about those things they’re going through.
“We welcome them into our group as dancers and singers, then gradually through the sessions, we have a chat, encourage and use words like ‘you are important’. Slowly they start coming to us one-to-one, and we build their confidence bit by bit. It takes time and patience.
"You can see when a young person doesn’t look right or isn’t feeling well in themselves. It’s often related to racism or discrimination they have suffered at school or in the community. It’s sometimes difficult for them to make friends. They may feel like they don’t fit into friendship groups. They may try so hard to fit in, that they are seen as aggressive. It’s so hard for them.
“But when they are with us we encourage them to talk about what they love, rather than the negative things. They can dance, sing and act and have that feeling of a ‘second family’ here, even if outside they may feel like they don’t belong. We can reduce that feeling of isolation, raise their self-esteem and make them smile.”
Follow Young Minds Together on Facebook.
