Tess Awoke says being part of an ethnically and culturally diverse ‘brotherhood’ at Big Brother Burngreave in Sheffield has helped give him a sense of identity, connection and purpose.
The 21-year-old, who is of Ethiopian heritage, admits he had “no mentors or role models in my life” when he first started at Big Brother Burngreave, the project run by Reach Up Youth (one of Levelling the Playing Field’s Local Delivery Partners in South Yorkshire) five years ago.
Tess progressed through Big Brother Burngreave’s unique peer mentoring structure, immersed himself in the sport opportunities they offered and is now studying Sports Coaching at Sheffield Hallam University and coaches football and basketball.
He is shortly set to begin Levelling the Playing Field’s mentoring training and will become one of 60 qualified mentors across our network supporting 1,200 mentees at 30 organisations across our network in England and Wales.
As well as all these opportunities, joining Big Brother Burngreave has given Tess a support network and group of friends that will be with him for life. “When we marry, we’ll all be at each other’s weddings – and Safiya is like our mum!” he says.
Safiya is Safiya Saeed, the founder of Reach Up. Their incredible impact is achieved through sport, mentoring, role models and celebrating diversity.
“From my very first session here, the culture is we handshake and hug every time we see each other. It doesn’t matter here where you’re from or what you look like.
“We’re not best friends just because we’re from the same country - we like and respect each other for who we are. We never disrespect each other’s culture. We actually celebrate the independence days of each other’s home nations.
“We’re try to build a brotherhood here, like a family. In one room there may be young people from 10 different countries at any one time. You wouldn’t know where some of them are from and it doesn’t matter. We shake, hug and play.”
Safiya adds: “Diversity and equality is very, very important for us, but it’s not something we demand – it's just there in our community. Sport unites us and we all share the same struggles. We have the same principles, views and goals so that’s also what brings us all together.
“When you’re cooking you have different spices and each spice serves a purpose. We have Iranian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Somalian, Sudanese, Ethiopians...they’re all in the same team and kicking the same ball. Although we speak different languages, we all mimic each other. It's so much fun and we learn from each other.”
Tess chips in: “That’s true. You learn so many things you wouldn’t necessarily learn at school. “I’m from Ethiopia; Safiya is from Somalia – but we understand each other. We’re like family. I can come to Safiya's house and talk to her about anything.
“My whole life revolves around sport and without doing sport through Big Brother Burngreave I would have no connection, no-one to ask or speak to about things that affect me.
“At the same time, I have learned so much from being a leader. Big Brother put so much faith in you and responsibility on your shoulders that you have no other option to step up. It teaches you so much.
“Safiya lectured me about going to university. I definitely wouldn’t be doing much education-wise if it weren’t for her. Right now, I’m close to graduating and I want to become a mentor and coach to encourage young people, especially from my own community. I’m an ambassador now and I want to give back.”