Features

Kids film club comes to Grow Tottenham

25 July 2022
3 Min Read

A new summer school is encouraging young people to think critically, writes organiser Chloe Ruthven
By Chloe Ruthven

Women from the community meet at Grow Tottenham
Women from the community meet at Grow Tottenham

Two summers ago, during the height of the first lock-down and in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, a group of Haringey residents met weekly on the grass of Lordship Recreation Ground. Overlooking Broadwater Farm Estate, it is a place of historical and ongoing resistance to racism and police brutality. The aim of our meetings was to discuss racism, and specifically to hear about the experiences of Black Tottenham folks. We were young and old, from all races, classes, cultural heritages and beliefs. It was one of the most enlightening experiences that many of us had encountered, and perhaps one of the most accidentally radical spaces I and many others had partaken in. The friendships and projects that came out of that summer are testimony to this. 

Rose Dakuo and Emma Djilali were two people I met there. We quickly formed a community organisation – Homegrown in Tottenham – based on our shared commitment to serve the area’s Black community, and our combined years of experience working with young people. 

Rose, of West African heritage, has been running community projects in Tottenham for decades. Under the name of Language Fun Club, she taught languages and cookery skills, providing a community hub for children and families to support one another while making food. 

Emma, of Algerian-Canadian heritage, is a youth worker who most recently provided support to young people being criminalised in north London. Meanwhile I am a white Londoner, and have been employed as a pastoral teacher since 2000. Through my work, I teach critical literacy and emotional intelligence to children who are all too often labelled ‘unteachable’. 

This summer, we are running a six week pop-up school for children aged 8–17. Students will be encouraged to explore the world around them and discuss the most pressing issues in their lives – something that the SATs and GCSE-focussed curriculums are failing to provide in schools. 

Included in our critical literacy curriculum is a film club (facilitated by Emma and guest teacher Damilola Lemomu), during which we will screen iconic coming-of-age films about race, gender and class. This will be followed by student-led discussion groups. Also included are African and Caribbean history classes (facilitated by Orsod Malik), in which we will ask students to explore and share their own familial histories and traditions, as well as cooking lessons (facilitated by Rose) through which students will learn about their heritage through the food preparation. 

The pop-up school will take place every Saturday from 23rd July through to 27th August, from 11am–5pm. Students will also be provided with lunch and two hours of maths and English tuition. 

We are also seeking volunteers with a variety of skill sets and interests, whether you would like to teach, assist with cooking, perform your art form or co-facilitate a workshop. Ideally you would be available for 5–6 hours every 1 or 2 weeks, and have some experience working with young people and vulnerable adults. 

For information about the pop-up school,

Call Emma on +44 7468 385964 or Rose +44 7940 574134

If you are interested in volunteering

Email [email protected]

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