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Care leavers tell stories in 'pain into power' art

Kaya Black
BBC News, Manchester
BBC Four people smiling, one black man with a red beaded necklace, black hat and a yellow measuring tape around his neck. A white, blonde woman with glasses is to his right. Next to her is another white woman,who has plaited red hair. One the right there is an Asian woman with long, dark, wavy hair.BBC
Katende (left) and Jessie (middle right) led workshops in Manchester and Uganda teaching skills in screen printing, appliqué and poetry

Young people who grew up in care have been invited to turn their "pain into power" by creating art that describes their lived experiences.

The Woven Worlds project has delivered free art workshops to two groups - young people in Manchester who have spent time in care, and survivors of war in Kitgum, northern Uganda.

Fashion designer Jessie Stringer-Fewtrill, who grew up in care, obtained funding from the British Council to deliver the workshops with a Ugandan friend.

"I used art and words as a form of self expression, like creative therapy," said Miss Stringer-Fewtrill, who added that she loved to see the workshops' participants benefiting in the same way.

She said she hoped the sessions would help encourage care leavers to recognise that coming from a place of hardship is "something to be celebrated".

Artwork created in the workshops will be used for a fashion collection made from sustainable materials.

Miss Stringer-Fewtrill said being involved in the project had been "really special" since, for many years, she did not talk about her time in the care sector.

Sharing her own "lived experiences" had created a safe space where people could talk openly and express themselves, she said.

"I always say 'pain into power', so it's about channelling that energy and being powerful together," explained Miss Stringer-Fewtrill.

"Even though you've come from hardship, it's like 'Yeah, I've come out of that hardship and that's something to be celebrated'."

A young, black man, wearing a black cap and a grey T shirt with a red beaded necklace on and a yellow and red striped bracelet. He has a yellow measuring tape wrapped around his neck, and is cutting a piece of grey, tie-dyed fabric with a pair of orange scissors. He is standing at a table with other bits of fabric placed across it.
Katende Godfrey learned his fashion designing skills from tailors in Uganda

Katende Godfrey, who works for Ugandan brand IGC Fashion, co-led the Woven Worlds project.

He delivered workshops in Uganda to a community impacted by civil war.

Those taking part in the sessions will also have their work featured in a fashion collection.

He said working with the community had been "challenging" and "impactful".

"What we have in this collection is beyond people's imagination," said Mr Godfrey.

Mr Godfrey and Miss Stringer-Fewtrill met in Uganda five years ago and said they both knew they wanted to work together because of their aligned interests.

Only this year, however, did they find the time to develop ideas and apply for funding.

They were "elated" to subsequently be awarded the International Collaboration Grant by the British Council, which aims to promote "peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide".

Miss Stringer-Fewtrill said both she and Mr Godfrey cared about "community impact, upskilling, and raising awareness about the effects of fast fashion".

Working on the project also gave Mr Godfrey a chance to visit the UK for the first time, and learn new artistic techniques, like naturally dying textiles.

A split screen image of two young women. On the left is a white woman, smiling, wearing glasses with shoulder length, dark blonde hair. On the right there is another woman smiling. She has long, dark wavy hair.
Megan (left) and Humaira (right) said they enjoyed the chance to express themselves with people from a similar background

Megan, 21, and 19-year-old Humaira attended the workshops in Manchester.

"At times it can be isolating in the care system," explained Megan, adding that the project had allowed her to meet people from similar backgrounds.

Both said they had learned about the importance of self-expression and how to positively channel their emotions into something creative.

"Care leavers have such unique experiences and it's important to create something from that," said Humaira.

The final fashion collection will be revealed in September

Mr Godfrey said he hoped it would further teach and encourage people "to have conversations before they judge".