Elliot faces prejudice and challenge every day. But he has a huge heart and his first thought is always for others. siLENT is supporting him and his fellow students with learning difficulties at St John Vianney SEN school. They are dedicating themselves to helping refugee families seeking a new home in Manchester.
Elliot and the other pupils who have built an allotment from scratch and are tending it weekly. Not only are the young people growing together, the vegetables they are growing are being donated to refugees and asylum seekers in their local area. The aim of the siLENT funded project is simple: to help those who are experiencing poverty to feel empowered. They grow and tend to the food, and they have met with some of the refugee families. The young people also hope that the project will inspire more people to see the need to care for the earth and see how small spaces can be a hub of growing activity!
Elliot says “I love working with and meeting with the families. I love to support other people and motivate them when they really need it. I am a motivator.” The group have very high standards for those involved, expecting everyone in the team to be motivated, kind, respectful and compassionate.
Julie, the school chaplain, adds: “Everything the group say or does comes from the heart. They face their own struggles every day, but they want to do so much more to help others.” We aim to build the self-esteem of both the young people and the families they support. There is real integration through the project.”
Fr Odenigbo, a Spiritan priest and part of REVIVE (the project working with the families) says “We thank St John Vianney’s for stepping forward and helping REVIVE. They go a long way to support the refugees and asylum seekers we have in our midst. Their impact has been amazing, and their produce from the allotment goes a long way in reducing the hardship our service users go through.”
One of those supported said: “I want to extend my gratitude to the young people for the food. It`s amazing. We really appreciate it and hopefully one day we can re-pay the favour”.
In 2019 St John Vianney’s Chaplaincy and CARITAS Team became recipients for the Cardinal Hume Award at the Celebrating Young People Awards. Million Minutes is proud to support St John Vianney’s who are empowering young people like Elliot to make a real change in their communities.
siLENT: Invest in young people, Change the world.