WODIN receives National Lottery Heritage Funding for the Somo Sisters Oral Histories Project
Women and Digital Inclusion – WODIN is awarded a £38005 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to implement the SoSi Oral Histories Project.
End of August 2022, Women and Digital Inclusion – WODIN received a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £38005 for an exciting heritage project, Somo Sisters – SoSi project, in Liverpool Merseyside. This is possible by money raised by National Lottery players. SoSi project focuses on the recording of Oral Histories from multiple Black women’s cultures in Liverpool. These women originate from African and black backgrounds, and they will be sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly not to be repeated parts of their cultures and their impact on future generations of black communities and their children’s identities.
Supported through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, SoSi is about creating Oral Histories of 10 women from 10 different Pan African and Commonwealth countries. Mapping their journey – How/Why they left Africa, their dreams and expectations, and what parts of their Culture they would like to see adapted in their UK communities, as a means of creating a resource that helps the younger members of our communities appreciate where they come from which could help shape where they are going. This is part of our Liverpool Black Immigrant community’s heritage, a demography that’s under-represented in the Heritage Sector in the North West.
Women and Digital Inclusion – WODIN is a Liverpool-based grassroots organisation that serves Black immigrant women. We offer support, signpost, organise events around digital and social inclusion, and advice as well as act as a safe platform to reduce social exclusion/isolation and digital poverty. Working with heritage professionals from Liverpool Central Library, WODIN SoSi participants will gain a deeper insight into this previously under-researched part of their history, as well as teaching them valuable new digital and communication skills to use in their life or developing their careers.
Commenting on the award, Sylvia Kalungi – WODIN projects lead said:
“We are thrilled to have received this support thanks to National Lottery players and are confident the project will support black migrant women and communities to be active participants in sharing their journeys and rewrite their stories as citizens with pride in their Black and English heritage.”
Louise Sutherland, Head of Engagement, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund added:
“Inclusive heritage is very important to us at The National Lottery Heritage Fund which is why we are proud to support Women and Digital Inclusion with their Somo Sisters project.
Women of Black and African heritage have made a significant contribution to the city of Liverpool in many ways, but their stories are often overlooked and untold. We’re thrilled to be supporting this important project that will acknowledge and share this lesser-known aspect of Liverpool’s heritage and broaden understanding in the wider community, especially for future generations.”
Notes to editors
About Women and Digital Inclusion (WODIN)
Liverpool has a highly transient community of Black Immigrants, many asylum seekers, or simply migrants seeking a new life. Over 60% are women and single mothers, who end up in the most deprived neighbourhoods, in less than desirable housing, isolated, poor, or with no access to digital resources to get connected with the community and/or family. They end up in social Isolation and digital poverty. The gap grows with a lack of employment and income to meet their basic needs, including subsistent needs like food. Black women also continue to be underrepresented in the employment and enterprise space.
WODIN’s purpose and hope is to change the above narrative via our activities, events, programs, and message. Our mission is to simplify access to digital resources and tools that are essential for day-to-day living and also simplify the usage of digital resources for Black African immigrant women and their families in Liverpool UK.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £43 billion for projects and more than 635,000 grants have been awarded across the UK. More than £30 million raised each week goes to good causes across the UK.
Further information
For further information, images and interviews please contact Mrs. Sylvia Kalungi at Women and Digital Inclusion (WODIN) at 07879053346 and/or email: wodinliverpool@gmail.com
