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African Challenge Scotland visit Parliament as MSP raises congratulatory motion

African Challenge Scotland (ACS) visited the Scottish Parliament in early December after a local MSP raised a parliamentary motion to praise the excellent work of the group.

On 10th December 2016 over twenty people, including members of ACS, young members of ACS and ng representatives, took the trip up to Edinburgh to visit Holyrood.

Bob Doris SNP MSP for Maryhill and Springburn arranged the visit and kindly hosted a discussion session in recognition of the innovative Work Experience Programme African Challenge Scotland created and delivered in partnership with ng homes.

It was down to the Work Experience Programme’s success that Bob Doris MSP raised a Parliamentary Motion congratulating African Challenge Scotland and ng homes.

Robert Tamburrini, CEO at ng homes said “The visit was very interesting and it was great to have our partnership working and recognised in this way. We are delighted to support African Challenge Scotland with the excellent work that they do in the North Glasgow community. The Work Experience Programme was a great success and we will be working closely together to create further opportunities for young people in the future.”

ACS also produced an outcomes report for the visit. This documented the results from their community consultations and the work experience programme completed by the young people from ACS at ng homes in 2016. The report was then presented to Mr Doris and his fellow MSPs from the Parliament.

The presentation and discussion which followed lasted for almost two hours and provided ACS with the opportunity to discuss the great work that they are doing in the community, in particular looking at community integration. The session also explored actions and practical proposals to address the various recommendations that ACS have put forward to the Scottish Government and Glasgow City Council for the benefit and integration of the young people in North Glasgow

The Parliamentary visit was a passionate, enlightening and very positive experience for everyone who took part, and offered the opportunity to showcase the real time impact of integration in our community.

Patrick Medjo, one of those who took part, said: “The work that African Challenge Scotland does in our communities is very interesting and inspiring. I would like to congratulate African Challenge Scotland and also encourage them to continue bringing forward innovative ideas and creating opportunities for our children and young people”.

Ng homes are delighted to work with ACS to help offer opportunities within minority communities and continue our work in community development and integration.

Qugwuanyi Stephen Okwudili, African Challenge Scotland Project Manager said “the visit was informative and inspiring. It was my first time to the Scottish Parliament and I like the idea of African Challenge Scotland helping young people from the underrepresented community.”

Ronier Deumeni, African Challenge Scotland said “ACS is committed to working for the benefit of the young people and families from the Black, Asian and Ethnic Minorities communities in North Glasgow. We will continue to work closely with our partner organisations and local elected members of parliament and Glasgow City Council to help our young people and guide them to be successful and well integrated citizens. We thank Bob Doris MSP for Maryhill and Springburn and our local partner ng homes for their continued support”.

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