Community
Ethnoheritage Project
Traditional Medicine and spiritual healing.
What is the aim of the project?
The project will explore the history of
Traditional Medicine and Spiritual Healing (TM&SH) practices, knowledge and
beliefs within the African Communities in the London Borough of Enfield from
1950s to present.
Who are involved in the project?
10 young people supported by experienced researchers
will take the lead on researching, interviewing and recording TM&SH oral
histories and exploring their contribution to the community in order to share
them with the wider community.
What young people will do?
·
Researching,
interviewing and recording TM&SH oral histories
· Publicising
the project, providing administration support, organising and attending
the exhibition
·
Undertake
10 oral open-ended interviews of at least 30-45 minutes
·
Carry
out online search and in libraries on the background information about the
history, uses and practices of TM&SH in UK.
· Visit
Kew Botanical Gardens to research and document of medicinal plants that are
used in TM&SH. Young people will also learn about the current research
being undertaken on medicinal plants by Kew Botanical Gardens. They will
collect the information about medical and scientific (botanical)
characteristics and uses of the plants as raw material used by African
communities in TM&SH.
· Participating
in two day training in oral history techniques, archive management and
exhibition development. Training will be provided by an expert from the Oral
History Society.
How young people would benefit from the project:
· Young
people will gain skills in oral history research (e.g. interviews and in using research
equipment)
· Increased
academic and employability skills
· Gain transferrable to a range of employment occupations
(e.g. problem-solving, analysis and interpretation of data, IT, interview techniques, and social and communication
skills).
· Be
aware of the research carried out by Kew Botanical Gardens in relation
to traditional medicine and medicinal plants
· Young people get a certificate for their voluntary work
How young people volunteers will be supported?
· Support,
guidance and training will be provide to young people by experts about how to carry out the research, analysis, conducting
interviews, summarising and transcription of interviews
· Volunteer
expenses will be provided including reimbursement of transport fees and lunch.
Where the research will take place?
The project takes place in London Borough of Enfield.
The interviews will take place in homes, community centre, Libraries or other
places preferred by interviewees.
What the training will cover?
·
Oral
history research planning and preparation, oral history interviewing techniques
·
Archive
organisation, archive digitisation, exhibition development and planning skills,
· Review
of the role and work of local and national heritage organisations, the social
meaning and value of local history and heritage,
·
Learning
how to conduct and preserve an oral history project, etc.
What the project will the project archive?
·
An
online (blog) and CD of archive information (transcripts) and an exhibition.
· Interview
transcripts a will be recorded on CD and displayed on exhibition panels
together with pictures showing the associated plants used in TM&SH
· Archival
research (online and in libraries) to collect background information about the
history, uses and practices of traditional medicine and spiritual healing in
the UK.
· A
project blog will be created to record and provide information on the project
outcomes.
For more information,
please contact:
Diversity
Living Services
57
The Market Square
Edmonton
Green, London
N9
0TZ
Tel:
02088036161
Note: This project is supported by Heritage Lottery Fund.
