By fay.young on March 11, 2010
Ola Kasprzak with Malcolm Chisholm
Politicians, preoccupied with political rivalry, can forget the most important thing – the needs of people they represent
Read Ola Kasprzak’s fascinating and forthright report of her experience of shadowing two politicians in the Scottish Parliament and City of Edinburgh Council – she says they changed her negative opinion of [...]
Posted in Journal of the week, Opening Doors 2009, Swietlica, women in politics
By fay.young on November 26, 2009
Grassroots at Redbraes during Edinburgh Festival 2008
On a stormy winter night it’s great to get a blast of summer. The picture shows the fantastic Grassroots Theatre Company when they visited Redbraes community garden in warmer weather. Now they are back for another tour of Scotland with what sounds like perfect timing for the St [...]
Posted in Community art dance theatre and music, Swietlica
By fay.young on August 28, 2009
We missed the unveiling of the Burns Banner at the start of the Fringe but couldn’t resist going down to Market Street this week to try to spot the letters painted by Leith groups. See if you can pick out Ola Kasprzak’s contribution to the giant mural.
Posted in Community art dance theatre and music, public art, Swietlica
By fay.young on July 31, 2009
Give me an ‘n’, give me a ‘y’, give me another ‘n’… Ok, this is going to take too long. Add up all the letters produced by community groups all round Scotland and it spells two verses of the Burns poem A Man’s a Man for A’ That which will be unfurled as a banner [...]
Posted in africa centre, Community art dance theatre and music, Swietlica
By fay.young on May 22, 2009
It is not easy for world musicians to enter Britain. So Scotland is lucky to be hearing the remarkable music of the Sufi band that survived the Taliban – and overcame obstacles to getting a visa. And we are luckier still to get the chance to hear them on our own doorstep. Thanks to Swietlica, [...]
Posted in Community art dance theatre and music, music, Swietlica
By fay.young on November 12, 2008
At 5pm on Monday night it’s already dark outside but inside the community centre it is warm and welcoming. There are cups of tea and plates loaded with cakes. Children play, mothers chat. Conversations alternate between two languages and I soon discover that while some people come here to improve their English others drop [...]
Posted in Swietlica
By fay.young on January 8, 2008
‘This is the best ice-breaker I have ever seen.’
On a fairly bleak January morning it’s cheering to take a quick look back to a heartwarming December night when for a few hours Craighall Community Centre in Leith gave a glimpse of a Polish family Christmas with the traditional Wigilia (night before Christmas) celebration. Including a [...]
Posted in Swietlica
