Galleries from Our programmes
With Derry’s Halloween celebrations in full swing outside, on the second floor of the Embassy Building a crowd was gathering for a very different reason.
Thursday October 29 saw the official opening to the public of The People’s Café, marking the end of a journey that began ten years earlier.
Under the theme of ‘Our Shared Home’, individuals and families got together to hear about food, talk about food and most importantly, to eat lots of great food!
Among the contributors to a discussion about ‘intangible heritage’ were former Director of The National Lottery Heritage Fund Dr Paul Mullan, hotelier Issam Horshi, Dr Samantha Obom, Dr Katy Radford and Professor Philip McDermott.
They talked about the importance of food and how it is a unifying force in the sense that everyone, regardless of colour, creed or social standing, has to eat.
Following their colourful and varied contributions, it was the turn of the People’s Café team to do their thing.
And they did it in style with dishes from all over the world including Nigeria, Iran, Ireland, Jordan and Sudan served to a hungry audience.
The People’s Café is now officially open and our CEO Lilian Seenoi Barr probably put it best when she said: “Ten years in the making. One shared home. A world of flavours. Endless possibilities.”
STORM Boelo failed to dampen the appetite for conversation and learning at North West Migrants Forum on October 24.
With the wind howling down Strand Road, people gathered in the People’s Café for what was the penultimate event on the Forum’s 2026 Black History Month schedule.
‘Learning From History, Shaping the Future: Education, Racial Equality and International Exchange’ brought academic voices together to explore what communities can learn from one another, how experiences from different places can inform local approaches and opportunities for future international collaboration, learning and exchange.
Among the guest speakers were Dr Imani Strong, Queen’s University Professor Dina Belluigi, Ulster University Professor Philip McDermott, Dementia & Elderly Care Nurse Specialist Jesse Alozie and Policy Officer with the African, Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI) Takura Makoni.
The afternoon of discussion was followed by dinner cooked by North West Migrants Forum volunteers.
The event fitted neatly into two of the Forum’s projects – The Intercultural Cross-border Inclusion Programme (ICIP), supported by PEACEPLUS managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the National Lottery Heritage Fund
On October 23 the North West Migrants Forum headed for Belfast’s historic Stormont Castle for an evening dedicated to Honouring Our Communities.
Through culture, food, music and conversation, Honouring Our Communities brought together communities, allies, organisations and public representatives to celebrate achievement, creativity, leadership and community contribution.
At its heart was the importance of recognition – recognising the journeys people have made, the contribution they continue to make and the value of creating spaces where everyone can participate, share their culture and feel a sense of belonging.
On the night eight individuals were invited to the stage to receive unique citations highlighting their work and their contributions to Irish society:
• Ebun Joseph
• Beverly Simpson
• David Maganda
• Joe Loughnane
• Helen Ogbu
• James Uhomoibhi
• Suleiman Abdulahi
• Tommy McCarthy
Not in attendance and therefore unable to receive their citation was Uruemu Adejinmi.
The event itself was a huge success with close to 100 people in attendance. Almost as central to the evening as those being honoured was the food, with dishes from nine different countries on offer.
The North West Migrants Forum wishes to put on record its sincere thanks to everyone who made the journey to Stormont and the staff and catering team who made it an even more special gathering.
Black History Summit 2026 took place in Belfast’s Ulster Museum on October 23 under the banner of ‘Learning Together: Knowledge Changes Everything’.
With a big emphasis on the growing campaign to have Black history embedded in the everyday learning of students in Northern Ireland, it was four teenagers who made it one of our most memorable Summits yet.
TJ, Latifa, Jada and Cara’s powerful remarks and keen insights brought the audience to their feet and in one or two cases, to tears.
Jada, whose mother Beverly hails from Guyana, told the Summit how one teacher had told her they didn’t feel Black History Month was important enough to bring into the classroom.
“The curriculum does not include us whatsoever,” said the Foyle College student.
Cara, who attends St Ronan’s College in Lurgan, also stressed her desire for more balanced learning.
“I’ve never sat in a history lesson feeling unseen and no child should ever have to sit in a classroom and feel that their history doesn’t matter.
“Introducing Black history into teaching would lead to greater respect. It would allow people to really look at what is happening in the world.”
TJ, a student at St Columb’s College in Derry, has been part of the drive to have Black history added to the learning plan for the past six years.
He said to continually omit it from the curriculum was to deny pupils a full view of world history.
Latifa, whose parents moved to Derry after war broke out in their native Sudan, said there was an onus on those who set the curriculum to start recognising Northern Ireland’s growing multiculturalism.
Keynote speaker for the Summit was Ulster University Professor James Uhomoibhi. He said Black History Month was not just about remembering the past but about understanding the present and shaping the future.
Professor Uhomoibhi also highlighted the contribution Black people and Black communities have made globally yet how many of these scholars, inventors, sportspeople, entertainers and artists remain invisible.
Adding their voices to the call for Black history to be added to the daily teaching plan were researcher Dr Naomi Green and founder of the Merseyside Alliance for Racial Equality Chantelle Lunt.
History teacher and President of the National Education Union NI Charlotte Carson also reiterated her opinion that there was a huge appetite among educators for a more diverse curriculum.
It was left to Dr Livingstone Thompson to reflect on the fascinating day of discussion and to outline what steps should be taken next by those in government in terms of introducing Black history to the educational curriculum.
The Summit was part of our Black Heritage in NI: Hidden History project, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
THE second big event on the Migrants Forum’s Black History Month calendar was a conference titled ‘Beyond Division: Leadership, Truth and Belonging in an Age of Online Hate’.
Held in The People’s Café on October 22, the conference brought together several high profile figures who know all too well what it is like to suffer online abuse.
Among the panellists were Dr Ebun Joseph, anti-Brexit campaigner and activist Femi Oluwole, Chief Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission Alyson Kilpatrick, Michael McAvoy of the Department of Justice, Shannon Doherty of the Committee on the Administration of Justice and playwright and healthcare worker Elly Odhiambo.
Together they examined the growing impact of online racism, misinformation and intimidation on Black and minoritised communities.
Drawing on regional, national and international perspectives and lived experience, the panellists and contributors explored leadership and representation, institutional responsibility, community solidarity and practical policy responses.
The overall aim of the conference was to spark a move from conversation to action by identifying practical recommendations for policy, institutional practice and cross-border cooperation.
The afternoon of discussion was followed by lunch served in the newly opened People’s Café.
THE North West Migrants Forum’s Black History Month programme formally kicked off on October 16 with a conference in Belfast’s Indian Community Centre.
Titled ‘From Commitment to Action: Building Fairer and More Inclusive Public Institutions’ the event brought together representatives from government, policing, faith communities, the legal sector, policy and the arts to explore how public institutions can build greater trust and belonging.
The conference was opened by Shannon Doherty of the Committee on the Administration of Justice who invited her colleague, CAJ’s Senior Solicitor Úna Boyd to the stage.
After Úna set the context for the day’s proceedings, she joined a discussion panel alongside Chair of the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri and Policy Officer with the African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland (ACSONI), Takura Makoni.
The panellists explored a wide range of issues including why institutions sometimes struggle to translate good intentions into measurable outcomes and what meaningful accountability look like when commitments are not delivered.
Moderating the panel was NWMF Board member Sean Awonuga.
Keynote speaker for the day was Keith Fraser who has served in many roles, including as Chair of the Youth Justice Board, a member of the Criminal Justice Board, former UK Commissioner on Race and Ethnic Disparities and in senior operational roles with the West Midlands Police and the Metropolitan Police Service.
Following Keith’s contribution, it was the turn of the second panel comprising the PSNI’s Hate Crime Lead Superintendent Joanne Gibson, Keith Fraser and Senior Policy Manager with the NI Equality Commission, Paul Noonan.
The final panel of the day brought together representatives from the Home Office, Takura Makoni, Agrippa Njanina of National Museums NI and award-winning artist Valda Jackson.
Valda Jackson spoke passionately about her work and how Black history and the legacies of empire continue to influence what she creates.
On hand to reflect on the day of discussion and to bring the conference to a close was author Jessie Alozie.
He described all contributions as “powerful” and said such conversations could only be had when people sit down, respect each other and share their views.
Jessie added, “Commitment is like a seed and our actions are the harvest. Let us reap the harvest by now moving from commitment to action.”
Summer Club 2026 will go down as our most innovative and multi-cultural yet.In its fourth year we decided to invite expressions of interest from young people wishing to help roll out the summer programme. We received dozens of applications which we had to whittle down to six.
The lucky six (under the guidance of youth leader Cara Gilliland) were then handed the Summer Club and told to take forward – organising everything from the activities to the venues to the menus.
And what a success it turned out to be.
Over six weeks, from July 7 to August 13, almost 60 children enjoyed activities including cookery, wall climbing, circus skills, trips to the bowling alley and cinema and outdoor excursions to Brooke Park and Lake Kilrea. There was also a greater cultural element to the programme than in previous years thanks to facilitators like Doaa Ahmed who brought a distinctly Palestinian vibe to the North West Migrants Forum and Donna Nolongu whose Ugandan food and dancing went down a storm.
What added to the uniqueness of Summer Club 2026 was our intercultural café which opened just in time for the school break. It allowed participants to have their own space without having to worry about interrupting the day-to-day running of the Migrants Forum.
The end of the six weeks was marked with a presentation night when certificates and awards were handed out to every single young person who took part, our way of congratulating them on their energy, enthusiasm and approach to each day they were with us.
Once again we want to thank our principal funder, the Co-Op Foundation, without whom there would be no Summer Club. And we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who participated, who volunteered and who delivered a brilliant programme.
Also a word of thanks to the parents who entrusted their children to us. It is a duty we never take for granted.
Onward to Summer Club 2027!
KEEPING within the spirit of ‘doing things differently this year’, we marked the end of our Summer Club with a special presentation evening.
On Friday August 14 around 100 parents and children gathered in our ‘People’s Café’ to see certificates handed out to every child who participated in Summer Club 2026.
Awards, handcrafted by Martin Gallen of Banba Design, were presented across more than two dozen categories, including Best Listener, Chief Chef and Great Encourager.
The recipients of these awards were chosen by their peers and by parents who voted through a registration process set up by NWMF.
There were lots of smiles, hugs and high fives as each award winner was called to collect their prize.
It was an immensely fun event with entertainment from the tireless Donna Nalongo who had everyone on their feet for a Ugandan dance and singsong.
There were also foods from Morocco, Sudan and Nigeria with hardly a bite left after everyone had filled their plates.
Well done to everyone who participated in Summer Club 2026, we hope you had as good a time as we did.
See you all next year!
We returned to Derry’s Brooke Park on July 18 for our annual Family Fun Day.
And what it a day it turned out to be!
The sun did its best for us, fighting its way through the clouds to make intermittent appearances.
The crowds had no such problems, turning out and shining in their hundreds to make it another truly memorable afternoon.
From 1pm to 4pm families, individuals and children arrived to enjoy bouncy castles, arts and crafts and face painting. Parky the Magician was also back with his special brand of chicanery and laughs while In Your Space Circus joined us to teach young people an array of colourful skills.
And of course, it wouldn’t have been a Family Fun Day without burgers and hot dogs on the barbecue.
Everyone had a blast, showing once again what can be achieved when people come together with a collective goal – to relax, chat and set their worries aside, for a few hours at least.
June 20 2026 was a historic day for the North West Migrants Forum, the day we opened the doors to our Intercultural Café.
Supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the café is designed as a place where people seeking asylum, those granted international protection, migrant and diaspora communities and those from racialised minoritised backgrounds can come together and engage with one another and the broader community.
As well as a comfortable meeting place, the café boasts laundry facilities and a fully operational training kitchen designed to equip individuals with the skills to volunteer in the community and potentially secure employment in the hospitality industry.
The launch was attended by around 60 people, including Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Grace Uí Niallais. Chief Commissioner of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Geraldine McGahey, was also in the room, as was Chief Executive of Derry and Strabane Council, John Kelpie. Representatives from several key statutory agencies also took time out of their Saturday mornings to be there.
Addressing those gathered, our Chief Executive, Lilian Seenoi Barr, said, “The People’s Café is open to all residents of Derry City and Strabane District and beyond. It is not limited to racially minoritised communities.
“We will be holding a range of thematic events throughout the year and everyone is welcome to attend. These events will provide opportunities for residents to meet, connect with and learn from racially minoritised communities, helping to build stronger relationships, encourage dialogue and promote greater understanding across communities.”
Mrs Barr added that her aim has always been to promote the positive contributions migrants make to society when given the chance to thrive. In that respect, the café is a “dream come true”.
“Hopefully The People’s Café will showcase how much migrants have to give, economically, socially and culturally. And hopefully it will underscore the enormous value they bring when given the opportunity to prosper.
Following her arrival in Derry on May 29 2026, Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw was greeted by Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Ruaíri McHugh who bestowed on her a mayoral gift. From the Mayor’s Parlour, Professor Crenshaw walked the short distance to North West Migrants Forum where more than a dozen women gathered to discuss issues such as violence against women, intersectionality and critical race theory. Lunch was also provided with foods from Iran and Sudan being served.
Derry’s Guildhall was packed to capacity on Friday evening, May 29, for a visit by eminent American civil rights scholar Kimberlé Crenshaw.
Professor Crenshaw added the city to her European book tour following an invitation by North West Migrants Chief Executive Lilian Seenoi Barr.
The two women struck up a friendship during a visit in 2024 by Councillor Barr to the USA as part of her year as Mayor of Derry and Strabane.
Kimberlé Crenshaw, a distinguished professor of law at both UCLA School of Law in California and Columbia Law School in New York, is one of the most influential thinkers in America.
Following the publication of Backtalker, Ms Crenshaw’s hotly anticipated memoir, she embarked on an American and then European tour with engagements in France, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark and Derry.
Glimpses from awards nights, youth residencies and solidarity actions.
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