Wednesday 19th June 2024
Napier Drop-In Centre hosted two successful collaborations with The Body as Data Project, and Custom Food Labs Locavore Garden. We began the day with art and movement, creating a participatory artwork where people covered a large scroll with footprints. The artwork started in Margate and has made its way around the coast to Folkestone marking the presence of refugee people along the imagined and actual borders of our coastline.
When the artwork was completed, Charmaine from Locavore set up tables so the participants could help prep lunch. We enjoyed a gorgeous carrot and coriander soup made with a mixture of ingredients including herbs gleaned from the nearby Sandgate Community Garden. There was quite a bit of competitive chopping going on which meant veg prep was the quickest we’ve ever seen! We ate the soup with bread donated by Docker Bakery and relaxed with card games. We also learned that Uno can be played with a standard set of playing cards, who knew?
Thursday 20th June 2024
On Thursday we accompanied The Body As Data Project to the Warren with a group of about 12 men from Napier Barracks to continue the artwork. Without prompting, the men found lumps of chalk fallen from the cliffs and began to draw a line across the concrete between the apron and the Warren beach. When they ran out of concrete they placed stones into a line, continuing almost until they reached the beach. It was a beautiful moment of organic creativity. We finished with a picnic on Jock’s Pitch overlooking the bay.
Saturday 22nd June 2024
On Saturday two Iranian musicians from Napier Barracks performed for a monthly social group from the congregation of St Paul’s Church. Mohammad sang beautiful Iranian folk songs in Farsi accompanied by the very talented Ali on the grand piano. The audience were visibly moved by the music and we had some wonderful feedback following the performance. We were also delighted to receive £170 in donations for the Drop-In which will go towards our ongoing projects with refugees from Napier.
Thank you to everyone who took part this week: the residents of Napier Barracks; the volunteers; the congregation of St Paul's Church; Farida, Sid, and Josie from The Body as Data Project; Charmaine from Locavore Community Garden; and to everyone who came out in support of refugees. It was an uplifting and inspiring week.
