Mohila Ogrojatra: Our Stories of Change
Corra Foundation & Mohila Ogrojatra
Corra has worked alongside Mohila Ogrojatra – a Bengali women’s group based in Edinburgh – since 2020. Starting as a small support group of six women who met online during lockdown, they now have 60 members, collectively growing in friendship and confidence, having made huge achievements along the way. Their story is an example of the importance of small, flexible grant funding for unconstituted groups and the positive impact this can have.
Mohila Ogrojatra was funded from The Equity Programme, a fund initiated by Stewart Investors who donated £150,000 to Corra Foundation to be distributed to communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
Mohila Ogrojatra: Our Stories of Change
“Mohila Ogrojatra means ‘women moving forward’ in Bengali. As a group we decided this explains who we are, as a group of strong women, as mothers, as sisters, as friends. This is us.”
In 2020, at the cusp of the coronavirus pandemic, and as the world went into lockdown, Ishrat Measom found herself supporting Bengali families in Edinburgh. On speaking to many Bengali women, some who were scared and isolated with the uncertainty surrounding them and their families, the idea of a Bengali Women’s Group was formed. Ishrat reached out to a few women she knew to arrange an online meet-up. Corra supported the women to initially get online with digital devices and access to the internet and also enjoyed joining in with the weekly sessions. As lockdown continued, a new community started to grow week by week, as more women joined the calls and word spread about a new women’s group.
“During the pandemic I was home alone with the children, and I was bored and depressed. When I joined Mohila Ogrojatra, I felt very good and relieved, as through the group I met lots of women and made new friends. I waited all week to meet the group online, that’s how much I looked forward to it.” Group member
Ishrat tells us a bit more about Mohila Ogrojatra,
“Our members come with a whole host of things going on – maybe they are taking care of someone at home, are busy with young children or have been facing health problems for a long time. They find themselves isolated and can’t go out due to language barriers or not knowing many people here due to being new to the country. Loneliness, depression and mental health issues can result out of this. Sadly, some women come to us having experienced violence and domestic abuse. For all these reasons, beyond covid lockdowns, they may not be able to access groups or services in person, so they join us online.”
A Community led programme
Working alongside Corra colleagues, Mohila Ogrojatra developed a calendar of activities, including regular online English classes twice a week, computer and IT classes, health advice sessions, sewing classes and various educational courses and social outings shaped by what the women want to focus on. Continuing to meet each week, the group has grown from the initial six members to sixty women being involved today.
As the group facilitator, Ishrat has also taken part in courses for her professional development, including financial management and project management courses.
Belonging and friendship
Through these regular meetings both online and in person, friendships have blossomed between the women and their children, providing a real sense of community and belonging. In many cases this has helped members – some new to the country and with no prior social network – to come together. From this foundation of community, confidence has continued to grow. The group have explored new places in and around Edinburgh and sometimes further afield like their recent trip to Glasgow.
“I was in the dark and Mohila Ogrojatra showed me the light in my life. I now have the strength, confidence, and skills to manage my everyday life.” Group member
Day trips and social meet-ups
“Myself and many of the other ladies from the group have been living in Edinburgh for a long time but we are unfamiliar with a lot of places to visit and see. It was my first time on a tour bus, but thanks to this opportunity, I sat on the open top bus, put on my headphones and just enjoyed the talk as we went past each historic place…” Group member
For many of the women, these trips were the first time they had explored the city they lived in. They continue to meet, explore Scotland and make connections and new memories with their families and each other – a recent trip to Glasgow’s Riverside Museum being a highlight.
Skills, learning & achievements
Building on this confidence and independence, many of the women have taken on new educational and learning opportunities together, making huge achievements.
Some of the group’s highlights are:
Food hygiene course: 12 women have passed this course and further developed their passion and skill for cooking. They gained a professional food hygiene certificate with some women now planning on setting up their own business.
Online English classes have been beneficial for the women around their family and childcare responsibilities and learning with friends has made this more accessible. Improving English has increased confidence and helped with children’s school appointments and parent’s meetings, doctor appointments and important phone calls.
IT classes have opened up further learning, education and employment opportunities, helping with email, internet search, job searching, applications and online training.
Further education: 12 women are now studying various subjects at college.
Work & business: 4 women have set-up their own online businesses and 11 women are in employment.
Driving lessons: 9 women have passed their driving tests so far!
Citizenship tests: 10 women have passed Life in the UK citizenship tests.
Ishrat tells us, “The main objective of this group is to empower women so that they can stand on their own two feet, help their families and society.”
Racial equity and racial justice are themes fundamental to Corra’s ten-year strategy.
We want to do better in how we work alongside people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities. We want to listen, learn and help amplify people’s voices so Corra, and wider society, can be part of the solution to racial injustice.
We also want to work with other funders to increase the money available for long-term anti-racism and racial justice work in Scotland.