Summer of murals and drama for Norwich pupils
A group of Norwich youngsters have been having such a good time over the summer, that they have spent the whole six weeks at their school – the Open Academy at Heartsease.
The nine-strong group has been painting two giant murals at the Academy, with the help of Mik Richardson, a Norwich based grafitti muralist, as well as taking part in DJ, radio, gang culture and drug workshops, visiting the Garage Theatre to write, rehearse and perform drama and leading a bingo session at a local old people's home.
Organising the group of 12 to 15-year-old Open pupils is new YMCA Norfolk Right Direction key worker Dena Al-Nakeeb, a UEA Graduate in BSc Psychosocial Sciences, who started work with the YMCA Norfolk Schools Team in June.
During term-time she has been assertively mentoring the group, who were identified by the Academy as those who they felt could achieve and aspire to more, given the right level of support.
 She said: “During the school holidays, I deliver a programme that encourages the young people to take part in positive activities which are designed to increase self-esteem, teamwork skills and respect for themselves and others.
“The programme is entirely voluntary and the activities are a healthy mix of community work, educational workshops and visits,” she said.
“We have been working on the giant murals for six weeks,” said Dena, “and the youngsters are so keen that they turn up before I do every morning.
“The young people decided the themes of the murals. One of them is multi-cultural Britain, as they were interested in my background as I am half-Iraqi and a Muslim and have a British passport. They have realized that not all British people are white Anglo-Saxon and they said to me ‘we are all the same even if we have different backgrounds’. The mural has a multi-cultural crowd including sportsmen, musicians and celebrities.”
The second mural has an aspirations and religious theme and includes Muslim, Hindu, Jews and Christian graphics.
“The Right Direction Programme and the support of Dena has made me aspire to gain the qualifications to go to university and really make a difference to my future lifestyle,” said 14-year-old Jonny Hartle.
A parent of one of the youngsters said: "Dena and Craig have both been amazing, my son doesn't usually stick to anything but he has attended nearly every day this summer. My son hasn't been in any trouble over the summer holidays, instead he has been enthusiastic and excited about the project."
YMCA Norfolk's chief executive, Tim Sweeting, commented: “These YMCA programmes are essential for engaging young people in meaningful activities during the holidays, so they can have fun and learn at the same time.”
The young people will receive Norfolk Youth Gold Awards once they complete their work.
Dena is one of four new Right Direction roles within the YMCA Schools Team, taking the total to seven key workers. The other new key workers are Kevin Dynes at Earlham High, Penny Taggart at Watton and Swaffham and Le sley Greenhalgh at Downham Market and Methwold. Dena has also joined Tim Lee and Katie Mann, two YMCA pastoral workers already working within the Open Academy. They both work with young people doing one-to-one and group work tackling a range of issues, such as attendance, bullying and anger management, while raising young people's levels of self-esteem, confidence and resilience. The murals may be auctioned off for charity at the end of the project. If you are interested, please contact Dena at denalnakeeb@googlemail.com
Pictured above are Dena Al-Nakeeb, Mik Richardson and the youngsters with one of their murals at the Open Academy.
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