Breaking Barriers
A Christmas Celebration in Derry/Londonderry
In partnership with Choice Housing, North-West Youth Services and the African Caribbean Network, the Rio Ferdinand Foundation were delighted to host a Christmas Celebration on Saturday, December 14, 2024. The festive community event is part of a partnership commitment to empowering communities through diverse and inclusive programmes.
Saturday’s community event was open to all, a celebration of the shared cultural fabric of the city; it was an artistic showcase of music, dance, and cuisine, broadening cultural understanding and appreciation and, significantly, a celebration of community spirit and togetherness.
The festive celebration is part of a community cohesion programme of work piloted by Choice Housing and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation that unites communities, celebrates culture and diversity, and demonstrates that if we can pull people together, we can create a more inclusive society.
Three hundred and fifty people of all ages attended the celebration at St Mary’s Youth Club, Creggan. Attendees had the opportunity to savour the rich and authentic flavours of African cuisine, participate in DJ workshops, and discover the support networks and services across the city.
Festive arts and crafts, interactive music workshops, and a vibrant showcase of African music and traditional Irish dance entertained the crowds, and a special guest in a big red suit made a surprise appearance and created lasting positive memories at this unique Christmas time event full of belonging and holiday cheer.
“Christmas is a time for unity, love, and shared humanity. For the African Caribbean Network, it symbolizes a celebration of cultural diversity, community belonging, and the power of togetherness. It’s a season where different traditions come together to create joy, warmth, and a shared sense of home. This event reflects our commitment to fostering inclusion, breaking down barriers, and strengthening the bonds that make our community vibrant ”
“Choice Housing is proud to support this event through the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive’s Housing for All Shared Housing Programme. Our Rosses Gate development demonstrates our commitment to shared housing and inclusive communities. We are committed to supporting the local communities across the areas we provide housing in and our partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation has further enhanced this commitment.
“A key element of this collaboration is the support we can offer young people in these communities. This particular project will work with young people across Derry/Londonderry, where they will avail of the opportunity to develop relationships across communities, develop an understanding and awareness of other cultures and develop new skills that will help them in the future.”
“My Foundation has been working with Choice Housing to deliver opportunities to young people from all communities across Northern Ireland.
“This coming together to celebrate community cohesion through sport, music and culture is a great example of what can be achieved when people pull together and I look forward to seeing the training and leadership programmes in action in the coming months.”