From left to right: Gideon Tapiwa Kadzura, Jamal Abdallah, Allyson Molina, Yonis Osman, Atika Akhtar, Imran Ahmed, Sara Mondragon, Daniel Uzunow, Rosanne Serdaoy, Rubel Mohammed

New VIc College students reveal their stories in a new book

Luke Jacobs Saturday, June 2, 2012
6:00 AM

New VIc college students from refugee or migrant families have depicted their backgrounds in a new book.

Fifteen sixth-formers recently contributed to Brave New Words in both English and their mother tongue.

It features a collection of poems, stories, and personal reflections, and was the outcome of an eight-week project run in partnership with English Pen.

The book has been credited with helping to develop the literacy skills of the students. They worked alongside creative writer Joelle Taylor and translator Bhavit Mehta.

Student Rubel Mohammed, 18, from Plaistow, said of the project: “I felt such freedom at being able to put my own words down in a book for all to see.

“Being part of this project has made me feel so proud and has given me the confidence to express myself in the future.”

Brave New Words was officially launched at the Free Word Centre in Farringdon to around 100 members of the public.

Miss Taylor said: “When I opened the door to the first session of the Brave New Words course, I had expected to see three or four young people, shyly struggling to get their pens to speak.

“What was actually behind the door was a hard core of young poets and rappers from across the world who turned every word they had received into a poem.”

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