Swadhinata Trust took part in the Being Human Event marking the 50th anniversary of Stepney Words at Great Hall, People’s Palace, QMUL in a panel entitled ‘Grassroots’, on the grassroots legacies of Stepney Words with the other panellists, Ken Worpole (Centerprise), Tony Harcup (Basement Writers) and Angela Hancock (Stepney All Saints School)

Swadhinata Trust contributed with sharing Bengali experiences in anti-racist activism in the 1970s, particularly in the ways that our Chair Julie Begum participated in amplifying the voices of working-class Bengali Bangladeshi people in Tower Hamlets in 1990’s including the experiences of girls and women.

”I thought you were the best speaker of the whole day. You have such focus and clarity, and the way your talk brought together activism and the telling of untold stories made the link between Chris Searle’s approach to teaching and the East End activism that came later…..”

Dr Nadia Valman

”Nadia and I are very grateful for your excellent contribution to the Stepney Words 50 Years On celebration. I must say that I was very impressed how you managed to tell us so much in the short time that we had available. It was a powerful and emotional day and I’m so pleased that you were part of it…”

Alan Dein