The Soul Sanctuary, Birmingham

In Birmingham an alumni student from the ‘Be educated Yourself’ Catalyst cohort has used a £2,000 grant award to start the Soul Sanctuary, a youth group for Muslim teenagers that provides space for them to connect and contribute to the community through various initiatives. Mentored by Catalyst Trainer and Near Neighbours Coordinator Rabiyah K. Latif, Kiran Ahmed, Catalyst Alumni and Creator of The Soul Sanctuary identified a gap where she felt that young teenage Muslim girls needed a safe space for spiritual & emotional growth, and a place where they could feel empowered to make contributions within their own communities and build bridges and connections with other communities.

“We’re trying to teach these girls how to interact with their own community and different communities. We hope that by creating a supportive network, participants will build lasting friendships and a sense of belonging, encouraging them to engage in future community initiatives.”

Kiran Ahmed, Catalyst Alumni Participant

The group are currently learning a range of skills during their monthly meet ups and are working towards a cultural day where they hope to bring different communities together to celebrate their similarities and create understanding of their differences.