Empower Women for Change’s Project Update
In this article:
- Project Introduction
- Success Stories: Celebrating Success & Achievements
- Land of Connections: Mary’s Story: Co-production Performance
Project Introduction
Empower Women for Change’s project: Connecting Communities and Collections: a 2-year long project in partnership with David Livingstone Birthplace Museum (DLB M) funded by Museum Galleries Scotland to facilitate the learning and access to heritage in diverse and meaningful ways, to allow Minority Ethnic women to see themselves and their stories as a relevant part of heritage. This project is implemented by working collaboratively in response to the participant’s needs and interests. Started in May 2024, Group of 6 participants from Sudan, Pakistan and Iran took part in regular co-production sessions, heritage visits, and creative workshops, participants engaged with museum collections and heritage spaces, exploring the historic connections between Africa and Scotland while developing skills in research, curation, communication, creative expression, and public speaking.
Participants reported increased confidence, self-belief, and a strong sense of belonging within heritage spaces. Through collaboration and co-creation, participants found their voices and began to see themselves as valued contributors to Scotland’s cultural story. Many described the experience as a journey of personal discovery, becoming more creative, confident, and connected. The process of co-producing, co-performing and exhibiting their work supported their mental health and wellbeing, strengthened leadership skills. The legacy of this project extends well beyond its duration. Strong and lasting relationships have been built between participants, the museum, and the wider community, with participants continuing to engage through volunteering, community events, festivals and further heritage opportunities. This project has opened pathways to employability, skills development, and leadership within the cultural sector, while demonstrating the power of co-production as a sustainable model for community engagement. Connecting Communities and Collections highlights how museums can bridge cultures, celebrate shared histories between Africa and Scotland, and create inclusive heritage spaces that empower communities.
Learn more about our success stories and celebrating success and achievements below.
Threads of Connection: A Sustainable Tapestry Exhibition
"Threads of Connection: A Sustainable Tapestry" our First community co-produced exhibition, Led by Empower Women for Change and the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum, funded by Museum Galleries Scotland. This exhibition celebrates stories explores various themes, through art, textiles, woodwork, and personal reflections, and the deep ties between Scotland and Africa. This powerful Exhibition is Co-produced by our six lovely participants, Nahla, Hagir, Ume, Ramia, Anam and Layla.
Mary, more than just a wife and companion to David, was an accomplished missionary, linguist, and a role mode. The exhibition gives her story the light by celebrating her strength, her courage, intellect, and emotional sacrifices as a woman who lived between two continents and cultures.
Themes of the Exhibition:
- David & Mary Livingstone’s Legacy
- African Homes & Lifestyles
- Scotland & Africa: Shared Cultures
- Justice & Legacy
Exhibition objects’ Display at Glasgow Women’s Library for Black History Month, for the launch “Then & Now” Exhibition
“Then & Now” Exhibition: An exhibition showcasing the work and lives of Scottish BME people and communities. We work in collaboration work with Scottish Museum of Empire, Slavery, Colonialism and Migration. Objects from our Co-production Exhibition "Threads of Connection: A Sustainable Tapestry" being selected for the launch “Then & Now” Exhibition at Glasgow Women’s Library for Black History Month. Participants also took part in public speaking to showcase their co-produced work.
Land of Connections: Mary’s Story: Co-Production Performance
Empower Women for Change is delighted to present the first performance event by our Co-production participants in partnership with the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum. This powerful and moving performance has been co-produced by six inspiring women Nahla, Hagir, Ume, Ramia, Anam and Layla with the guidance of professional storyteller Anna Lehr.
Land of Connections: Mary’s Story is the outcome of the Sustainable Co-production project Connecting Communities and Collections, a collaborative partnership between Empower Women for Change and the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum. Through spoken word, song and movement, the cast tells Mary’s story alongside their own, drawing powerful parallels between her life and their experiences as minority ethnic women living in Scotland today.
Written, directed and performed collaboratively, this production is a heartfelt celebration of creativity, connection and empowerment. We warmly invite you to join us in supporting these wonderful women as they share their voices, stories and talents in this special final collaboration.
1. Confidence, Sense of Belonging and Identity
Participants felt a great sense of accomplishment, pride, and a deeper sense of belonging and identity.
Participants’ Comments:
"I feel, I am more connected with history and culture, and more confident to express myself through arts and creativity"
"More aware, more connected than before and more confident. I believe success is one step ahead and that step is your effort, with that you can achieve the unachievable."
"I feel proud to have taken part, it was a good challenge, and I was happy to contribute."
2. Skills Exchange and Networking:
Participants learned practical arts skills, research and teamwork, and grew their confidence and networks.
Participants’ Comments:
Listening to other’s opinions, I gained experience from what I had learned from others, creating my own objects.
I gained social networking skills, dealing with challenges and overcoming shortcomings. I feel so confident, a lot more than before.
How to be very creative using textile tools and using print screens to create amazing artwork in print Clan studio.
Arts and crafts, Confidence, Research skills, Connected to heritage and history.
Knowledge about Slavery.
Learnt about Mary, David Livingstone’s wife as a strong woman.
I have gained skills in teamwork, planning, and a deeper knowledge of heritage.
3. Empowerment and Collaborative Success
Participants expressed pride in their work, in collaboration, and in seeing their work on display.
Participants’ Comments
My first Canvas art and exhibition, working in collaboration
I still cannot believe the artist side of myself and artistic skills that I gained from this project. I think the proudest moment was when I saw the end results.
In the project the cooperation with each other. In the exhibition to display my own objects and listen to visitors' comments about my objects
I am most proud of the community involvement, my own pieces, and the effort of the whole team.
I'm proud of several things, but my personal contribution stands out. Although I was only required to submit two pieces, I was so invested in the project that I worked from home for over three months, from morning until evening, to create three additional artworks. My goal was to add significant value and depth to the exhibition.
4. Engagement with Heritage Spaces and Community Connection
This project has help participants to strengthen deeper connections with Scottish and African culture and heritage and highlighted the legacy of Mary and David Livingstone.
Participants’ Comments:
We have got a new knowledge of the legend and legacy of Mary & David Livingstone, and his journey to Africa and we connected this great relationship in our art exhibition.
It reminded me of my own country, culture, and heritage. It shows that all human beings are connected to each other in the past and in the present.
This project has made me feel more connected to my culture and heritage and has given me a stronger sense of identity.
5. Next Steps and Aspirations
Participants’ comments included:
"Participants are keen to continue, to share skills, and to pursue further opportunities"
"When we start a new phase, I want to continue to keep going up the ladder.""
"Anything that connects us and some interesting projects that builds a connection which is deep.""
"From my side, I will be happy to participate in the next session, and will share with women in our communities, encouraging them to participate and share their diversity, views and culture and learn new skills to be more involved and contribute
"Find a job in heritage"
"I would like to continue with more opportunities like this project, such as future exhibitions, volunteering, or community projects."
"I would love to continue and seek out more opportunities like this, such as future exhibitions or collaborating on new community projects. I am eager to use the skills I have gained to create more meaningful artworks and contribute to other cultural initiatives."
“Glass making and Screen-printing experience was completely new for me and really enjoyed. Always I love to learn new things. We as a team communicated & collaborated with each other as a team to produce one big piece of Glass Art. I have to say my heartly thank you to David Livingstone Museum, EWfC and especially to Fizza Kaneez to organise such a beautiful and peaceful workshop. Thank you to Juggling Space Staff who helps us continually to produce such a unique artwork.”
“This was the amazing and wonderful workshop; the glassmaking art was extraordinary experience for me. It was my first time to use glass and reuse it for creating an art piece. It was new skill for me. Good experience & relaxing environment to create something. It was real entertainment for me. Thanks a lot for nice time” “This workshop was very useful and nice. I learnt something new. I am deeply interested in this glass art. I got very good experience. I can’t imagine that I could do something like this. It was amazing. Thank you.”
“We really appreciated the Juggling Space Glass making Art. We enjoyed that day very much. We learnt something new, and Glass Art Painting was clear reflection of our ideas, our African cultures. It was very nice day. Thank you.”
“In this workshop I learned focusing which was very interested. I experienced this type of art for the first time, and it was amazing. We hope that we could learn another type of techniques such as stained glass in the future. I am looking forward to another workshop. Thank you” “It was such an amazing and different experience. This piece of Glass Art motivated me a lot. This art was very therapeutic for me. Thank you.”
Project Gallery
Empower Women for Change (EWfC) and the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum (DLBM) have joined forces on a two‑year project called Connecting Communities & Collections: Sustainable Co‑Production. Also see Connecting Communities and Collections Project.
