Reflections on working with DIS

Community Development Officer for Ethnic Officer

When the Dacorum Borough Council created a new post of a Community Development Officer for Ethnic Minorities, it was an honour to be selected to be that officer. Already a lot of background work had been done by some members of the Gujarati community to lobby the Council for such a post dedicated to highlighting and addressing the needs of the local minority ethnic communities. My first task was to get to know the 'movers and shakers' of the community and it was a pleasure to meet people like Sudha and Arvind Brambhatt, Chiman and Usha Sheth, Vasanti Chury, Manoj and Ramila Patel and the other members of the committee. My task was to empower the committee to engage with the Council and other service providers, to be able to attract project funding and be and effective cultural ambassadors to the public. The committee and members of DIS rose to the challenge and not only participated in many of the new projects such as women only swim sessions, but also offered leadership to other new community groups in the Communities Together forum. Working with DIS required just a 'light touch' on my part as its members had such an inspiring, supportive and active Chairperson in Chiman Sheth during this time.

Working together

In all of my interactions with various community groups, even in my previous work in London, it is the Gujarati speakers who I found displayed an innate sense of working together as a community. The DIS cultural and religious functions were always well organised, well supported and much appreciated by the wider public. I like to believe that this is because co-operation with others is a value that is held dear by all Gujarat's and epitomised by the example of Mahatma Gandhi himself. It is this quality in every member of DIS which made my work such a pleasure for the nine years that I held this post and continue to nurture those friendships.

Yoga Classes

One project that helped to change my life was the yoga classes. When the DIS committee, members realised that I practiced yoga, they immediately asked me if I could teach a class for their members. I recall in particular Manjari Patel calling me up several times encouraging me to rise to this challenge! The initial classes were held at the Gadebridge Community Centre and were very well attended before it settled down to those who were dedicated and felt the health benefits that yoga brings. I too discovered that there is much more to learn and observe when teaching yoga to others and it spurred me to enrol for a yoga teacher training qualification. It was through doing this that I discovered my true vocation and I continued with further training and I am so pleased that some of the original participants from DIS are still continuing their practice of yoga with me. Now that I have left the service of the Council, I am truly grateful to DIS for enabling me to lead a fulfilling life as a yoga teacher.May I use this opportunity to wish all members and the committee members of DIS on this anniversary many more years of togetherness and prosperity.