12 December 2022. We invited a group of migrants to attend the ‘Portsmouth Ambassadors’ workshop, so that migrants of all nationalities and ethnic backgrounds can get an opportunity to be part of this wonderful initiative and feel at home.
The participants were keen to learn how they could get involved as volunteers and share their voices in shaping the city’s future.
“I would like to be a Portsmouth ambassador because I can be the voice of other (migrant) residents to help in improving the place where we are living.”
[The group of migrant participants enjoying a hot cuppa and croissant as the session is about to begin.]
The group was given a brilliant introduction to the role by a City College of Portsmouth tutor. Filled with many fun facts, the workshop felt like a mini crash course in the history, geography and social economy of our little island. The participants were curious to find out about the famous people born in Portsmouth.
There was a lot of interest in the fantastic work of the educational reformer, John Pounds, and the civil engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The mention of the world’s only commercial passenger hovercraft created excitement in the room – the participants were further amazed to learn that this is designed as a plane. The smiles got wider when the perks of being a Portsmouth Ambassador were discussed.
Apart from being part of cultural events, joining the scheme would also give migrants valuable experiences to add to their CVs. Employers are interested to read about their potential employees’ engagement with the local community – it is an essential employability skill. Supporting the disadvantaged members of our community in their search for work relates to our mission of working towards a sustainable economy.
Today’s workshop reinforced that Portsmouth is truly a remarkable place to live and work in, and it could be a privilege to volunteer as an ambassador to welcome visitors. What a delightful opportunity, especially for someone trying to find their feet in a new place, as another newly arrived Iranian migrant shared their feedback.
“When I arrived in Portsmouth, I felt like I am only a temporary resident, but after this effective and cheerful workshop, I feel I can be a permanent part of this community if I have a thoughtful look at all the details of the city. Today, I was simply amazed to hear all the facts about Portsmouth and I want to be an ambassador because I want to share all my social, cultural and economic experiences (from my homeland) for the progress of this historic and beautiful city.”
