Shen, is a community development youth worker for Oasis… aka AMAZING! She put together a video for international women’s day which was shared on social media platforms including Oasis Hub Hadley and enact’s Instagram pages. It is so encouraging to know that we are all getting involved and where we can join up in projects to help support children, young people and families in Enfield.
So Shen take it way! Tell us a little about yourself and what youth work means to you?Hi, I am Shen and I am a community youth development worker for Oasis Hub Hadley.
Youth work to me, is an amazing opportunity to teach and to learn in an informal way. It can provide so much!! I feel it allows growth and expression in a safe supportive environment, and there is nothing else I would rather do.
I got into Youth work as it has been a passion of mine since I was a teenager. I feel the community I grew up in drove me to find my passion. I always knew I wanted to support others to become the best versions of themselves.
Working with many teenage girls I have found there is a trend in low self-esteem or self-worth, and this is leading to some really struggling with striving to achieve.
Why did you put together this video for International women’s day? What does this day mean to you and why is it important to share this?For International Women’s day, I wanted to put together a video of women in our community who I feel should be celebrated for the work they do as we have many women in power and women who speak with a voice to be heard!! (this many years ago was not always the case.)
I felt together we could send out a message to inspire females that they can be anything they want to be, and we as women are strong, powerful, kind, inspiring and so much more.
Tell us the process, because its important to know how much work went into it!Editing is not something I usually do, but happily took up the challenge as I had a vision and really wanted to put this message out there for the world to see.
My message to you is a poem I received from my tutor when I left secondary school and this poem still means something to me.
Life’s most important lessons
To learn you cannot make anyone love you.
All you can do is allow yourself to be loved.
To learn that it is not good to compare yourself to others.
To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.
It is not enough to forgive each other, but you must also forgive yourself.
To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those you love.
And it can take many years to heal them.
To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most.
But is the one who needs the least.
To learn that there are people who love you dearly.
But simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings.
To learn that two people can look at the same thing.
And see it differently.
To learn that by thinking anxiously about the past or future you forget the present, which is the most important place to live.
My message to you is a poem I received from my tutor when I left secondary school and this poem still means something to me.
Life’s most important lessons
To learn you cannot make anyone love you.
All you can do is allow yourself to be loved.
To learn that it is not good to compare yourself to others.
To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.
It is not enough to forgive each other, but you must also forgive yourself.
To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those you love.
And it can take many years to heal them.
To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most.
But is the one who needs the least.
To learn that there are people who love you dearly.
But simply do not yet know how to express or show their feelings.
To learn that two people can look at the same thing.
And see it differently.
To learn that by thinking anxiously about the past or future you forget the present, which is the most important place to live.
Thank you Shen! For your really honest and real answers…
If you would like to attend a girls only session or for more information, please contact Shen: email shen.faik@oasishadley.org
Instagram : @shen.youth_ Telephone/what’s app/message 07966201098
Girls group – Ponders End Youth Centre – Monday’s 4pm – 5.30pm
