“When I came to Glasgow, it was just before the COVID-19 pandemic started. All I remember from this time was feeling so scared; I had so much anxiety, I was too frightened to go anywhere and meet anybody. When it was finally safe to go outside, my health visitor told me about Home Start, and from joining their baby group I learned about MIN. I first joined the women’s group where the MIN staff member advised me that they were also running a women’s choir.
I used to be part of a choir and play keyboard in Ethiopia, I love music! I was so grateful she told me about Joyous Choir, I knew I had to join! From the first time I started attending the choir I felt an immediate sense of belonging. There was no awkwardness, I felt welcomed and, importantly, I felt understood.
For me, Joyous Choir is more than just a weekly singing group. It is a place where I can share my genuine feelings with other people. Some of the women are older, some are younger and we are so happy together, even though we are all so different; different races, faiths and ages. But something that unites us, is the music and the songs. Singing together – having the interaction – is the most important thing. It’s very cool!
My son even loves to come with me to the community centre, as it’s in Maryhill, he calls it “Mary”, he always says “I want to go to Mary”! He wants to come as he also feels “right” there, I don’t know how to explain it better than that, it’s just for us the right place, it came at the right time, and with all the right people.
It can be hard to find nice people nowadays. To find people who are interested in you, people who ask about you, it’s very special. We can talk about our opinions together, I feel free to share who I am as a person.
When I look back and I think of myself when I first came to Glasgow, a new mum with my baby son, living in just one room during the pandemic, I felt like nobody. Now, today, being part of MIN and the choir, I feel we are all as one. Even though we all have our own different fears and concerns, we are together on this journey. I feel like I have a family, and throughout the week I have a purpose.”
