Our project stems from Imiloa Collective's Chagossian Creative Entrepreneurship Programme, funded by the UK Government in Mauritius in collaboration with the British Council Mauritius to support the Chagossian community.

Imiloa Collective is a social creative enterprise, supporting artisans, marginalised communities and women entrepreneurs by preserving traditional crafts and empowering women through essential skills training and entrepreneurial opportunities.

In collaboration with our UK project partner Audrey Albert (Odd Athaëna), a creative facilitator, we conducted workshops and exhibitions in both the UK and Mauritius. This initiative not only showcased the cultural richness of the Chagossian community, but also actively promoted inclusion, celebrated cultural diversity and empowered participants. The program served as a platform, fostering awareness and confidence, with the overarching goal of creating an inclusive space that embraces diversity and empowers the Chagossian community through their cultural expressions.

Through our sunprint-making workshop, participants captured Chagossian traditions, delving into their senses as triggers for specific memories tied to home and generational rituals. In our oral history workshops, participants engaged in informal conversations, translating their memories of home and stories into visual representations. This not only fueled empowerment but also nurtured the development of creative entrepreneurial and leadership skills. These workshops fervently championed cross-cultural creativity, with the goal of bridging cultures and fostering a global community that leaves a positive impact on individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Our primary goal was to empower Chagossian participants, facilitating the development of their creative, entrepreneurial and leadership skills. This involved the methodical process of gathering, preserving and interpreting their voices and memories, conveyed through both visual and traditional craft representations.

The successful realisation of this objective was highlighted through our exhibition, "Ble Kouleur Lakaz," held at Caudan Arts Centre and Lakaz Flamboyant. The exhibition seamlessly blended the UK and Mauritius series, underscoring the cross-cultural shared lived experience, heritage and traditional knowledge. Additionally, the showcased artwork featured Audrey's photo series, "Matter Out of Place," and the collaborative creative community project, "Chagossians of Manchester," held in the UK.