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sUMMER200925www.obv.org.ukconnectingcommunitiesOUTSIDEJamilaAftabForShaheenChoudhryherirstmemoryoarrivinginthiscountrywasgreydarksurroundingsandcoldweather.Nothearingorseeinganythingamiliargaveheradepressingsenseoisolation.ButamovetoBristolwhereasmallnucleusoanAsiancommunitywasalreadyestablishedchangedeverything.Shaheenbecameinvolvedininterpretingorthecommunityonavoluntarybasis.ItwasherethatshesawthedisparityinmaternitycarereceivedbynonEnglish-speakingpregnantwomenandthosewhowereluentinthelanguage.Inthemid-x1980sShaheenoundedMaternityandHealthLinksMHLanorganisationwhoselinkworkersandvolunteerhometutorsinterpretadvocatesupportandinormuserswhoseirstlanguageisnotEnglish.Shaheenexplainswhytheorganisationwasurgentlyneededx1cToavoidurtherperinataldeathsthegapbetweennonEnglish-speakingwomenandhealthserviceshadtobeacknowledgedandilled.BetweenusatMHLandourvolunteertutorsweachievedthisandhavebecomeauniquegeminUKmaternitysevices.x1dShaheenx19sworkhasmadeanenormousdifferencetothematernityandhealthcareprovidedtononEnglish-speakingwomenandfamiliesinBristolandhereffortshavebeenwidelyrecognised.TwentyyearsontheservicecontinuestoimprovethelotofwomenShaheennowworksasafreelanceconsultant.WhenshearrivedintheUKin1972JamilaAtabwasayoungbrideexpectingherfrstbaby.Shequicklyrealisedhowisolatingliecanbeormotherswithnoamilysupportnetwork.x1cItbecameapparentthattherewasverylittleopportunityoryoungAsianmothersandtheirchildrentobeincludedintomainstreamservices-yettheneedwastherex1dsheexplains.JamilaoundedtheorganisationnowknownasHumdardintheStPaulx19sareaoBristolin1986.Beginninglieasadrop-incentreoryoungmothersitbecameknownastheStPaulx19sAsianWomenx19sGroupoeringsewingclassesaswellasplaysessionsorchildren.Morethantwodecadeslaterithasevolvedtobecomealargecommunityorganisationworkingwithupto250amilies.Itprovidesarangeoservicesromclassesorwomentoateenagegirlsx19youthgroupandanater-schoolclub.HumdardisnowthehuboStPaulx19sandatthecentreoitisBajiJamilaassheisknowntousersandsta.AregisteredcharityHumdardwonanawardorBestPerormancewithLimitedResourcesintheUKromtheFederationoIndianOrganisationsin2000.JamilahaswonnumerousawardsincludingBestRoleModelfromStPaulx19sUnlimitedandtheInternationalFederationofPeaceandHarmonynamedherAmbassadorforPeace.After20yearsx19workHumdardhasnowseenthreegenerationsofsomefamiliespassthroughitsdoors.ShaheenChoudhryAsiAncommunitiesx10x11lx11x10gxdralx11x10xdTesedaystherearemanysupportorganisationshelpingwomenoutox9isolationandintomainstreamlix9ebutnotsolongagoitwasaverydiferentstory.HereAdeelaShafandAngelaFostersalutesixpioneerswholedthewayfortheircommunitiesIN