Southend’s Faith and African Communities By John Barber Version: 1 Published: May 2011 “Knowledge is power ” - Sir Francis Bacon (1561-1626) Copyright © John Barber 2011 - all rights reserved Faiths and Africa - Page 1 of 36 - 01 May 2011 - Version 1 - Final Contents Glossary .................................................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements................................................................................................................................... 5 Disclaimer ................................................................................................................................................. 5 References................................................................................................................................................. 5 Preface....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 7 Faith Communities.................................................................................................................................... 8 Introduction........................................................................................................................................... 8 Profiling the Faiths................................................................................................................................ 9 Christianity........................................................................................................................................ 9 Judaism............................................................................................................................................ 10 Islam................................................................................................................................................ 10 Hinduism......................................................................................................................................... 11 Sikhism............................................................................................................................................ 11 Examples of “Missing Communities” Activity .................................................................................. 11 Christianity...................................................................................................................................... 11 Judaism............................................................................................................................................ 12 Islam................................................................................................................................................ 12 Hinduism......................................................................................................................................... 12 Sikhism............................................................................................................................................ 12 Issues and Concerns............................................................................................................................ 13 Christianity...................................................................................................................................... 13 Judaism............................................................................................................................................ 13 Islam................................................................................................................................................ 13 Hinduism......................................................................................................................................... 14 Sikhism............................................................................................................................................ 14 Faiths in Action - a Case Study........................................................................................................... 14 Buddhism and China........................................................................................................................... 15 African Communities.............................................................................................................................. 16 Profiling Southend’s Africans............................................................................................................. 16 Africa is a Diverse Continent.............................................................................................................. 17 African Perspectives ........................................................................................................................... 18 Religion........................................................................................................................................... 19 Asylum Seeking .............................................................................................................................. 19 Schools............................................................................................................................................ 19 Housing ........................................................................................................................................... 19 Accessing Information .................................................................................................................... 19 Communicating in English.............................................................................................................. 20 Health.............................................................................................................................................. 20 Education, Employment and Enterprise.......................................................................................... 20 Racism............................................................................................................................................. 21 Domestic Violence.......................................................................................................................... 21 Cultural Adaptation......................................................................................................................... 21 Community Organisation................................................................................................................ 22 African Associations in Southend....................................................................................................... 22 Comparing Non-Zimbabwean and Zimbabwean Africans ................................................................. 24 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................. 26 Faiths and Africa - Page 2 of 36 - 01 May 2011 - Version 1 - Final Appendix 1: Religious Questionnaire..................................................................................................... 27 Appendix 2: Africa Questionnaire .......................................................................................................... 28 Appendix 3: Asylum Seeker Issues ........................................................................................................ 29 Appendix 4: 2001 Census data - Ethnicity and Religion........................................................................ 31 Appendix 5: Africans by Ward (School Data Only)............................................................................... 32 Appendix 6: Map of Africa..................................................................................................................... 33 Appendix 7: Organisations - Terms of Reference .................................................................................. 34 Appendix 8: Bullwood Hall - Case Studies ............................................................................................ 35 A Final Thought...................................................................................................................................... 36 Glossary 1 Africa the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean - comprises 54 independent nations (see map in Appendix 6). Asylum Seeker a person who, perceiving a threat to personal safety in his or her country of residence, seeks protection by moving to, and with the view to obtaining the right to reside in, another country. Balmoral Group a group comprising a number of men of North African and other BME origin, often experiencing mental health issues and other forms of social disadvantage. Bullwood Hall an international, medium security, prison, situated just outside of Southend. BME Black and Minority Ethnic (i.e. non white British, sometimes referred to as BAME - Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic). CAB Citizens Advice Bureau Charismatic term applied to faith groups that stress divine inspiration and spiritual gifts. Community working towards a society in which there is a common vision and sense of Cohesion belonging by all communities; a