CHAI
Culture History & I
We are a London based voluntary organisation that promotes the understanding and appreciation of South Asian culture and history. We champion cultural understanding by developing inter generational activities, workshops, exhibitions and publications in collaboration with community groups
We are a London based voluntary organisation that promotes the understanding and appreciation of South Asian culture and history. We champion cultural understanding by developing inter generational activities, workshops, exhibitions and publications in collaboration with community.
We work with heritage professionals to provide a range of workshops including Oral History, Caring for Archives and Object Handling. These can take the form of one-off sessions or form part of an accredited course validated by OCN (Open College Network). We specialise in working with community organisations that wish to gain heritage skills that may enhance their own projects and broaden their understanding.
We arrange community visits to museums, galleries and historic houses. We can tailor the visit to suit your needs with guided tours and handouts. Recent visits have included; The Victoria and Albert Museum, Horniman Museum, The Cinema Museum, The Lightbox and Kingston Museum. Creative Activities Working with professionals, we provide workshops in a wide range of creative activities for all ages including; calligraphy, origami, batik, tie & dye, sketching and jewellery making
our projects
Working with Milaap Centre, this project provided opportunities and new experiences for Asian elders in the Kingston area to explore and value their musical and migration heritage for the first time.
Through a series of museum visits, heritage activities and training, they were inspired to share their untold stories. The project was documented with the production of an exhibition, DVD and publication.
This heritage project was developed in collaboration with Kingston’s South Asian communities who share their ‘untold’ migration stories through personal objects.
From everyday cooking utensils to handmade textiles and heirlooms, these objects have accompanied their owners across continents; surviving wars and migration and continue to be passed down the generations, keeping family history alive.
A culminating exhibition was showcased at Kingston Museum.
Participants engaged in activities that enabled them to appreciate the importance of preserving and sharing their heritage with others, including visits to museums
Every kitchen has an array of spices and herbs, although their primary use is culinary, we also use them for home remedies. Home remedies are not unique to any one community or culture and 80% of the world population still relies on home remedies for health. Working with Milaap Centre, this project provided opportunities and new experiences for Asian elders in the Kingston area to explore home remedies. Participants engaged in activities that enabled them to appreciate the importance of preserving and sharing their heritage with others, including visits to museums
This project provided opportunities for over 40 women of diverse South Asian Heritage in the Kingston area to gradually re-engage in a programme of in-person activities following long periods of isolation during the lockdowns and restrictions in place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We shared our experiences of celebrating our diverse cultural festivals during this uncertain time, when we had to rely on social media to wish friends and family, share family recipes and reconnect with nature through planting.
We visited a variety of specialist gardens where we acquired new gardening skills, had queries answered by professionals and shared our planting experiences. We are grateful to Hogsmill Community Garden, Kew Gardens and RHS Wisley for welcoming us and sharing their professional expertise. We would specially like to thank Saheli, our project partner.
Join us
Contact us to get involved in our heritage activity programme. We can work with your community organisation to develop a bespoke heritage or arts project, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds
Volunteers work with us on all elements of our projects and activities, gaining new skills and making new friends. New volunteers are always welcome.
gallery
video
MY SPICE BOX REMEDIES
Every kitchen has an array of spices and herbs, although their primary use is culinary, we also use them for home remedies. Home remedies are not unique to any one community or culture and 80% of the world population still relies on home remedies for health. Working with Milaap Centre, this project provided opportunities and new experiences for Asian elders in the Kingston area to explore home remedies.
YESTERDAY ONCE MORE
Working with Milaap Centre, this project provided opportunities and new experiences for Asian elders in the Kingston area to explore and value their musical and migration heritage for the first time.
Through a series of museum visits, heritage activities and training, they were inspired to share their untold stories. The project was documented with the production of an exhibition, DVD and publication.
TALKING OBJECTS
This heritage project was developed in collaboration with Kingston’s South Asian communities who share their ‘untold’ migration stories through personal objects.
From everyday cooking utensils to handmade textiles and heirlooms, these objects have accompanied their owners across continents; surviving wars and migration and continue to be passed down the generations, keeping family history alive.
learning resources
learning resources
We produce learning resources to accompany our exhibitions. These enhance visits, with ideas for pre-visit activities as well as interactive exhibition hand-outs.