afrifass cic

We had a tremendous day of reciprocal learning at yesterday’s bespoke parenting session with the Coventry North Group. The level of engagement was so powerful that we had to extend each session by 45 minutes to accommodate the many questions, reflections, and lived experiences shared. It was an enriching reminder that when people feel safe to talk, real transformation begins. One of the most impactful moments of the day was the open discussion on Marital Rape, a topic that is often avoided but deeply necessary. The conversation was handled with sensitivity, and participants received it with maturity and respect. What followed was an honest exchange about sexual deprivation within marriage, particularly exploring how menopause and perimenopause can affect sexual interest and intimacy and how couples can navigate these changes with understanding, empathy, and communication, rather than frustration or blame. Our conclusion was clear: These conversations are not optional they are essential. We must create safe spaces, especially within Global Majority families, to discuss relationships, boundaries, health, and wellbeing without fear or stigma. Only through education, compassion, and collaboration can we build the strong, healthy families our communities deserve. 🌍 Next stop: The NASARA Group in Telford — Sunday, 2nd November at 1pm. We look forward to continuing these crucial conversations. hashtag#ParentingSupport hashtag#GlobalMajorityFamilies hashtag#AFRIFASS hashtag#FamilyWellbeing hashtag#MarriageAndIntimacy hashtag#Safeguarding hashtag#CommunityEducation hashtag#MenopauseAwareness hashtag#HealthyRelationships

Upholding Culture, Protecting Families: Reflections from the DAMBA Festival 2025, By Kwaku Afram, Founder, AFRIFASS CIC | Social Work Consultant | Safeguarding Advocate I was deeply honoured to deliver the Keynote Speech at the DAMBA Festival 2025 in Birmingham on Saturday, 11th October, under the theme:“Upholding Cultural Values, Safeguarding Families, Protecting Children, Ending Domestic Abuse.” The event was alive with colour, culture, and pride a beautiful reminder of our shared heritage. Yet, beyond the pageantry, it carried a powerful message: that culture, when rightly understood, can be both a source of strength and a tool for protection. The Two Houses: Parenting in the DiasporaMy address drew on the concept of “Two Houses,” developed by my mentor Amma Anane-Agyei (Honouring Dr). This idea reflects the dual reality many Global Majority parents live in their first house, representing the values and traditions of their homeland, and their second house, the society in which they now raise their children. I urged parents to celebrate and pass down their cultural values for children to know their roots and identity is vital to their self-esteem and belonging. As the Yoruba proverb so wisely says: “A river that forgets its source will surely die.” However, to thrive in our second house, we must also acquire new knowledge understanding child protection laws, the meaning of abuse, and how to build homes free from fear and violence. Knowledge and Culture Can CoexistOur discussion touched on domestic abuse and safeguarding not as distant social issues, but as realities we must face with courage and compassion. Parents were encouraged to seek guidance and to engage with organisations like AFRIFASS CIC, which supports Global Majority families in navigating parenting, culture, and safeguarding in the UK. We can and must find a balance between cultural preservation and child protection. When culture uplifts rather than controls, it becomes a protective force that nurtures identity and family wellbeing. A Celebration with PurposeI commended the organisers for choosing such a relevant theme this year. It was heartening to see so many children proudly wearing their traditional attire a powerful statement that our culture lives on through them.Culture gives us roots. Knowledge gives us wings. Let’s continue building families and communities where both can flourish where our traditions honour the past, and our knowledge safeguards the future. 🌍 Next StepsIf you’d like to explore culturally competent parenting, safeguarding education, or domestic abuse awareness workshops, connect with AFRIFASS CIC. Together, we can create a generation of families rooted in love, knowledge, and strength. hashtag#DAMBAFestival2025 hashtag#SafeguardingChildren hashtag#CulturalIdentity hashtag#ParentingInTheDiaspora hashtag#AFRIFASS hashtag#GlobalMajorityFamilies hashtag#DomesticAbuseAwareness hashtag#FamilyEmpowerment

Last Saturday, we held a bespoke parenting session for Global Majority families in Willenhall, and the conversations were as powerful as they were necessary. One of the most thought-provoking moments came when parents discussed cultural practices passed down through generations. A specific example raised was the insertion of ginger into children’s genital areas believed by some in parts of Africa to have medicinal value. This sparked a stimulating and, at times, emotional debate. What was clear is that while such practices are rooted in cultural beliefs, they can cause serious harm, including convulsions and other medical complications. These are not easy conversations to have. Yet they are vital. Parenting across cultures requires us to hold on to the richness of our heritage, while also aligning practices with research, safeguarding, and medical guidance that ensure the safety and wellbeing of children. This session highlighted the importance of creating safe spaces where families can discuss traditions openly, without fear of judgement, and reflect critically on what helps and what harms our children. At AFRIFASS CIC, we believe prevention is better than cure. By talking, learning, and unlearning together, we can protect our children while still valuing the positive aspects of our cultural identities. 👉 Our next bespoke parenting session will be with the Coventry North Group on 25th October. Watch this space for updates!

Do you have a passion for strengthening families, protecting children, and uplifting your community? Join us at African and Minority Families Support Services (AFRIFASS CIC) and become a Family Champion! 👩🏾‍👩🏽‍👦🏿 What you’ll do:✅ Raise awareness of safeguarding and parenting issues in Black and minority communities.✅ Support parents to understand UK laws, expectations, and positive parenting practices.✅ Help families overcome cultural challenges and thrive.✅ Be a voice for change and a bridge between communities and services. 📚 What you’ll get:✨ Free training on safeguarding, UK child protection law, and culturally sensitive parenting.✨ The chance to connect and network with people from diverse backgrounds.✨ Experience in community advocacy and leadership.✨ The joy of changing lives for the better.💬 Our Family Champions are the heartbeat of AFRIFASS CIC – volunteers who give their time to empower parents, protect children, and build stronger communities. 📩 Interested?Find out more and register your interest today:📧 [email protected] 📞 07815 818867 / 07853 898061🌐 www.afrifass.com👉🏾 Step forward. Make a difference. Be a Family Champion.AFRIFASS CIC – Empowering Families | Embracing Change

Why Minority Parents Must Shift from Punishment to Connection For many of us raised in African and minority communities, parenting was synonymous with discipline—often defined as yelling, shaming, or hitting. We were taught to obey without question. We were told that “it did us no harm.” But if that were true, why are so many of us parenting from a place of pain, stress, and unresolved trauma? As we prepare for the final session of the Parenting Minority Families Project on Sunday 27th July at 4pm, the focus is Proactive Parenting and Managing Challenging Behaviour—a session that may be the most important and confronting of all. What we’ve learned is this:Stress distorts our thinking, suppresses memory, and reactivates past trauma.As parents, this means we often react not from the present, but from our past pain. When our children are defiant, aggressive, or withdrawn, they’re not being “bad”—they’re often scared, overwhelmed, or dysregulated. And what they need most is not punishment—but presence. 🧠 Neuroscientists like Joseph LeDoux explain that in moments of stress, the rational brain shuts down.❤️ Bryan Post teaches us that discipline means to teach, not to punish.💡 Carl Jung reminds us: “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of a parent.” Our children don’t need more fear. They need our self-awareness.They need us to pause. To breathe. To choose relationship over control. To see aggression not as rebellion but as a cry for connection. To understand that behind every acting-out child is a hurting inner world, and only safety and compassion can heal it. This requires humility. It demands that we unlearn what we were taught. To question the “old school” parenting that robbed us of emotional safety. And to reject the myth that what hurt us didn’t harm us. We must shift from a fear-based to a love-based parenting paradigm.If this resonates with you, join us on Sunday 27th July at 4pm for our final session. Together, we’ll explore how to:Understand trauma and the child’s nervous systemCreate emotional safety through presence, not powerRegulate our own stress before correcting behaviourReframe discipline as guidance, not controlBuild lasting relationships based on trust, not fear 👥 Let’s break generational cycles. Let’s parent with love, not pain. 🟡 To attend, message us or contact AFRIFASS CIC. This is one session you do not want to miss.

Yesterday, Telford Ghana Church took a meaningful step by dedicating their day to a crucial Safeguarding Talk, underscoring our commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community members. The session was engaging and thought-provoking, addressing complex questions such as the balance between discipline and control of children, and the sensitive topic of marital dynamics. Discussions around topics like when a spouse uses intimacy as leverage and societal responses to young children committing serious acts were particularly thought-provoking. The enthusiasm and engagement from everyone present were palpable, with attendees expressing a strong desire for more sessions like this. It’s clear that these conversations are not only valuable but necessary for fostering a safe and supportive environment within our church family. Moving forward, let’s continue to create opportunities for open dialogue and learning on important issues affecting our community. Together, we can ensure that Telford Ghana Church remains a place where everyone feels safe, heard, and supported.

I know this will sit uncomfortably with many social workers, managers and prospective adopters, but it is inevitable in this technologically advancing world with information readily available at the click of a button. My view has always been that wherever safe to do so, it is better that the child or children in an adoptive family see what their lives with birth parents would have been like as opposed to idolising, fantasising the life they never had. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3vl5w3zy2eo

Since launching the Parenting Minority Families Project, I’ve been approached by two African families in distress. Their children had been removed from their care. These are not isolated stories—they are a growing reflection of a wider systemic issue that demands urgent attention.Too often, families arrive in the UK full of hope—believing that migration will mean a better life for their children. But what is often overlooked is what these children lose in the process: familiar faces, language, culture, environment, and above all, their sense of identity and security. In the UK, parenting is governed by a different set of cultural expectations and legal standards—standards many newcomers are unfamiliar with. Rules about leaving children unsupervised, the rights of the child, the interpretation of discipline, or expectations around emotional availability are often not explained or supported in culturally sensitive ways. This mismatch in understanding too easily results in family breakdown and, tragically, in some cases, the unnecessary removal of children from their families. The heartbreak is real. These parents didn’t need judgment—they needed guidance. They needed someone to walk alongside them as they adapted to a new culture, a new system, and a new way of parenting. Sadly, the lack of culturally appropriate preventative support has left too many families exposed to statutory intervention. This is precisely why AFRIFASS CIC exists. We’re working on the ground, delivering parenting education, cultural orientation, and advocacy for Black and ethnic minority families. But we cannot do it alone. The scale of need is far greater than any one organisation can address. We must come together—social workers, educators, community leaders, faith institutions, policymakers. We need coordinated, culturally-informed early intervention programs that meet parents where they are and help them understand how to parent safely and successfully in the UK context.We don’t want our children to become part of the statistics that reflect overrepresentation in care. We want them to thrive, not just survive.

Commencing a Parenting Program within our community has been nothing short of transformational—for the families involved, and for me personally. It has reignited my passion for serving the wider community and reaffirmed my calling in social work. Yet it has also exposed a sobering truth: our professional training does not sufficiently prepare us for macro social work. Most social workers are equipped with the tools for direct practice—case management, safeguarding, therapeutic interventions. While these are essential, they form only one part of our profession. What is often missing is preparation for systemic change: programme development, policy advocacy, community organising, and navigating complex funding landscapes. These macro-level competencies are crucial if we are to influence the root causes of the issues we address daily. The terrain is difficult. Opportunities to build macro-level skills are limited. Roles in this space are few, often underfunded, and not nearly as visible or financially rewarding as their micro-practice counterparts. They seldom come with the titles or prestige that our counterparts in policy, academia, or government enjoy. Despite these challenges, many of us step forward—driven by a conviction that real, sustainable change must happen beyond the frontlines. We take on the burden of bureaucracy, regulatory hurdles, and the emotional cost of constant advocacy because we know our communities deserve better.It is hard work. It requires courage, sacrifice, and an unshakable belief in the transformative power of collective action. But we remain committed and resolute. Because for us, social work is more than a profession—it is a calling to justice, equity, and healing.