Hear Me

Mollie’s story is about the power music has to unite all of us, regardless of our political, social, and religious backgrounds. Music Is Mollie’s lifeblood. Living in a small town in Northern Ireland she believes that music plays a powerful role in how she, and other young people, are navigating growing-up in the post-troubles generation. Although she hopes conflict and violence are behind them, Mollie is aware of residue tensions but thinks it is music that allows people from all sides to come together. As Mollie learns from talking to her mum who lived through it, the legacy of the 1970s punk scene connected people from the different communities in Northern Ireland in the most difficult times. Now over 20 years since Good Friday Agreement, she reflects on how her generation are trying to leave the past behind and are taking the lead to move things forward both politically and creatively. In conversation with BBC Radio 1/Radio Ulster broadcaster Gemma Bradley, Mollie highlights how the music scene in Northern Ireland is breaking down barriers and providing positive experiences for young people. Mollie hopes by sharing her story she can show a side of Northern Ireland that has been overlooked because of violence and stereotypes often portrayed in the media.

Ramis’ story is about mental health – his personal experiences and why he thinks it isn’t talked about in the Asian community enough. After his Dad died, Ramis struggled to manage his grief and found it difficult to talk about within his Asian community. When it came to expressing the issues he was facing he found there was a stigma about talking about mental health, particularly amongst boys and men that enhanced his anxiety and depression. Ramis wants to share the story of his continuous mental health journey and challenge traditional views of being a man. In conversation with his cousin and BBC Asian Network broadcaster Mim Shaikh, Ramis highlights how he hopes the Asian community can change the long-standing silence and encourage people to talk about their mental well being more.

As the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic continues we revisit Millie, Haleem, Sophie, Deen and Ollie to reflect on their personal circumstances and how the unprecedented year will uniquely shape the rest of their lives. For the 12 months, these young people have been recording their lives during a time that will become a defining part of their generation.

Summer’s story is about having a parent in prison. Summer felt like her life was pretty normal, until one day following a knock on the door by police, her Dad was sent to prison. Having been particularly close to her Dad and no understanding of the criminal justice system except from TV shows she didn’t know what this would now mean for her and her family. Summer had to face not only the huge loss of no longer having her Dad at home but also learn to navigate a system which seemed to be lacking support for young people. Summer wants to share her story to show the impact the prison service has on the children of prisoners, and she hopes also to help alleviate the stigma attached to her family’s circumstance.

Glory’s story is about seeking asylum in a country she has lived in over half her life. As an asylum seeker, Glory thought that her life had taken a turn for the better when she and her family arrived in the UK, but over time she felt had to keep a part of her identity hidden for fear of not being able to trust anyone, and potentially being sent back to Nigeria. Since she was seven Glory has lived her life with no official status and finding herself grappling with the feeling of not only not belonging, but also being stigmatised and perceived as undeserving of living in a safer environment – the country she now calls home. Glory has spent years living with this secret but now she wants to share her story and have more open conversations about the experiences of young people who face immigration.