Building belonging: Pachedu and Black history in Scotland

For the next blog in our Black History Month series, we hear from Johannes Gonani, the CEO and co-founder of Pachedu, a Renfrewshire-based charity working to promote diversity, equality, inclusion and stronger communities. Originally from Zimbabwe and living in Scotland since 2005, Johannes is passionate about bringing people from different backgrounds together and helping racialised communities to have a stronger voice in shaping the places where they live.

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the achievements, cultures and contributions of Black people. For me, it is also a time to think about the communities we are building today and the history we are creating for the generations that will follow us.

I came to Scotland from Zimbabwe and have lived here since 2005. Over the years, I have seen how important it is for people to feel that they belong, that their culture is valued and that their voices are heard. This thinking helped shape Pachedu, which we established in Renfrewshire in 2016.

The word Pachedu comes from the Shona language and means “amongst ourselves”. It reflects a simple idea: people are stronger when they come together. Our work started by recognising some of the challenges experienced by diverse ethnic communities moving to a new country and how this can bring opportunities, but it can also mean being far from family and familiar support networks and this is a common experience for most of the communities we support. Most of them have reportedly experienced loneliness, racism, language barriers or difficulties understanding and accessing services. These experiences can affect health and wellbeing.

At Pachedu, we believe good health is about more than treating illness. Feeling connected to other people, having a sense of purpose, being able to access opportunities and knowing that you are valued within your community are also important. That is why our work brings together culture, health, wellbeing and practical support.

Through our community activities, we create spaces where people can build friendships, find support, develop skills and celebrate who they are. Our work includes health and wellbeing activities, support for families and young people, employability, volunteering and cultural programmes.

Celebrating African heritage is an important part of this. Through initiatives such as our School of African Cultures and community events, children and families can learn about and celebrate African cultures while sharing them with the wider Scottish community.

For young Black people growing up in Scotland, this matters. We want them to be proud of their heritage and confident about their place in Scotland. Black History Month reminds us to look back and recognise the people who came before us. But Black history isn’t just about the past. It is being written today in our neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces and community organisations.

At Pachedu, we want to play our part by creating communities where everyone can be seen, heard and valued. Because when people feel they belong, communities become healthier and stronger for everyone.

To learn more about the work of Pachedu, visit their website here for more information and for links to their social media platforms.