皇家华人

Call for participants: a therapy group for postgraduate students who are first- or second-generation migrants & people of colour to share their experiences of learning in Western academic institutions

About the project

This project, led by Jasmine Sachdev, forms part of UCL鈥檚聽Prejudice in Power programme, responding to the legacy of eugenics at 皇家华人 and beyond.

Eugenics has prioritised academic intellect and western forms of knowledge. 鈥淚t has valorised ignorance as rationality and has pushed out other knowledges by discrediting the flesh that carries them鈥� (Unruly Therapeutic, Foluke Taylor, 2023). In the spirit of Foluke Taylor鈥檚 call to 鈥渄are to create theory鈥� from people鈥檚 lived experiences, this project aims to work with the bodies that have not been systematically heard by the popular discourse, and perform the theory it creates.

This project will invite a group of postgraduate students at a London university, who are first- or second-generation migrants and people of colour to share their experiences of learning in Western academic institutions, doing so in a therapeutic space using creative arts as a medium of exploration, looking at the intersectionalities of their experience and hoping to engage with anti-eugenic and anti-racist discourse.

The practice and work proposed will operate at three different levels: personal, interpersonal, and systemic. At the personal level, the project aims to co create a safe space to explore and process their experiences with themselves and with other group members. At an interpersonal level, it aims to support their confidence in being their authentic knowledgeable selves in the world outside the therapeutic space. At a systemic level, it aims to share experiences of the participants through a performance, and an exhibition of the material created during the therapy process, to create systemic dialogues and bring such experiences into focus of our everyday conversations.

More information about this project can be found here:聽Project: Eugenics and the Body

Please note, this project will involve conversations about eugenics, racism, colonialism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia. We will also be engaging with objects from UCL鈥檚 Eugenics Collections.

Who is this group for

This group will be for postgraduate students at a London university, who are first- or聽second-generation migrants and people of colour, and who identify as women, non-binary, trans and genderqueer. This group is also open to non-UCL postgraduate students.

If you would like to process your feelings and experiences around studying at your university and your given and chosen identities, this space is for you.

If you have any queries about whether this group is for you, please do get in touch.

Sessions

Participants will take part in a 10-week therapy group. There will be an opportunity at the end of the sessions to take part in a performance. Participants will receive remuneration for any rehearsals and performance that culminate from this project.

Time: Mondays, 5-7pm, from 18 March聽鈥� 10聽June 2024 (excluding bank holidays)
Location: Wilkins Building, UCL, London WC1E 6BT (room location will be provided to participants)

If you would like to take part in this project, or have any queries, please contact Jasmine Sachdev, Jasminesachdev.work@gmail.com.

Please make sure that you can commit to at least 8-9 of the 10 sessions. Those who apply will have an initial 30-minute conversation with Jasmine to discuss the project and check this is something you want to take part in. Places will be limited, but a waiting list will be available.

Project Facilitator

Jasmine Sachdev

Jasmine is an applied theatre and movement practitioner, and a creative arts therapist with a specialisation in drama and movement therapy. They have been working in the social sector, and in education, with a focus on creative arts for the last ten years.

Jasmine also works with Women鈥檚 Aid supporting adults, young people, and children fleeing domestic abuse. They sing with a community choir, and are also a theatre director. Every year, she goes back home to run the India Youth Jam, a space for changemakers to come together in community and work on personal, interpersonal and systemic change. She loves to crack bad jokes and gets a lot of validation when people laugh at them!

This project is born out from the wish that they could have had such a space when they first moved to the UK 3.5 years back. It aims to continue conversations about social justice and intersectional politics being an integral part of therapy, and acts as a rebellion against being told to write and work to a 鈥榙istilled field鈥� of psychology!

Contact for enquiries

Jasmine Sachdev, Project Facilitator,聽Jasminesachdev.work@gmail.com
Kaissa Karhu, Co-Creation and Content Manager: Prejudice in Power, k.karhu@ucl.ac.uk