Community Voices: Imaan Youth Club and the Miracle of the Bees
We met the Imaan Youth Club in Spring 2024. After a successful summer school in August 2024, we embarked on an ambitious journey to co-create an ‘immersive experience’ with artist collective Vortex Creates. Sadiya Ashiq, Director and Founder of Redditch’s Imaan Youth Club, talks about the project, what impact the project has had on the young people and what’s next…
What a wonderful and successful event. We couldn’t have imagined it this time last year when we ran our summer school that we could have made something like this. Miracle of the Bees was thoroughly enjoyed by all who created it and all who experienced it.
From its early beginnings to the final showcase, this interactive experience was a celebration of creativity, community, and connection, with the enthusiastic participation of the Imaan Youth Club children standing out as a true highlight.
The goals behind this project were to educate children and families about the essential role of bees in our environment, to build a strong sense of community through co-creation, and to inspire environmental responsibility rooted in both faith and science.
Children from Imaan Youth Club took part in the design process from the very start, producing ideas to shape the vision and the final installation. Their ideas were brought to life in collaboration with Vortex, resulting in a vibrant, interactive experience that reflected both nature and imagination.
Co-creation was at the heart of it all. IYC participants not only helped design the experience, but they also got stuck in the making of the bees and flowers. They guided visitors through the final showcase with pride and excitement, passing on the ample knowledge they had learned.
The impact on the local community was visible through their faces and feedback. Visitors expressed awe at the beauty and depth of the experience, and many left with a renewed appreciation for bees, the environment, and the power of youth-led creativity.
Highlights included watching the children’s confidence bloom, hearing their excited explanations, and seeing the joy on visitors’ faces as they journeyed through the space.
Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with IYC children saying:
“It felt amazing to be part of something big.”
“I loved making the flowers and showing my family where they are.”
“I loved how my ideas came to life, and I owned that idea.”
For the young people involved, this co-creation project has really boosted their confidence, teamwork, and a real sense of achievement. They developed new creative and practical skills, formed lasting friendships, and saw first-hand how their ideas shaped something meaningful for the wider community.
We saw this reflected in what visitors said to us:
“You can tell this was made with love, it’s such a beautiful space.”
“An incredible, thoughtful experience so different, so meaningful.”
” We hope this could be a permanent feature.”
“The children have been outstanding, and their work and ideas are amazing.”
The Miracle of the Bees has left a lasting buzz in our hearts and our community, and we can’t wait to bring more experiences to Redditch.
We hope to create more large-scale, informative, and interactive exhibitions each with their own unique twist, as well as showcase art in different forms which continue to inspire, educate, and connect people through creativity.
We have some incredible ideas in the pipeline, projects designed to excite, inspire, and spark curiosity.
Sadiya Ashiq, Imaan Youth Club (Founder)
