Welcome to Project
Esperanza

who we are

We are a womanist initiative based in North Edinburgh that offers practical, emotional and integration support predominantly to families of African heritage but also supports a huge base of people from multi ethnic backgrounds. We are the pioneers of race and faith sensitive, culturally authentic and appropriate, trauma-informed, stigma-free specialised support and services that address social isolation, migration trauma and racial trauma.

We have a trusted network of partners who understand the needs of the people we serve and use a cultural safety approach as well as a human rights-based approach to working with people.

Going strong since 2016

Our Vision

Our Vision encompasses a commitment to the advancement of citizenship through integration services activities; to the relief of those in need by reason of age, ill health, disability, financial hardship, and other disadvantages; and to promote and preserve the African culture and heritage through creative, nutrition, beauty and wellness arts.

Our Mission

Our Mission is to ensure that our vision makes a positive impact through the unique and powerful ways that we show up to empower people and communities; and also in the ways in which we inspire opportunities for ACTION that promotes inclusion, but most importantly inclusion without bias so that people are able to build meaningful lives and positive relationships in the wider community.

The work we do

We work collaboratively and regularly with partners and professionals who believe in and are willing to work in-line with our mission and vision; and partners and professionals who make diversity, inclusion, and the elimination of racial oppression a priority and who advance racial harmony in the community by encouraging acceptance of newly arrived families and helping them settle in their new communities in Edinburgh.

Other activities our organisation facilitates

Advocacy and Family Support

We offer culturally appropriate information sessions on a variety of family issues, and we work alongside a carefully selected referral tree that specialises in working with migrant families to advocate for and address issues faced by children, adults and families. Facilitated by family service experts and individuals with lived experiences.

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Food support

We work alongside carefully selected food banks to provide food support to families from culturally diverse backgrounds for the lack of culturally appropriate food in Edinburgh food banks.

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Youth Work

We offer culturally nuanced mental health and wellbeing mentoring, support and activities that are empowering and tailored to the unique needs of children and young people. We afford children and young people safe spaces to enjoy positive social experiences; to develop individuality and interpersonal skills, and to learn about culture, heritage and identity. We do this through workshops, exploring creative cultural arts, trips out and playing games. Our biggest pride is in amplifying children and young people’s voices through listening to their experiences and using those voices to challenge systems and shape fairer and safer systems for children and young people in Scotland

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Anti-Racism Awareness

We are specialist providers of Cultural Competence and Anti-racism Education; providing knowledge, support and resources to those working with Black and multi-ethnic families; and those responsible for educating and caring for Black and multi-ethnic children and young people.

Our program provides resources and knowledge to build an anti-racist culture for work environments, schools and community spaces, and our sessions are facilitated by pro-black educators and critical friends. For more information, please make an enquiry

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Consultancy

We provide culture-specific education to community leaders, organisations and agencies to aid in decision-making and influence best practices.

For more information, please make an enquiry.

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Our Ethos

Empowered women

“We improve the lives of women and empower women because women are needed for the stability of the home, women are the backbone of communities and women shape the future”

CEO, Project Esperanza

Strong Partnerships

We are committed to the promotion of equality and diversity by raising awareness, challenging and reducing health and social inequalities through the provision of specific, specialist, faith sensitive, culturally appropriate and practical mental health, well-being and integration support and services to women and families of African heritage living in North Edinburgh.

Conscious Leadership

“Leadership is about empathy. It’s about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purposes of inspiring and empowering lives”.

-Oprah Winfrey