Hey everyone! Whether you’re a fantastic immigrant parent supporting your child or an amazing young person making your way in Scotland, this is for you! If your family comes from another wonderful part of the world, you have a truly special story. This is all about helping you, the grown-ups and the kids, make the most of being part of both your home culture and the brilliant Scottish one.
A Foot in Two Worlds: A Wonderful Adventure
For parents, it’s beautiful to watch your kids grow up with connections to their roots – the tasty food, the lively music, the values you cherish, and your faith. At the same time, you want them to thrive here in Scotland – make great friends, do well at school, and feel confident being themselves in their Scottish life.
And for you young people, you’re living this adventure every day! You’re learning new things, making new friends, and figuring out how all these different parts of your life fit together.
But let’s be honest, it’s not always a piece of cake, is it?
Sometimes, young people might not even realise how others can see their background. Maybe the lovely smells from home – that amazing curry or stew – can stick to clothes. Or perhaps it feels easiest to hang out with friends who have similar backgrounds.
Parents, you might see this in your faith communities – churches, mosques, temples, and other special places – and at school. And young people, you might feel it too. That’s why it’s super important for everyone to talk about this and learn some cool ways to be confident, understanding, and work well together.
Understanding Our Superpowers (and How Others See Them)
For Parents: Helping your child understand “cultural self-awareness” is like giving them a superpower. It’s about knowing how others might see their cultural habits and traditions.
For Young People: Knowing what makes you, YOU, is brilliant! It’s about understanding all the cool things about your family’s background and how others might see them.
Think about those yummy smells again. For families, these smells are home! However, for a young person going to school, others might notice the smell first.
For Parents: This is a subtle but important point. It’s not about changing who they are but teaching practical skills.
For Young People: We’re not saying stop eating your favourite food! No way! But little things, like opening a window after cooking or changing your top, can help everyone feel comfortable.
Stepping Out of Our Awesome Comfort Zones
For Parents: It’s natural for children to stick with what’s familiar, but gently encourage them to explore connections with others from different backgrounds.
For Young People: It’s easy to hang with your usual mates, but there’s a whole world of awesome people to meet! Your special community places and school are great places to connect with others who might have different stories and ideas.
Working Together Makes Everyone Stronger
For Parents: Emphasise the lifelong value of collaboration. Point out examples where working with diverse people leads to great things.
For Young People: Being a team player is like having super-strength for life! It means making friends with all sorts of people, working together to solve problems, and listening to everyone’s ideas. Remember the story about Google and Levi’s? Different teams are working together to make something amazing!
Cool Opportunities: The Saltire Award
For Parents: The Saltire Award is a fantastic way for teens to gain valuable experience, build confidence, and get recognition for their contributions.
For Young People: Want to get a real award for being awesome? The Saltire Award is for young people who volunteer to help in their community, school, or other group. You get certificates that look brilliant and show how much you contribute!
A Big Message to Everyone
For Parents: Let’s help our children be proud of their heritage and confident in their Scottish lives. Faith-based spaces and communities are vital for building skills and connections.
For Young People: You are amazing just the way you are! Learning about your background and other cultures makes you even more brilliant. Being a good team player and helping out makes a real difference.
Explore Your Awesome Future!
For Parents and Young People: Check out these fantastic resources together!
- Scotland Careers Navigator: For exploring future paths and developing skills.
- The Spark Zone to Ignite Curiosity and Confidence: Loads of fun stuff to get you thinking and feeling great
By working together and understanding each other, we can all shine brightly in our wonderful, multicultural Scotland!
