A day at the Library!

Yesterday was a big, big day! The Different Moons book was launched at Haslingden Library with readings, food and good spirits. The book is a lovely 100 page hard-back, illustrated volume, containing over 60 poems by local people - mainly girls and women, and almost all from the South Asian communities. 

The upstairs room in the library was full, and Shamshad Khan, who has overseen the project, compered an hour of readings by some of the participants. Lots of the young people who had been involved in the classes turned up, accompanied by parents - and we were especially pleased to see a number of the first generation family members joining us, such as Mr Mazhar Hussain and Mr Aslom Miah (below). 

At the same time our entirely new Different Moons website was launched - it's to be found at www.differentmoons.org and it's full of interviews, photos, animations and writings that have grown out of our project. 

The third big event to celebrate was the completion of the refurbishment of the Apna, down the road at 69 Deardengate in Haslingden. It's now ready to re-open, and from Wednesday this week (16th) it will host a small exhibition reminding everyone of the many projects that have happened over the past few years under the Different Moons banner! There will also be an opportunity for anyone who didn't make it on Saturday to come along and claim their free copy of the book. 

Our new website

We're working hard to get things ready for next weekend - specifically for Saturday 16th March - when we launch both our Different Moons book and website, and re-open The Apna. All the events will be focused in Haslingden, where the book launch takes place at 12 midday at the Library, and of course it's where the Apna is - at 69 Deardengate. 

Up to now we've focused on getting the book ready, and it's currently at the printers so we just have to be patient. But recently there's been a flurry of activity at the Apna (see previous post), and this week we'll be completing the website (www.differentmoons.org). For a glimpse of what our designers, Osprey Delivers, are doing there's a preview of a page above, while below there's an example of what it might look like on your phone....

...we can't wait!

The New Apna!

Proof that we're almost ready to open - and that the Apna is now fully equipped with heating, toilets and a store room! Above Arry Nessa inspects the work....

Just a few more days of cleaning and some painting...bringing back materials that have been in store, and we expect to be open for the Different Moons Book Launch, which is being held at Haslingden Library on Saturday 12th March. After that the books will be brought down to the Apna, and they'll be activities to celebrate both the book and the new website!