Community Snapshots: Award-Winning Women's Group, Mohila Ongon
At THCH, we believe in the power of community. We’re going to be taking a deep dive into some of the individuals, groups, and examples of excellent community across Tower Hamlets.
This month, we had the pleasure of speaking to Ferdous Ahmed and Forhana Begum, just two of the women that are the driving force behind the award-winning group, Mohila Ongon.
Recognised as Womens Group of the Year 2024 by Tower Hamlets at their International Women’s Day (IWD) Awards, we sat down for a chat at our Hanbury Street Community Room, where the group host their coffee mornings.
Ferdous, who also received the ‘Unsung Hero’ award at the 2024 Tower Hamlets IWD Awards, gives us a bit of background on how the group began back in 2010.
We used to all gather around the school after dropping the kids. The headteacher saw us and said she will give us a room in the school.
After a year, they needed the room so we had to find another community room or centre where we could sit. We didn’t have any funding or anything.
Then I called THCH and they said there was a slot we could use. They said we had to put a name on the noticeboard [for the group] so a few of us at the time decided it was going to be called Mohila Ongon, which means ‘Woman’s Area’.
Aside from their coffee mornings, Mohila Ongon run a wide range of activities for women across the area, aimed at giving them a sense of independence and helping them develop skills. Forhana describes what the group get up to.
We host a coffee morning. Everybody comes and chills out after dropping the kids, has tea and chats about what’s happening, just to have that time to yourself.
We do fruit carving, exercise, cooking classes, walking club, International Women’s Day, Macmillan Cancer Support fundraisers, Red Nose Day, fundraisers for floods in Bangladesh, a Saree Day where all the women get together and they wear a saree. We do bigger events too.
On top of all this, they have hosted large-scale events such as the Aam-Khatli Fruit Festival, which saw over 600 people attend Toynbee Hall in 2023. Ferdous and Forhana exclaims,
Every event gets bigger and bigger. We don’t expect it! For bigger events people are coming from Brighton and Luton.
Asked about the impact the group has had, it is clear that it has transformed the lives of many women in the area, giving them self-confidence and a group of people they can relate to.
We are honest, we work together, everybody listens, everybody says their opinion, and we respect that. Whoever comes, they say it feels like family. We all look after each other.
I remember this lady came from Manor Park and she was saying “I’m not dressed up but you are all dressed up” and I said “so what, it doesn’t matter. You don’t have to dress up.”. She said “where should I sit?”, I said “wherever you like”. She said, “but it’s a special event” and I said “you’re special today”.
We try our best to welcome everyone with a smile and people like that.
Not only have THCH supported the group by providing the community centre, but they also provide the group with ad hoc financial support for events. Groups are also able to apply for a pot of funding from THCH. Just get in touch with us if you think your group could benefit. Ferdous explains,
Funding is a big thing. Every time we ask they always support us. Sometimes we might say we need a gazebo and they do. Even if we need information, I might ask for advice, they are there.
Asked about what their community means to them, Ferdous and Forhana spoke about the importance of togetherness to them and their members.
Community means coming together. You look after each other. If someone is having a hard time you try to support them. It’s the togetherness and the teamwork.
If you are interested in going along to one of Mohila Ongon’s events, you can find them on Facebook. To see what sort of events they host in our community centres, click here on our website.