“Ingat-Ingat throws a spotlight on the real human stories of those that left their homes in South East Asia to join our National Health Service. Preserving these stories of both the ordinary and the extraordinary, the humans and humanity behind the words ‘immigration’ and ‘immigrants’; tales of adventure, youth, sacrifice, hard work, fun, food, assimilation, integration, solidarity, identity and roots.
It recognises and acknowledges this huge part of UK history, so often invisible, the contribution ESEA people have made, not only the NHS, but to the country as a whole.
Ingat-Ingat comprises of 12 stories of young people who left their lives behind in Malaysia, The Philippines and Singapore, from 1959-1979, some still working in the NHS, some sadly no longer with us, all have stories to tell. Old and new photos, video, articles, artwortk and spoken and written interviews, make up this immersive look through the experiences, history, richness and reality of what it means to leave, live, care and contribute in a place far from home.”
See my mother’s story here ingat-ingat.com
Find out more about ESEA Heritage Month at besean.co.uk
Showing at The Willow Tree, 29 September – 10 October 2021
