Building South Asian community memory ecosystem in Wales

Strategic Programme Areas

Our work is structured across three interconnected programme strands:

1. Those Who Built South Asian Wales

A heritage series documenting the lives, journeys, and contributions of the pioneering South Asian communities who helped shape modern Wales.

This programme explores the experiences of migration, settlement, and community formation, with a particular focus on the period between the 1940s and 1970s. Through oral histories, personal stories, photographs, and community memories, we preserve the experiences of individuals and families who made Wales their home and contributed to its social, cultural, and economic development.

1940s – 1970s: Migration Stories

This strand captures the journeys of early migrants, documenting their experiences of arrival, employment, adaptation, and resilience. It explores the challenges and opportunities they encountered while building new lives and establishing communities across Wales.

Strories of Arrival and Belonging

Beyond migration itself, this strand explores identity, belonging, family life, and community-building. It highlights how South Asian families maintained cultural traditions, developed support networks, and created a sense of home while contributing to the rich diversity of Welsh society.

By recording and sharing these stories, the programme helps ensure that the history and heritage of South Asian communities are recognised as an integral part of Wales’ shared heritage. These stories not only preserve the experiences of previous generations but also inspire future generations to understand, value, and celebrate their roots.

2. South Asian Heritage 365

South Asian Heritage 365 is the flagship programme of South Asian Heritage Society Cymru. The programme celebrates South Asian heritage throughout the year, recognising that heritage is not confined to a single month or annual event. We believe that heritage is living, dynamic, and continuously shaped by our everyday experiences, relationships, traditions, and communities.

Through regular engagement and participation, the programme encourages individuals, families, and communities to explore, preserve, and share the rich diversity of South Asian Intangible Cultural Heritage in Wales. By embedding heritage into everyday life, we create meaningful opportunities for learning, reflection, and connection across generations.

The programme uses a range of community-led approaches, including:

• Individual oral history interviews
• Group storytelling sessions
• Co-designed community engagement activities
• Heritage discussions and reflective learning workshops

Participants explore themes such as migration, belonging, identity, family history, culture, memory, and lived experience. These conversations help preserve personal and community stories while contributing to a growing archive of South Asian heritage in Wales.

A particular focus of the programme is intergenerational learning. Young people are encouraged to engage directly with oral histories and lived experiences, helping them develop a deeper understanding of their heritage, identity, and place within Welsh society.

Through storytelling, dialogue, and shared learning, South Asian Heritage 365 ensures that heritage remains accessible, relevant, and meaningful for present and future generations. The programme celebrates South Asian heritage not as something fixed in the past, but as a living legacy that continues to evolve and enrich communities across Wales every day.

3. Wales South Asian Pride Awards (WSAPA)

The Welsh South Asian Pride Awards (WSAPA) is a community recognition initiative that celebrates the contributions of South Asian people living in Wales, or those with a strong connection to Wales. The awards recognise individuals whose dedication, resilience, and service have made a positive difference to their families, communities, and wider Welsh society.

Unlike traditional awards that often focus on professional success, public profile, or economic achievement, the Welsh South Asian Pride Awards celebrate the everyday contributions that frequently go unnoticed. We believe that meaningful contribution is also found in acts of care, kindness, community service, cultural preservation, and support for others.

The awards honour our unsung heroes – parents, carers, volunteers, community members, small business owners, educators, artists, and local champions who help strengthen communities across Wales. Their efforts contribute to social cohesion, community wellbeing, cultural heritage, and intergenerational resilience, often without seeking recognition or reward.

South Asian communities have played an important role in shaping the cultural and social fabric of Wales for generations. Through the Welsh South Asian Pride Awards, we celebrate the values of humanity, dignity, compassion, courage, and community spirit that continue to enrich Welsh society.

The initiative also seeks to raise awareness of the diverse experiences, achievements, and contributions of South Asian communities in Wales, helping to foster greater understanding, inclusion, and appreciation of our shared heritage.

By recognising these inspiring individuals and their stories, the Welsh South Asian Pride Awards ensure that everyday acts of service, leadership, and community contribution are valued and celebrated as an important part of South Asian heritage in Wales.

Together, we celebrate the people who make Wales a stronger, more inclusive, and more connected nation through their commitment to family, community, and humanity.

The Awards is planned to take place every two years, with the inaugural ceremony scheduled for 2027.