麻豆约拍

As Part of Black History Month 1Xtra once again celebrates its Future Figures. Future Figures is a way to recognise those members who are giving back to the Black community, and a time to celebrate the countless acts that are taking place up and down the country today by those who are helping to create the black history of tomorrow.

Ebinehita Iyere is the founder and Managing Director of Milk Honey Bees and a highly respected Therapeutic Youth Practitioner at Juvenis, working with young people who encounter the youth justice system and those who are impacted by violence in the community.
With over 9 years worth of experience in the youth sector, Ebinehita is widely recognised for her pioneering work with young people using holistic, relational and creative methods to support their needs, as well as working with multi-agency professionals across systems and decision making.

Milk Honey Bees is a creative and expressive safe space for Black girls to flourish and put H.E.R (Healing, Empowerment and Resilience) first. Milk Honey Bees is rooted in the creativity, celebration and liberation of Black Girlhood by amplifying the voice and visibility of Black Girls in all facets of life, opening doors that can often be closed to Black girls and ensuring that they are able to put both their Blackness and girlhood at the forefront, enabling them to discover not only their full potential, but also who they are.

In 2022, Ebinehita and 20 girls from Milk Honey Bees published Girlhood Unfiltered, a ground-breaking anthology of essays, letters and creative work that aimed to authentically reflect the multifaceted experience of Black Girlhood. Girlhood Unfiltered has been nominated for Children鈥檚 Non-Fiction Book of The Year and has been adapted into workshop models for secondary school delivery across the country. Ebinehita has also sought to amplify the intersectional experiences of Black girls through research, and in June 2023, released 鈥淪ee Us, Hear Us鈥�, a research report that aimed to highlight the experiences of school-aged Black girls in London, and how factors such as safety within their community, schooling and mental health impact their experiences. Through this research, Ebinehita was able to uncover the impact of structural and social issues that uniquely impact Black girls at the intersection of race, gender identity and age.

Her research report has since been adapted into a short film, social action project and annual conference for Black girls within her local community, which was funded by 麻豆约拍 Children In Need We Move Fund. 鈥楿nfiltered: Reimagining Girlhood鈥� was a roundtable event that offered members of Ebinehita鈥檚 community the chance to hear and gain insight directly from Gen-Z Black and Mixed teen girls. The event involved curating tables so Black girls could lead unfiltered conversations on their experiences of girlhood and featured the likes of ENNY, Jordss, Megan Zeenat Wamithi and many more on its panel.

At Milk Honey Bees, Ebinehita has personally worked with over 300 young women and girls who are often deemed as hard to engage, supporting them on their journey of healing whilst equipping them with social, employment and life skills that enable them to mobilise in their communities. Through the charity, at least 60% of the girls have found long-term education and employment opportunities. The remaining 40% are school aged and have achieved better attainment. 100% have reported better confidence and improvement in wellbeing.

Milk Honey Bees has received a wealth of recognition for its work to support young Black girls across London, and has been awarded funding from the likes of 麻豆约拍 Children In Need, Mission 44, Esm茅e Fairbairn Foundation, Sony Music UK, Sweaty Betty Foundation and many more. Most notably, Milk Honey Bees received significant funding from Sony Music鈥檚 Global Social Justice Fund to facilitate their Creative Connection project, created due to the need for a space to influence young women and girls alongside their role models, to feel inspired to become the best versions of themselves through wellness, healing and creativity. Globally-renowned poet Rupi Kaur recently joined one of these workshops, which is testament to their importance and success.

Milk Honey Bees has also received a wealth of recognition from a number of brands and publications including Vogue, GQ, Forbes, Barbie, Levi鈥檚 and The Evening Standard. In particular, following the release of the acclaimed Disney film The Little Mermaid, girls from Milk Honey Bees interviewed American singer-songwriter and actress, Halle Bailey and led a powerful discussion on identity and Black girlhood. Milk Honey Bees were also selected as the focus of Barbie鈥檚 new video campaigns to empower young Black girls and close the 鈥榙ream gap鈥� with Radio One presenter Clara Amfo.

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