Mission and Outreach Coordinator, Kitty Montero Junca, writes...
On Saturday 15th March the Latin American community at SKC came together for a singing workshop with Maria (professionally known as MONTAÑERA), an artist and researcher who explores how song can bring people together, promote healing, and build peace. Drawing from her research with war survivors in Tumaco, Colombia, she led our community through a powerful musical practice that created a safe space for intimate conversations about migration, grief, loneliness, and resilience.
The words "escucha mi canto que, viene del agua y mar, mojando la tierra pa que crezca nueva vida,” which translates to "listen to my song, it comes from the water and sea, moistening the earth, so that new life may grow" were sung repeatedly sparking memories and reflections on the landscapes they left behind. The community reflected on how suffering is never fully healed but always finds a way to return and how healing is cyclical—pain resurfaces in different ways, just like sound echoes and returns. Singing together became a way to move through it, not alone, but as a collective, creating waves of resilience.
The post-discussion resonated with SKC’s community-inspired, creation-based Lent devotional, which celebrates the beauty of the homelands that community members have come from. Reflections centred on the profound grief of leaving—how migration, despite a deep love for their own countries, often feels like the only option. It's an act of both hope and pain, as they trade the familiarity and richness of their homeland for the uncertain promise of new opportunities in cities like London. And yet, despite the pain, there was also pride. They spoke about how Latin Americans, even when they have little, are known for their joy and hope. The workshop became a reminder of this spirit, of the unbreakable connection they have to their roots, their histories, and most importantly, to each other.
