An Island of Strangers - Really?

Freya Black
Aug 4
3 min read

Updated: Aug 9

Greenwich Park picnic - Info Latinos & Brixton Language Exchange

You may have heard the phrase “island of strangers” in the news recently. This is what our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, frustratingly said the United Kingdom was at risk of becoming.

In doing so, he played into the divisive rhetoric we often hear from right-wing media and politicians. Moreover, he failed to recognise the great work happening in communities across the UK to build friendships between people of different backgrounds and cultures.

We don’t even have to look far to find successful examples, and Info Latinos is one of them.

✨ Community as a Superpower

Community is undoubtedly a powerful tool for bringing people together. In fact, this year’s Refugee Week theme was ‘Community as a Superpower,’ which emphasises that community can be both ‘ordinary and extraordinary’ — and as a collective force, we can shape the present and future.

Community empowers you and those around you to make positive change and form new connections. Info Latinos is a testament to that through its mentoring programme.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris and Mayra, one of our buddy pairs from the 24/25 cohort.

🤝 A Friendship That Breaks Barriers

Mayra, a lawyer born in Ecuador but who has lived most of her life in Spain, was looking for a way to practise and improve her English. Chris found out about Info Latinos through a friend and thought it would be a great way to use his Spanish.

What began as mentoring grew into a genuine friendship. Both Mayra and Chris have busy schedules but have still managed to find time to meet regularly.

When I spoke with Mayra, she told me:

“We have a great laugh when we talk. Learning is fun because we learn from each other.”

Chris shares this feeling and also enjoys Mayra’s Spanish—or Ecuadorian—food when he visits her office. As a History of Architecture lecturer, Chris hopes to give Mayra an architectural tour of London soon.

Mayra and Chris embody the spirit of Info Latinos: sharing, connecting, and supporting one another.

🌎 Reconnecting with What You Love

I also spoke with James, a trustee and long-time volunteer at Info Latinos, about his experience and what drew him to the programme.

James had been living in Costa Rica for two years before returning to the UK due to the pandemic. Upon returning, his Spanish had worsened and he was no longer immersed in Latin American culture.

James saw the mentoring programme at Info Latinos as a way to reconnect with the Latin American culture he admired and to join a community offering something different. Plus, the chance to help someone settle into a new country really appealed to him.

When I asked how volunteering had strengthened his and others’ sense of community, he said:

“It’s great because it fuels my curiosity and desire to understand more about the world. Info Latinos creates such a safe, non-judgemental space where people can just come together.”

James also loves seeing the confidence of his buddies grow—in their social lives, academically, and with their English! He finds their positive attitude truly admirable.

This shows that being part of the mentoring programme isn’t a one-way street from mentor to buddy, but a mutual exchange of knowledge, stories, laughter, and values.

💬 Changing the Narrative

It’s something we already knew, but when we challenge the “island of strangers” narrative, what we really find are pockets of community, kindness, and connection.

These stories from Info Latinos are just a few among many that show community really is a superpower in the face of division.