Harehills ❤️ Love

Welcome to Day 14 of the 2025 Harehills Good News Advent Calendar.

Humans of Harehills is a project close to our hearts. Inspired by the global “Humans of New York” phenomenon, it was created to strip away the noise and headlines that often surround our area. Instead, it focuses on the individual heartbeats of the community—stopping people on the street to ask simple questions and listen to their answers.

The goal is simple but powerful: to remind us that every person we pass on Harehills Lane has a story worth hearing. Its fitting that Give a Gift spearheaded the project, sharing these stories is a gift in itself—it builds empathy and connects us to neighbours we might otherwise never truly “see.”

The project highlights the incredible range of people who call this place home.

Take Adam Aslam, for instance. A familiar face to many and a long-time supporter of HarehillsLove, Adam’s feature captured the essence of active citizenship. Having facilitated the youth-led organisation Breaking Down Barriers for several years—an organisation I absolutely admire—his story is one of rolling up your sleeves and getting directly involved to make things better. Highlighting people like Adam reminds us of the dedication that forms the backbone of our community.

But the project isn’t just about leaders; it’s about everyone. It’s about meeting neighbours like Estera, a young mother from Romania. Her portrait captures a quiet moment amidst the bustle, representing the vibrant, multicultural families building lives and raising the next generation right here on our streets.

Whether it’s a community veteran or a young parent navigating family life, Humans of Harehills proves that while we are all individuals, we are woven together into the same tapestry.

Humans of Harehills was created as part of the Cultural Bridges project by Give a Gift, with funds and support from:

Check Out Humans of Harehills:

Humans of Harehills Website: https://www.humansofharehills.com/

Humans of Harehills Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/humans_of_harehills/

Give a Gift: https://giveagift.org.uk/