Pat Makela

Job Title

I’m Pat Mackela, a musician, I play drums and percussion, and I’ve been involved with CAN since 2005. I’ve been part of Exodus from the beginning as a Volunteer and then a Trainee Music Workshop Facilitator. This training helped me become a Music Workshop Leader and Facilitator.

I’ve been involved in lots of different CAN projects over the years. A highlight for me was working on the Lisapo: The Congolese Tales project in 2014. This project brought Greater Manchester’s Congolese community together, to share our stories, and we held the most amazing Congolese event.

CAN has been so helpful in many aspects of my life in Manchester. As a musician from a refugee background, the support I’ve received was on so many levels supporting me as an individual as well as an artist.

What CAN brings to the arts is beyond comparison. CAN has helped so many artists from asylum-seeker and refugee backgrounds, to find their place in the arts and music scene in the UK.

I’ve gained so much from my involvement with CAN. I always say I’m part of the CAN family.