Education by Choice – Photography session
11th of December 2009
With the Belfast East programme, phase II, we aim to encourage cultural exchange, by linking local groups with groups from a different country and enable the communication by developing creative projects together. We`ve already started establishing contacts in other countries and one of the groups that we have in mind for this project is Education by Choice.
In the initial stage of this project the YP will introduce themselves to their partner group. In this sense we suggested that they prepare a short introduction material (audio, video), that could be then sent over abroad. The same will happen from the other end too, and its purpose is to allow the 2 groups to get to know each other.
This particular project started on the 11th of December with a photography session, organised with the help of our volunteer Kerrie Hanna. Through the photos they take, the YP can all decide how they want to introduce themselves. what`s representative for them and what they want the others to know about them. We all went for a walk in one of the areas they live in, and quite a lot of photos were taken under Kerrie`s instructions. Some suggested that we go to the local park for more photos, then back to Education by Choice for more photos of the centre and the staff there.
We all enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and being out, we got to find out a bit more about each other, and couple of the YP seem to have a special interest in photography, which we hope to support through some of our actions.
We`ll be back to Education by Choice in the new year with follow-up activities. The best is yet to come!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Elmgrove Community Group - 21/10/09
Elmgrove Community Group – Drum Circle
21st of October 2009
After the last successful session with Elmgrove Community Group, we decided to impress them once more by bringing with us Thomas Annang from Releasing Rhythms and Davy Bates, freelance musician, for a drumming workshop.
Thomas, who originally comes from Ghana, offered a short introduction on the djembe, the African drum: its materials, symbols and use and then offered a short drumming demonstration. Powerful!... and as our meetings take place in the local school, we could see curious eyes showing up from behind our room`s door! I`m sure that made all the children want to be inside, with us, and get their hands on some of the drums we brought!
So much energy in the room: Thomas and Davy have such a lovely way of getting the instructions across and making things seem easy! Don`t think I`m mistaken by saying that at the end of our time together, we all felt we could be potential drummers! Imagine that for a confidence boost!
21st of October 2009
After the last successful session with Elmgrove Community Group, we decided to impress them once more by bringing with us Thomas Annang from Releasing Rhythms and Davy Bates, freelance musician, for a drumming workshop.
Thomas, who originally comes from Ghana, offered a short introduction on the djembe, the African drum: its materials, symbols and use and then offered a short drumming demonstration. Powerful!... and as our meetings take place in the local school, we could see curious eyes showing up from behind our room`s door! I`m sure that made all the children want to be inside, with us, and get their hands on some of the drums we brought!
So much energy in the room: Thomas and Davy have such a lovely way of getting the instructions across and making things seem easy! Don`t think I`m mistaken by saying that at the end of our time together, we all felt we could be potential drummers! Imagine that for a confidence boost!
Education By Choice - 16/10/09
Education by Choice – Connecting Cultures
16th of October 2009
The population of NI is becoming more and more varied, with people from different ethnic backgrounds moving into the country. For some, this is an exciting opportunity for cultural enrichment in particular, but there`s also a lot of confusion and misconceptions that need to be acknowledged and then addressed.
In order to tackle some of these issues, we organised a `questions and answers` session, with Ganesh Kumble from India, Charles Nugna from Zambia and me (Romania) on the panel and with DJ Venus McDonnell as facilitator. The programme was recorded for the Homely Planet radio station and the YP from Education by Choice were encouraged to ask questions that were of most interest to them. We even found ourselves asking eachother questions, amazed to find out things that we never knew about the respective countries!
It was an enjoyable experience for everybody involved!
16th of October 2009
The population of NI is becoming more and more varied, with people from different ethnic backgrounds moving into the country. For some, this is an exciting opportunity for cultural enrichment in particular, but there`s also a lot of confusion and misconceptions that need to be acknowledged and then addressed.
In order to tackle some of these issues, we organised a `questions and answers` session, with Ganesh Kumble from India, Charles Nugna from Zambia and me (Romania) on the panel and with DJ Venus McDonnell as facilitator. The programme was recorded for the Homely Planet radio station and the YP from Education by Choice were encouraged to ask questions that were of most interest to them. We even found ourselves asking eachother questions, amazed to find out things that we never knew about the respective countries!
It was an enjoyable experience for everybody involved!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Ravenlink Womens Group - 27/10/09
Ravenlink Women`s Group – Romania Insight presentation
27th of October 2009
Ravenlink Women`s Group is based in East Belfast and it is our hope to collaborate more closely in the future.
I facilitated this session and it was my first encounter with the group. We met in Albertbridge Band Hall one rainy evening and I thought that the weather would prevent the ladies from coming to our meeting. I was soon proved to be wrong; the ladies arrived one by one, introduced themselves and started chatting. It was a nice, cosy atmosphere, perfect for our friendly, informal talk on a country they know little about: Romania. A fairly large number of Romanian families have moved to NI since Romania joined the EU, so lots of the questions that evening evolved around their reasons for wanting to leave Romania and choose NI, on the Romanian Health and Social Security system, on the Romanian Rroma population etc.
Trying to answer to all these questions made me realise that I can only offer a personal perspective on Romania: my reality can be very different to that of another Romanian, nevertheless as accurate. With that in mind continued our talk, doing my best in keeping as objective as possible.
The conversation flowed, one answer led to another questions, but we soon ran out of time! We might meet again, so much to talk about!!
27th of October 2009
Ravenlink Women`s Group is based in East Belfast and it is our hope to collaborate more closely in the future.
I facilitated this session and it was my first encounter with the group. We met in Albertbridge Band Hall one rainy evening and I thought that the weather would prevent the ladies from coming to our meeting. I was soon proved to be wrong; the ladies arrived one by one, introduced themselves and started chatting. It was a nice, cosy atmosphere, perfect for our friendly, informal talk on a country they know little about: Romania. A fairly large number of Romanian families have moved to NI since Romania joined the EU, so lots of the questions that evening evolved around their reasons for wanting to leave Romania and choose NI, on the Romanian Health and Social Security system, on the Romanian Rroma population etc.
Trying to answer to all these questions made me realise that I can only offer a personal perspective on Romania: my reality can be very different to that of another Romanian, nevertheless as accurate. With that in mind continued our talk, doing my best in keeping as objective as possible.
The conversation flowed, one answer led to another questions, but we soon ran out of time! We might meet again, so much to talk about!!
Education By Choice - 27/11/09
Education by Choice – Arts and Crafts Workshop
27th of November 2009
Our idea so far was to offer the YP small creative experiences, tasters of the work different artists do: so we could then use these as support when developing connections with groups abroad.
This was our last session of this kind and possibly the most successful, maybe due to the more practical aspect of it: arts and crafts with Emma Louise Hutchinson.
Emma Louise brought pieces of tiles for the YP to paint on and encouraged them to represent themselves through this piece of work (the things that are important or defining for them and their lives, their aspirations etc). Each of these tiles will be then incorporated in a larger mosaic that will be displayed either in their centre or somewhere publicly.
Apart from doing something creative, the mosaic could represent a reference point for them, at a later stage, something they could look back to and make them realise if anything changed in the meantime: either positive or negative.
The YP seemed to really enjoyed the activity, our volunteers and Education by Choice staff got involved in the painting too. Some of the YP washed off their tiles few times, not happy with the result... it`s great to see them so motivated! Emma Louise has done a brilliant job!
27th of November 2009
Our idea so far was to offer the YP small creative experiences, tasters of the work different artists do: so we could then use these as support when developing connections with groups abroad.
This was our last session of this kind and possibly the most successful, maybe due to the more practical aspect of it: arts and crafts with Emma Louise Hutchinson.
Emma Louise brought pieces of tiles for the YP to paint on and encouraged them to represent themselves through this piece of work (the things that are important or defining for them and their lives, their aspirations etc). Each of these tiles will be then incorporated in a larger mosaic that will be displayed either in their centre or somewhere publicly.
Apart from doing something creative, the mosaic could represent a reference point for them, at a later stage, something they could look back to and make them realise if anything changed in the meantime: either positive or negative.
The YP seemed to really enjoyed the activity, our volunteers and Education by Choice staff got involved in the painting too. Some of the YP washed off their tiles few times, not happy with the result... it`s great to see them so motivated! Emma Louise has done a brilliant job!
Education By Choice - 06/11/09
Education by Choice – 1 Giant Leap
6th of November 2009
The screening of 1 Giant Leap film in NI, was the reason Beyond Skin was set up, so we thought it would be appropriate to introduce it to the YP in Education by Choice.
The film is quite intense and some of the meanings are hard to decipher but Darren chose couple of chapters that they`re most likely to relate to and understand.
We encouraged them to share their opinions with the others, at the end of each chapter, but no comments were made.
It was hard to tell what was happening in their minds, if the film had any impact at all, but then we noticed the silence. For about 40 minutes the film captured their attention, no laughs, no moves, no inappropriate comments... maybe the silence is an answer too!
6th of November 2009
The screening of 1 Giant Leap film in NI, was the reason Beyond Skin was set up, so we thought it would be appropriate to introduce it to the YP in Education by Choice.
The film is quite intense and some of the meanings are hard to decipher but Darren chose couple of chapters that they`re most likely to relate to and understand.
We encouraged them to share their opinions with the others, at the end of each chapter, but no comments were made.
It was hard to tell what was happening in their minds, if the film had any impact at all, but then we noticed the silence. For about 40 minutes the film captured their attention, no laughs, no moves, no inappropriate comments... maybe the silence is an answer too!
Elmgrove Community Group - 16/10/09
This is Belfast East`s other partner organisation, a parents` group that meets regularly at Elmgrove Primary School. This first meeting only involved a short introduction of our aims and hopes for this year`s programme. Darren spoke to them about the Global Connection project that we want to develop with their help; they all seemed very interested and were asking lots of questions already!
Andrea Brown, the vice-principal of the school is doing a great job organising this group, she`d worked with Beyond Skin in the past, and also some of the parents.
It was a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere and people seemed eager to start getting involved in the different activities we can offer.
We`ll be seeing this group quite often from now on and so looking forward to it!
Andrea Brown, the vice-principal of the school is doing a great job organising this group, she`d worked with Beyond Skin in the past, and also some of the parents.
It was a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere and people seemed eager to start getting involved in the different activities we can offer.
We`ll be seeing this group quite often from now on and so looking forward to it!
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