ONE FINE DAY BLOG
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ANNO’S AFRICA and ONE FINE DAY e.V. TWO MONTHS INTENSIVE ART PROGRAMM WINTER 2011
REPORT FROM BEE GILBERT
The two months of workshops culminated in a spectacular show at Spurgeons School in Kibera, followed by a day of filming all the performers from Valley View at the Kenya National Theatre.
THE PLAN
The plan is to give the Valley View kids a DVD “showcase” of their work as a way to end our final year of workshops with the School. (We will of course be continuing their ONE FINE DAY Saturday clubs but will be starting up in a new school in that area next year)
THE RAIN
Our luck was extraordinary as both these events took place without the promised threatened rain breaking through – which was amazing as almost every day for the last few months has eitherstarted or ended with a downpour – and some times a lunch and tea soaking as well!!
They say it has been the longest, wettest “short” (!) rains for 40 years so we were also lucky that we didn't lose too many days of classes or field trips due to the bad weather. I think Anno was certainly lurking among the clouds and pleading our case on the 26th (Kibera show) as it stayed dry throughout the day - under a pall of grey, admittedly – whilst it was absolutely chucking it down in most of the surrounding areas.
THE PARADE
So the parade went ahead as planned in spite of the slums being a sea of mud rather reminiscent of Pachendale, and all of the kids and most of the trainers and school teachers took part. We danced and sang our way through the rivers of mud and knee high puddles, wending our way across the treacherously slippery railway line and its even more treacherous embankment led by a giant chicken and three monstrous puppet heads that had been designed by the art class teachers as part of their workshop training. We made it back to the school without catastrophe but covered in mud from the knees down.
PORTFOLIOS
With regard to what we left for the Art kids to remember us by – and to use for their future work applications -- we decided on portfolios to hold their drawings, painting and sketches and some materials for them to work with during the next weeks. So now they have all been given VERY smart folders full of their work and with pencils, papers, sharpeners etc thrown in.
Apart from the DVD's of the final show and the art portfolios, we also recorded all the music children's songs for them and Gareth, our music teacher, has taken the tapes back to the UK to complete. This means that they will all have CD copies of their work which can also be sent out to radio stations in Nairobi – and perhaps in the UK too.
TO SUM UP
So essentially the programme has been completed as planned and we came in JUST outside my budget as I said – but hardly surprising, given the huge rise in costs and need for extra security as I based my estimate on last year's figures which are now not really appropriate. But within our budget we did manage to give all the kids from Valley View something tangible to show for their efforts over three years and the Kibera kids are looking forward to the same thing next year – which will be their third and last for the workshops although here again we will continue the ONE FINE DAY weekend clubs for as long as we can.
One new concept that did come up this year and is very exciting – is the possibility that apart from our courses helping the children gain work as adults – it can also lead to them supporting themselves right now, by going out and doing shows in the community – and in the city. This is possible because so many companies in Kenya like to bring in performers for their events, conferences etc. and they don't seem to have any restrictions on child performers – in fact they LOVE them. And they pay pretty well apparently – especially the UN and Safaricom whom SAFE GHETTO have performed for on various occasions.
We have talked to the two head teachers from the schools, and to the Kenyan trainers too – and it looks as if the circus, dance, ballet and music groups stand a good chance of getting some gigs and thus subsidising some of their school fees and making enough money to pay for some new uniforms, books, desks etc
There were with no major practical disasters during the eight weeks – just a few irritations - like a football competition on one of our Spurgeon's days which meant half the school stayed away to play and to watch – and then a few of the kids did go “up country” to their families as soon as the school broke for the holidays which started two days before the Valley View filming. This meant a few quick recasts for the Music and Drama filming but most of the children did get the chance to record their achievements.
NEXT YEARS CHANGES
Altogether it was a very good year with a team who worked really well together despite the large numbers - around 28, with all the full time UK members plus guest visitors and resident trainers.
Not surprisingly there were occasional slight tensions with all those creative egos under one umbrella but the few minor arguments that did crop up were resolved pretty quickly. However, it made me realize the value of the weekly meeting we held last year, which this time I had cut, for budget reasons. I think, on reflection, that they are essential to the smooth running of the workshops and the feeling that we are a cohesive team under one banner and not separate disciplines working individually - as sometimes happened this time around.
We held just 2 meetings this year, one at the beginning and one at the end and I now see this was a mistake on my part so next year we will reinstate the once a week get together but more economically than last year, without the sodas and lunch thrown in as this did push the cost to around £40 a session.
But in future we can compromise and meet at the Kenya National Theatre and not holding a lunch time meeting at the backpackers as we did last year.
In fact we won't be staying at Upper Hill Camp Site again anyway as it became a little bit uncomfortable for the trainers this time since Jesse, who used to just work there as a manager, has now married the owner has become a bit of a harridan, forcing all kinds of rules and regulations that have changed the nice easy ambiance that there was before to a very different dynamic.
The trainers who stayed there had to use the camp's restaurant and bar all the time and were not allowed any self catering which made life difficult – and expensive for them. So next year we have to find alternative CHEAP accommodation where they can all cook for themselves – or at least make a cup of tea!
We are also sadly losing the loan of Samantha's house as she is giving up renting it so we will need to take a careful survey of accommodation for the next visit.
We also need to take a new look at transport arrangements next year as, with the hire of car and the van (plus a driver for safety) along with various buses we had to hire, the various taxis we needed and the extra car for certain days, it might prove more economical to hire a 24 seater bus and driver throughout so that we are not having to pay so much to take the trainers to schools, kids to their outings, the ballet class to the KNT one day a week and so on. So Krysteen our coordinator in Nairobi will look into the various possibilities and we will see what can be done to put the transport all into one “pot” Also next year the plan is to try and all lodge in the same location (a group of flats maybe) so there isn't the need for individual taxis to the base camp. The bus idea was prompted by the fact that we hired/borrowed the SAFE GHETTO bus from Nick Reding a few times this year and it meant we
could send it all over Nairobi on various errands for a single, daily price which was made a huge difference. But sadly it was only available to us on a few occasions.
* * *
THE REPORTS OF THE VARIOUS DISCIPLINES
ART
Olivia arrived at the beginning of November (to replace Francesca who had returned to Scotland) and continued with the visual art programme for the kids as well as taking over the Workshops to Work teachers' training. She produced a wonderful set of work sheets for the Kenyan trainers, which she had kept from HER teacher training days so these we photocopied and put in their portfolios as a basis for their class planning for future workshops and Saturday clubs.
They were delighted as it showed techniques for every aspect of art teaching - from life drawing suggestions to perspective and landscapes – and included working with different materials and fabrics as well as how to teach imaginative painting, and many other suggestions.
So now with their curriculum planning and report writing skills already polished up by Francesca – along with her advice on “materials management” – we have in Dickson, Edgar, Babu, Ambyio and Martin a wonderful team to run The 3 classes a week that Marie is planning for the clubs and we may well be able to continue helping the Hamlets project with one class a week as well.
This sustaining of the programme via the Saturday Clubs is courtesy of Marie Steinmann and One Fine Day e.V. who have taken on this financial and practical responsibility and we are extremely grateful to Marie for fund raising and organising this part of the Anno's Africa programme. Without her input it would not have been possible to run and to extend the clubs as we have done, without many more major funding events.
This year we also ran pilot art projects in story telling and also in designing and making books. This new “discipline” was very exciting and will definitely become part of the curriculum for the next workshops, coming under the heading of Creative Writing and will connect to both art and drama.
We held a three day photography test course run by a Dutch girl called Susi who has set up her own photography charity in the slums (“Ghetto Exposed”) and wants tie up with us. Her three day course culminated in a “Junk Fashion” shoot just outside the school above the Kibera railway line, with costumes made from plastic bags, scraps of material, newspapers, old CD's and other found materials.
The photography course was hugely enjoyable and the kids came up with some wonderful ideas and proved themselves very quick learners, yet again. They are desperate to do more so we will see if Susi is free nest year and can bring a couple of her Kenyan photography graduates to teach the children. We gave them some throw way cameras at the end of the course and printed their terrific results for a display on the last day, Sadly the prints were so well appreciated that most of them got nicked before I had time to film them at the end of the day. But we will run some more copies as I have them on disc.
BALLET
Ballet has continued to raise a lot of interest and fascination, both in Nairobi and the UK – and following the CNN exposure, a journalist from the BBC World Service asked if she could come to do a radio piece on ballet teacher Mike Wamaya. We have also had film clips on Al-Jazeera and KTN as well as the original CNN piece. The Ballet Clubs for the next year will be taught by Mike again but now with help added of Dutch ballet dancer Caroline along with Kenyan dancers Ronnie and Roy who have both been attending Anna's teacher training classes.
They will be teaching pre- primary and primary classes to the kids and later move on to Grade one. We will hold Ballet Clubs in Mathare and Kibera and Mike will teach one adult session a week at the K.N.T to keep the other trainers up to date. He will also hold some classes at Lily's orphanage and is going to do a month long workshop with Lily's kids in January so that they can do a little show for the community as they broke up earlier than the other schools and we had no time for them to show off their talents in November. All the kids in the ballet programme now have their own leotards, skirts and shoes – and bags in which to keep them.
CIRCUS
This year we were lucky to have persuaded Nathan Martin to return as a coach as he has had a wealth of experience in both tight rope and juggling as well general circus skills. He teamed with Mdogo (acrobatics) and Samuel from Sarakasi - also acrobatics - and worked along side Safia who managed to come out for a month, in between her various bookings as a performer, to train Irush (as well as the kids) so that he too has now become a qualified aerial teacher in both hoop and silks.
Our circus team was probably the largest of all the disciplines but this was important from a safety point of view and enabled them to give the kids more individual help which is essential in this rather dangerous art form. In fact the circus probably ran the most intense and highly disciplined workshops of all but still managed to make it a very imaginative and creative course as well – evidence of which you can see when the film has been edited. Hopefully they will be out in the city performing next year and are so brilliant and completely professional in their approach so I am sure they will raise serious money towards school fees and circus equipment. We have handed over the Anno's Africa materials; silks, hoops and costumes, for these performances and for the Saturday clubs that will start again in January. Nathan has also left them a tightrope plus all fittings and a good supply of juggling materials. So they will do us proud.
DANCE
Consolata is a God send to Anno's Africa not just because of her continued dedication to the children but also because she has been an amazing mentor to music teacher Lulu and to her dance associate, Joseph. They have both become really strong trainers under her guidance and tutelage (we combine music and dance in the ONE FINE DAY Saturday clubs) proving themselves to be both creative and reliable - and wonderful role models for the kids. And her kids themselves have proven to be the most committed and disciplined of all the groups – talented and self sufficient – and inspiring to the other children.
Consolata will re-start the dance clubs by the end of January and she hopes to be able to invite a guest teacher or two to come to and show the kids some new skills. She already has bookings for her “A” group all over Xmas so we have donated the Anno's Africa kangas and tights to the dancers so that they have beautiful costumes to wear for these shows - and it seems a waste to have them mouldering away in storage.
DRAMA
The drama show was really good this year, improved hugely by the input from our visiting trainer, Owen. The other drama news is that Krysteen has been asked to help cast a TV series and has chosen 4 girls to audition for the lead from the two drama groups. This year Drama Group at Valley View also extended its programme to include a creative writing course which was wonderful – and run by writer/actor/poet Kades. As I mentioned before re the arts programme – we will now include this course as another discipline.
MUSIC
As I said earlier– the music group have really developed so well this year and have written and composed some wonderful songs which were then recorded in Eric Wainaina's studio and also at Home Boys studio and radio station. The CD will be ready as soon as we have enough money to complete it ad everyone is confident it will get played on the local radio stations. Billy will put the song which has the music video on you-tube as soon as it is edited and mixed and possibly add the other songs later on.
During the course this year the children learnt to play Bohran drums and penny whistles as part of the Celtic/African folk fusion programme Billy and Gareth had planned and Billy also taught guitar and harmonicas to a group of Valley View children (American folk fusion too!) A couple of the students are now really good on their guitars as they have been studying for three years now and Lulu has continued with private lessons during the ONE FINE DAY Saturday clubs.
These kids definitely have a future in the music world and have been given their guitars to keep. In fact all the children were left with an instrument to practice on until we return for the next workshops. So that's it I think. We do need to plan a new fund -raiser for this year and discuss how best to exhibit the art works that I have brought back with me – and whether we can possibly sell them again.
No more news – except that I will be making a CD with lots of the photos from this year for you all and as soon as the footage has been digitalized I can show you some of that as well.
Love Beee
x
Frohes Fest
Wir wünschen euch und euren Familien schöne & friedliche Feiertage und einen tollen Start ins neue Jahr!
Du kennst dich mit Buchhaltung aus und hast Lust zu helfen?
Wir suchen ab sofort eine/n Buchhalter/in, der/die uns ehrenamtlich ein paar Stunden pro Monat unterstützt. Bei Interesse schreibt einfach eine kurze E-Mail an: mariesteinmann@onefineday.org
Benefiz-Konzert war ein voller Erfolg
Im gut gefüllten Lido in Berlin-Kreuzberg begeisterten Fran Healy von Travis und Tim Rice Oxley von Keane und Morton Myklebust mit einem großartigen Konzert die zahlreich erschienenen Gäste. Rund 7300 Euro Erlös sind durch den Verkauf der Konzert-Tickets und Spenden für ONE FINE DAY zusammengekommen. Damit ist die Finanzierung der Wochenendclubs für das kommende fast Jahr gesichert! Weihnachtsspenden sind herzilich willkommen!
Wir möchten uns ganz herzlich bei den Künstlern, dem Lido, den Gästen und allen, die geholfen haben, den Abend so erfolgreich werden zu lassen, bedanken!!!
Viele Grüße und auf bald
Marie Steinmann
Benefiz-Konzert am 31. Oktober in Berlin
Wir brauchen noch Materialien für den Workshop
Im Oktober reisen wir wieder nach Nairobi, um dort zum fünften Mal einen zweimonatigen Intensivworkshop zu geben. In diesem Jahr werden wir in der Valley View Academy in Mathare und in der Spurgeons School in Kibera arbeiten.
Für den Workshop benötigen wir noch dringend:
- Balletschuhe und Tütüs für die Ballettklasse
- Leggings, Shorts (Größe S und M) und Eurythmieschuhe für die Tänzer
- Jonglierbälle, Keulen und Einräder für die Zirkuskinder
- Papier, Pinsel, weiche Zeichenbleistifte, Acrylfarbe, Aquarellfarbe und weiteren Künstler- und Bastelbedarf für die Kunstworkshops
- Stoffe für Kostüme
Neben finanzieller Hilfe, könnt ihr uns auch mit Materialspenden unterstützen. Auch jede noch so kleine Spende hilft uns weiter!
Materialspenden können entweder direkt zu uns in die Kastanienallee 79 in 10435 Berlin geschickt werden oder bei unserem Partner Cuddle Corner in der Görschstraße 9 in 13187 Berlin abgegeben werden.
Weekend Club Reports - August 2011
Club: Music/Dance Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainers: Consolata Nduta and Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 60
Days/Dates: Fridays 12th/19th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: Music and dance classes were very well conducted from both groups of students - the whole group of dancers and makelele band. Classes were only done for two weeks that month which is better than none.
Achievements: The team has realy improved and talents in the kids is showing up among them.
Challenges: We had not enough time with the kids this month.
Notes: Though short this month was successful.
Weekend Club Reports - July 2011
Club: Music/Dance Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainers: Consolata Nduta and Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 60
Days/Dates: Fridays 8th/15th/22th/29th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: Music and dance classes were very well conducted with a lot of improvement and determination from both groups of students - the whole group of dancers and makelele band. Thereafter we split into two, whereby Lulu worked with 34 kids and I with 26 dancers. After one and a half hours of the normal session,we joined up to work together and mix music and dance all together.
Achievements:Team spirit, encouragement among students has always been improving students skills. Some students taking over responsibilitieslike taking over and leading warm-up sessions of which makes kids point out their weaknesses among themselves.
Challenges: We still need a set of traditional drums.
Note: The month was successful.
Club: Art Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Edgar Gatobo
No. of children: 25-30
Days/Dates: Fridays 1th/8th/15th/Fr 22th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: Class turnout is way above average, with turnouts of 25-30; other kids are still interested but materials will be stretched.
Achievements: Sketching & Painting -I dedicated this month to sketching since many of the kids are still green in this area & they tend to just rush to just draw; Our first lesson was to have the kids sketch from imagination then paint, this they did quite well as usual with interesting ideas coming from their own view about what interests them in life. Our second lesson of the month was to begin learning how to sketch by observation; one student posed for the other to sketch the other did the same. They leant about sketching human proportions by observing & drawing their friends in not a very serious but in a fun way! Third lesson; we continued with our previous drawings because some are new students & are still slow in their work & I also encouraged the kids not to rush their work especially when it comes to painting; they learnt patience in drawing, proper use of brush & paint, the final pieces are fantastic! Fourth lesson; we have continued in sketching other themes for more practice & its coming out pretty well!
Events: No events planned yet.
Challenges: The main challenge still remains art materials; this I have discussed with Christine, project manager.
Club: Makelele-Club, Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 10
Days/Dates: Fridays 1th/8th/15th/22th/29th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: This is the toughest class I have worked with so far. This month was all about knowing how to remain on rythm and it seemed challanging to the kids but they had to do it music has no short cuts. We had to reduce the number of kids to ten for better accompaniment and to make it easy for everyone in the band. The sound is there but we still have a lot of work.
Achievements: This month no achievements at all, only challenges.
Events: We also had no events this month. The kids were just putting themselves in the makelele system. The way percussions make music also maintaining what instrument was our focus: For each student to grasp his or her instument close to his or her heart.
Challenges: Most of the kids were´nt that serious so I decided to reduce the class to only those who were heartly willing to be in the makelele band and were ready to learn. Also the number of girls was very high making me to reduce their number. Instruments is our main agenda, we dont have enough instruments to make a real band. The ones we have keeps us going but they are´nt real percussion instruments sowe need to collect and at least buy real percussions for the job.
Notes: Makelele band needs a lot of work to be put on,and the kids themselves need to put more effort. We teachers need to uplift the students and make them love what they do.
Club: Guitar Lessons "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of Children: 4
Days/Dates: Saturdays 2th/9th/16th/23th/30th
Hours: 2 pm - 4 pm
Briefing: We are done with the bar chords, although a lot of work need to be done until the kids get the whole idea on bar chords. This months morale was not so up cbecause the kids doing exams and puttin more time on their academics revisions. So far the kids are doing well and they may become teachers too in the future - I can see through them the way they teach each other its amazing. Making songs from the chord I tought hem is our next step.
Achievements: This month achieves is what we have been learning so far and it makes me more happy to know that the kids get what am teaching them. I am proud to know the kids love what I teach them and achiving to learn and grasp everything its an achievement on its own.
Events: We had no events this month, sessions only.
Challenges: A lot of challenges arose this month: It was the exams month and that made it difficult for the kids to give 100%. Not enough guitars are our other problem, we need one more guitar to avoid sharing. That would save a lot of time and make it easy for the kids to practice at home on their own.
Notes: We struggled a bit but we are done with bar chords and that is a good thing. Moving on is our mission and we intend to finish it.
Weekend Club Reports - June 2011
Club: Makelele-Club, Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 14
Days/Dates: Saturday 4th/11th/18th/25th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: Makelele as a group on its own is struggling to do makelele music on its own ,although its tricky and sensitive,the kids in makelele are enjoying making noise with the tins and cans and bottles. Little rythms are coming out but we still have along way to go. The kids do attend the sessions and with time theyl be able to make sweet music.
Achievements: So far the achievement weve made is the kids are into the club and the are trying their best to incoporate anything that can make music and is trash,to work for them.the rythms are there but we still need alot of time to put the kids to understand how different trash things put together can bring out the good sounds we are looking for.
Events: We had no events, practice makes perfect and thats what we are dealing with first.
Challenges: The number of kids is high we need to cut that number and make areal makelele band with some modern instruments like guitars and drums, we also need the stomp film wich will give us more on how music can be made from simple things.
Notes: The kids in makelele have all the portential of learning instrumentation. With time they will have it just like other groups have, this is a new club,we need to give it time and see what it gives us. At the end of the day is all about talent and what one can do best.
Club: Guitar Lessons "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of Children: 4
Days/Dates: Saturdays 4th/11th/18th/25rd
Hours: 2 pm - 4 pm
Briefing: This month was good to us the guitar class, we still focused on the bar chords as we had earlier planned to put our sessions this month and learn and do more practicals on them.the kids are grasping the idea of the bar chords although its difficult the kids are trying that much to go forward with the lessons i teach them,we also did some revisions on the songs they know and its amazing how they use and incoporate what iteach them to their songs.
Achievements: The achievements of this class go beyond imagination. The kids are young, aged 10 to 12, three boys and a girl and so far doing and practising what they do is an achievement on its on and as their teacher am proud of them.
Events: This month one girl, joined our class after the first one dropped,also the kids had an opportunity to go and perform at safariciom house the leading mobile network in east and central africa, they did amazing songs and they did enjoy the trip.it made them realize the importance of performing infront of a crowd to boost their confidence.
Challenges: This month we had no challenges only that,we have 4kids and the guitars we have are 3. Also the kids need some refreshments after rehersals its been long since we did this.
Notes: So far we are heading somewhere and the kids love what they are doing. As their teacher I love the respond they give by grasping what it each to them, its amazing what the kids can do now compaired to last years sessions - talent is talent.
Club: Dance Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer: Joseph Chege
Numbers of children: 25
Days/Dates: Saturdays 4th/11th/18th/15th
Hours: 2 pm – 4.30 pm
Briefing: This month was the best the students enjoyed a lot because we had a combined class and they realized that they had other talents within them its not only dancing and it made them very happy.
Achievements: This month we had achieved new members and being on a video coverage.
Challenges: Every class has to have its own camera because of documentations.
Note: The classes are well and we would urge you to continue that way.
Club: Drama Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer: Trizah Kabue and Godfrey Ojiambo
No.of children: 25
Days/Dates: Fridays/Saturdays 3rd/4th/10th/11th/17rd/18th/24th/25th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: It was a very busy month as we had missed the previous months classes and we were all eager to catch up with the lessons.
Achievements: We were able to work on the play and the choral verses with the kids bringing in a lot of fresh ideas.
Events: With the help of trizah the kids were able to visit alliance and watched a stage performance by Heartstrings Kenya a leading performance group in Kenya.
The kids also went for an Audition for a short film that was to be shot at their school and six kids from the Drama club were selected. This boosted their morale and we had some new kids from other clubs joining the drama club.
Challenges: We had no challenges this month.
Club: Art Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer: Joseph Kimani
No. of children: 20 - 28
Days/Dates: Fridays/Saturdays 3rd/4th/10th/11th/18th/24th/25th.
Hours: 2 pm – 5 pm
Briefing: All the lessons marked the beginning of fun and excitement of each passing moment we had. The sessions were:Continuation of mask making this time just observing as they perfected out of real materials and painting a thing that they were familiar with while other sessions were:modeling using clay, folding i.e box making and a joint clubs activity with dance, drama and art.
Achievements: They had, fun, enjoyed, shared, learnt and explored their creativity to great heights. All the sessions were evidence to gradual growth in art skills, leadership skills, self esteem and teamwork. This was portrayed in different sessions for instances like box making were one of them requested if he could teach us another way of making a box using different style and which he did in a different day and also during modeling using clay,they made different objects of their choice some making.
Guns, knives, cameras, cars, airplanes, tvs, people, houses which after asking for explanation of what and why they made, they would give different reasons as to why like. Fear of the repeat of the post election violence, insecurity/crime,hope and their dreams in future thus sparking a discussion like and eventually we made collectively a dream house which interestingly portrayed team work and collaboration.
We were able to come up with a solution of irregularities in attendance and the continue ownership of the program.
Challenges: Their was incline of big number of attendance to my class from other disciplines hence showing their were movements from one club to another but we discussed with the trainers of respective disciplines and came up with a collective solution to the challenge.
Their was a challenge of camera but took photos with my phone which will forward it soon,though we resolve the challenge through communication but would recommend if there could be more cameras.
Events: There was audition at school for hot sun films so i requested them to audition so as to have a different kind of experience and also one might be muti talented and it is another way to know it. Also we had a joint club activity with the drama,dance and art which not only was fun but encouraged other pupils from school to continue attending their respective disciplines and improved interrelation,a thing that we all highly recommended.
Note: Excited to continue implementing new fun ideas now that the sessions were very productive in bringing about more cohesion and ownership.
Club: Music/Dance Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainers: Consolata Nduta and Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 60
Days/Dates: Fridays 3th/10th/17th/24th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: Music and dance classes started very well with a lot of improvement and determination from both groups of students - the whole group of dancers and makelele band. Music always starts together with warm-ups for about 25 mins.
Thereafter we split into two, whereby Lulu works with 34 kids and I with 26 dancers. After one and a half hours of the normal session, we join up all the 60 kids to work together and mix music and dance all together as most of the dancers are also very active in singing and drumming.
Achievements:Team spirit, ecouragement among students has realy improved among. Some students taking over responsibilitieslike taking over and leading warm-up sessions of which makes kids point out their weaknesses among themselves.
Challenges: We still need practice clothes for the kids and a set of traditional drums at a cost of 6,000/= Kenya shillings.
Note: This month was even better than last month still aiming to the highest.
Club: Circus Club "Valley View", Mathare
Trainers: Irungu Wairimu and Maxwell Wachira
No. of children: 30
Days/Dates: Thursdays/Sundays 2nd/9th/26th/30th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: The circus is a tool,with power to sensitize,inform and educate the society on topical issues,to recognize that they have positive impact physically,mentally and spiritually,therefore the circus,it is a prophecy,a symbol of the heart of the world circus,what it is ,what it has become,and what is to be in the future.
Achievements: The achievements of the circus club this month,has been of great importance,since we switched the class from sundays to thursdays,the number of trainees has greatly increased to 30 compared to the previous months.we are intending upwards to include the necessary accorded training to the students,with the blessings from the spiritual active training deliberations and an interrupted courage.
Events: The training circus program this month,has been as follows:
1. tight rope walking
2. acrobatics/gymnastics for both boys and girls.
3. perfect balance, Jugglings and through hoops
Challenges: Since we have started the circus class on the Thursdays of this month, the following are the few challenges we've been going through,
1. luck of transportation of the students to the training ground and back to school
2. luck of enough time of training
3. safety mattresses
Note: We will be training circus at Mathare valley on Fridays next month.
Newsletter June 2011
Weekend Club Reports - May 2011
Club: Circus Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainers: Irungu Wairimu and Samuel Mutie
No. of children: 35
Days/Dates: Fridays 6th/13th/20th/27th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: We started the class with a word of prayer them warmed up with some yoga.
Events: Some of them are already doing some tricks with 3 balls.
Challenges: We don’t have enough juggling balls so it is challenging for us to teach them at the same time because they have to share the balls.
Note: Wwe will still focus on juggling and pyramids next month.
Club: Music/Dance Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainers: Consolata Nduta and Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 60
Days/Dates: Fridays 6th/13th/20th/27th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: Music and dance classes started very well with lots of improvement from both all students ie The whole group of dancers and makelele band.Music starts together with warm-ups for about 25 mins.
After that we split the class ,whereby Lulu works with 34 kids and I with 26 dancers. After one and a half hours, we join up all the 60 kids to work together and mix music and dance all together because most of the dancers are also very active in singing and drumming.
Achievements: Team spirit an encouragement among students. Some students taking over responsibilitieslike taking over and leading warm-up sessions.
Challenges: We still need practice clothes for the kids and a set of traditional drums at a cost of 6.000 Kenia-Schilling (= 47,23 Euro).
Note: This month was even better than last month-we are at a foward target never backwards.
Club: Guitar Lessons "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of Children: 3
Days/Dates: Saturdays 2nd/9th/16th/23rd/30th
Hours: 2 pm - 4 pm
Briefing: This month was fantastic and challenging at the same time. Lesson being on bar chords seemed so challenging to my kids but as I always tell them guitar has shortcuts so they just had to try and do it. So far they have been patient in learning the bar chords dispite the hardship in them, they also wrote some progressions bassed on using bar chords only when playing. We also had a rule of the month to use bar chords only and no other fingering or chords. It was a tiresome month but also awesome.
Achievements: Two boys who I started with impressed me coz they are showing improvement each sessions we meet,this month they tried so hard to grasp the bar chord lesson and not bad even though they arent their yet but they will that i can confirm.the morale and spirit of the kids is high and the best thing isythey are willing to learn and explore more of what I have to offer them as their teacher.
Events: This month was so busy to us we couldnt have any time to explore or go to the community but since the kids are learning and improving each single day we hope in the near future we can go out there and play to people in order to boost the kids confidence in playing infront of the people.
Challenges: Only one challenge broke my heart, the girl who had started so well finally quit and it made me so unhappy course she had talent. But her reasons of not having time made me release her. So we recruited another member, he is a boy from class 5. Girls are not intrested that much, we hope it doesnt happen with the new recruit.
Notes: The month as I said earlier was tricky and challenging the lessons seemed hard to the kids but we tried in simple way available to make them understand the theory and practical part of it. I intend to continue with the same lesson this coming month for the kids to fully understand the lesson then we can move forward comfortably.
Club: Makelele-Club, Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of childeren: 10
Days/Dates: Saturday 14th/21st/28th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: Makelele-Club is part of three clubs joined together,music,dance and percussion. We´ve been doing this together from last year as one group until this year when we want to diverse things to a higher level and also to save time. We have put makelele percusionists as agroup to help them learn how to play diffrent percussion instruments inorder to play and accompany the dancers with music and sounds from trush which we are using to make the instruments. We teachers devided the classes to make it easy for each student to specialize fully on what they really wanted. The class started three weeks ago after consoltations with the kids and the teachers.
Achievements: So far it has been three weeks and the kids love the idea since they are now doing what they love best fully,after this we will rejoin the classes together so that music and percusion can accompany the dancers and bring out that deep african feeling that we want.
Events: We haven´t had any events rather than just training hard with the percusions coz its tricky to put the percusionists together inorder to play as a band.
Challenges: We need more home made and at least some real percusions for the kids. We´ll let you know after asking the kids what kind of percussion would intrest them most.
Notes: The kids love the idea and we are off for a good start and we pray all goes ok.
Club: Drama Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer: Trizah Kabue and Godfrey Ojiambo
No.of children: 28
Days/Dates: Saturday 2nd/9th/16th/23rd/30th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: The first three Saturdays were very energetic as we had to do double work since we were not working on the last two Saturdays. The students worked on their on pieces that they had come up with.They helped each other and corrected each others pieces before handing them to the trainers.
Achievements: We were able to identify creative students who could write their own poems and plays. This will be typed and sent to you as soon as we finish working on them.
Events: There were no major events this time but we are planing for another field day with the students.
Challenges: All was well expect that we had to break for the easter holidays.
Note: Due to the upcoming safe tour we had to resedule our classes and we will be working atleast two days a week or three to compensate for the lost days.
Weekend Club Reports - April 2011
Club: Art Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer: Joseph Kimani
No. of children: 22
Days/Dates: Saturday 5th/12th
Hours: 2 pm – 5 pm
Briefing: The lessons rolled with excitement of stuff to be done.which were to prepare for making of masks.
Achievements: They were able to understand,have fun,enjoy and learn very quickly the art of making masks without the fear of making mistakes as well as misusing the materialsa very important element in growth,learning from mistakes,because they were using papers for design and cut outs,From the lessons they will be able to make mask come next lesson mine will be only to refresh them through what they had learnt, so next lesson will be more practical and real.
Challenges: Irregularity in attendance - their was no communication to reemphasize about the continuation of the program when schools are closed. i.e continuity of the program needed to be stressed out. Some pupils were not allowed to come by there parents but this is to be addressed by the headteacher through writing a letter to respective parents. Despite these challenges it was more ownership of the program and it was evidence that the children were really enjoying the classes.
Events: Marie paid a visit to one of our sessions, an encouragement and a motivating factor that sparked the hopes and an emphasis to the importance of the lessons. I grasp new ideas hence lessons from Marie which i will be using in my next class. Also we will be able to cover for the two lessons we missed to complete mask making and implement the new ideas.
Club: Circus Club "Valley View", Mathare
Trainers: Irungu Wairimu and Maxwell Wachira
No. of children: 12
Days/Dates: Sundays, 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: We started the circus class with a strong positive impact and in a good mood,as we held a short meeting with the circus students,technically discussing on how to enter into arrangements with the circus training program this year,with a lot of energy to obtain the highest possible standard in skills and physical education developments,the circus student were very impressed,instilled and encouraged to work as a team.
Achievements: The circus team has amazingly spend most of their time well on training in acrobatics/gymnastics,that has managed to produce inspired,disciplined and unchanged young upcoming artistes.
Events: We started training circus at the new mathare valley school grounds on the 24th this month;of which the the ground is spacious enough for training stilt walkers and the tight rope set up,including gymnastics/acrobatics.
Challenges: This month the training space was a challenge,since our fellow respected youth group has requested in advance for the training space which we used to train,whereby the issue led us to new mathare valley school grounds which is just around the community.
Note: An extra day of training this year will accomodate more time to work on the technical part of circus,generally Gymnastics.
Club: Art Club "Hamlet Hall For Street Children", Kibera Art Club "Hamlet Hall For Street Children"
Trainer: Dickson Kaloki
No. of children: 40
Days/Dates: Saturday 2th/9th/16th/30th
Hours: 10 am - 1 pm
Briefing: The classes started well and the attendance was normal, the class was not affected by the schools closing, I taught the same thing but for them it was tricky few of them were very good but the others where struggling the good thing is by the time we finished the exercises they produced impressing art works.
Achievements: The children understood the techniques that I taught, and they became part of it and they really loved it.
Events: We had no events this month.
Note: Some of the kids in this class are slow learners but ones they understand they are amazing.
Club: Open Art Club "Youth Hall", Kibera
Trainer: Dickson Kaloki
No. of children: 40
Days/Dates: Saturday 2th/9th/16th/30th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: The classes started nicely with a lot of exitment because most of the children had closed school for half term. the class was overwelming of the turn out. I had to separate the class into three . the small ones of art class ,the big ones for art class and those who are not members of the art club . so every saturdays I had to excuse the none members , its only on 9th where we taught the whole group of 60 children with assistance from Marie. The lessons taught were refreshing what we had learned on the previous classes - this included human figure.
Achievements: The refreshing exercise build confidence to most of the children , this is by then trying to remember what they did and bringing out nicely also the children were assisting each other, that was amazing.
Events: On 23th with the help of other teacher from the youth centre they did a small mural along olympic boundary wall.
Challenges: My biggest challenge was a lot of children.
Note: We need more acrylics because most of the exercise we intended to do this month we where not able to do because of few acrylics.
Club: Dance Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer: Joseph Chege
Numbers of children: 21
Days/Dates: Saturdays 2th/9th/16th/30th
Hours: 2 pm – 4.30 pm
Briefing: This was the best month because the children took the project as their own and they initiated themselves very well.
Achievements: This month all the children have gotten the steps so it`s very easy for the class to go on with the dance
Events: This month we have no event at all.
Challenges: CD player is our main challenge.
Note: This was the best month between me and the people because all achieved something.
Club: Art Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Edgar Gatobo
No. of children: 20
Days/Dates: Sundays 3th/10th/17th/Fr 29th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: Class turnout has increased during the past week since the classes have been changed to Fridays, this is encouraging. The kids are enthusiastic about more fun art like the box creation.
Achievements: We learnt about various forms of art; i taught this to encourage the students to be free in creating their work & to enable them to nurture their own personal touch in their work & to avoid copying.
Animation creation: I taught the kids how to create moving pictures by drawing pictures at one corner of a book & then flipping them. The kids loved this & are looking forward to learn more.
Box creation: The kids have leant how to create boxes & decorate them. The kids liked this fun creation.
Easter card creation: The kids expressed themselves freely by creating Easter cards that they then gave to family & friends.
Events: We have been looking forward to visit places that will inspire the kids’ creativity such us parks where they can sketch; this will also be a fun experience.
Challenges: The challenge that we have is positive in the sense that some students are very committed & proactive in their work, I think that it would be a good idea to get this kids individual sketch pads so that they can practice more at home.
Club: Circus Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainers: Irungu Wairimu and Samuel Mutie
No. of children: 30
Days/Dates: Fridayx 1st/8th/15th/22nd/29th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: As usual we started with a word of prayer followed with some simple wam ups, afterward we did some pyramids events: the kids created some new pyramids by them selves.
Challenges: Since the school had closed downwe had a small number of children than usual and so it was very hard for us to replace and change things.
Note: As from next month we will start juggling and some rope skipping.
Club: Guitar Lessons "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Lulu Abdalla
No. of Children: 3
Days/Dates: Saturdayx 2nd/9th/16th/23rd/30th
Hours: 2 pm - 4 pm
Briefing: This month was good hence we had revised on the things the kids had to rewind on,the chords theory,rhythms and melodies all that we are done with.this month we concentrated on putting the theory to practical by using the chords in composing new songs with the simple chords they know,i also introduced the [bar chords which are tough to learn but the guitar dont have ashort way out.The kids also suggested we do field trips to go and see what other kids are doing in other organisation teaching music like mysa.
Achievements: The kids are changing slowly by slowly,the touch in them on how the stram their guitars is their.the girl also is doing good she is practising on the basics and so far she is doing well.the two boys are practising on bar chords and making their own rhythms.
Events: This month was also hectic and the kids arent there yet so we decided we do more practice and prepare to perform for the other clubs inorder for the kids to have the confidance in facing people and performing live.this month also the girl received aguitar from the programs patron and she was excited about it since she wont be borrowing guitar again.
Challenges: This month the only challanges were on one saturday the girl didnt attend classes coz she wasnt feeling good bt she later resumed classes.
Notes: This month was alittle hectic because i introduced new chapters which are alittle tougher but the kids proved to me they can take it and they also have the morale in themselves in wanting to know much in guitar. We hope next month will bring more to our sessions.
Club: Music/Dance Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainers: Consolata Nduta and Lulu Abdalla
No. of children: 58
Days/Dates: Fridays 1st/8th/15th/22nd/29th
Hours: 3 pm - 5.30 pm
Briefing: The Music/Dance classes started with high spirits and joy from both students and teachers.We are working on new songs and new dances. The team spirit is high because old students are encouraging,and helping the slow learners.
Achievements: Some students are taking responsibilities by making sure the place where we practice is clean. They have chosen leaders among themselves.
Challenges: There are few challenges we are facing,in terms of clothes ie practice clothes, like tops and leggings for girls, rubber shoes and track suits or shorts for boys.
Note: This month was better than last month, because we see a lot of improvement and determination from the students.
Club : Ballet Club "Spurgeons School", Kibera
Trainer : Mike Wamaya
No. of children: 28
Days/Dates: Thursdays 7th/14th/21nd/28th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: In kibera we still have a long way to go since the program is still new with the kids. And the best part is that they are ready for any information given to them. This month I kept more emphasis on their turn outs and body postures.
Achievements: Last month we had a lot of challenges on the kids attendance in class some times we had to start the class late but now that we change to Thursday the attendance have improved.
Chaellenges: Being the April holidays few of the kids travelled up country and we will revisit the some of the topics we covered in may.
Club: Ballet Club "Valley View Academy", Mathare
Trainer: Mike Wamaya
No. of children : 48
Days/Dates: Fridays 1st/8th/15th/22nd/29th
Hours: 2 pm - 5 pm
Briefing: This month the training went on soo smooth in all the days. Most of the kids ware punctual since we ware to cover their favorite part in the syllabus (mime and group creations).
Achievements: This being the month our story was aired on CNN, it made the kids more enthusiast of the things we do in the class and more so that people around the world now know what we do in mathare and more so the recognition within matare slums, this have made them feel special.
Events: A dance student from America and who is visiting Kenya for volunteer works approached us if she can volunteer for few classes.
Challenges: Being the April holidays part of the kids traveled upcountry and this will force us to revisit some things next month in may.
Note: We are still working on this years small chorography that we hope to show case in June.
Nairobi – April 11th 2011
At the moment we have about 350 children enyoying our weekend clubs. Watch the CNN documentation about our ballet club and see how ballet transforms young lives:
Nairobi – November 8th 2010
The anniversary of Anno's death seems a right time to write a blog since, as a result of him dying nine years ago today, we now have around 450 children enjoying the Anno's Africa arts workshops in two of the most dangerous and deprived slums in Kenya - Kibera and Mathare …
These children's lives have been radically turned around by the programme and many of them will now find it possible in the future to find a career in the arts – even if indirectly - as a result of some of the things they have learnt from the work shops. Already six girls from the drama group have been chosen for a day's filming on a TV show (from a taped audition that Krysteen and I held) and one of the ballet boys (YES we have BOYS in ballet!) had an important part in Tom Tykwer's film that he is shooting with the One Fine Day Film School, This means that along with the kids in my short film, 9 children this year have acted “professionally” and Leilah who was in our group two year ago and whom I cast in Tom's film “ Soul Boy” , just went to the Carthage Festival in Tunisia, representing the movie, so she is now pretty well assured of career as an actress, having made 2 films in Kenya since Soul Boy.
So this practical side of the programme is really working – with the Sarakasi acrobatics school promising to take at least 2 kids from each school into their youth programme and SAFE GHETTO already scouting amongst the older kids for their theatre troupe. The other disciplines will also have their opportunities when we showcase the kids work at the National Theatre on the November 27th. We are holding the performance in the theatre garden and hope that many people who are influential in the arts will be there – including the Russian Ambassador who has a passion for ballet we hear and has already expressed interest in our programme.
Re the ballet - we plan next year to run one of our “workshops to work” classes at the theatre where they have a dance room with a barre – so the more advanced children – and young adults – can go to the next stage. This class will be a precursor to the Anno's Africa ballet school that we want to get going in 2012.
However, that is just one part of the programme – and perhaps for most of us the more important aspect of it is the journey.
Both the music and dance classes are galloping apace – the children's talent in these areas is, as we knew from previous years, quite astounding. They have a natural musicality and love expressing themselves through dance where they are uninhibited and graceful..
Dance is being taught by Consolata, who used to teach at the Bomas of Kenya Cultural Centre and Joseph who is a predominately Salsa teacher (and has who has worked with us for three years). Between them they run a class with pretty much 100% attendance - and such enthusiasm that to go and watch them at work is a pure delight. The show they devised in the Saturday clubs during the last year (with the help of Lulu who composed the songs and led the music for the club) is pretty well worthy of a professional stage!. I filmed it just after we arrived – in a tiny dark hall with holes in the roof and kids hanging in at the windows and a floor that was full of pits and crevasses. It is one of the most heart felt and vibrant pieces of work that I have ever seen here.
Music for the workshops is being run by a team of 4 – with Gareth Brown from the UK and Billy Scherer from the USA joining forces with Lulu and Melissa from Kenya. Since Easter Lulu has also been teaching Guitar to 2 ten year olds in preparation for Billy coming out to take over and have learnt as much in 4 months as many European kids would learn in a couple of years.!
This year the Makalele band has taken on a whole new dimension with Gareth and Billy creating extraordinary musical instruments from junk and household bits and pieces. They have designed and made 3 Heath Robinson-esque inventions from plumbing pipes that are played with a flip flop!, Also some fabulous, brightly coloured drums from water containers and bowls – and percussion sticks with bottle tops as well as every manner of shaker - and mini drums from tin cans and plastic containers.. The result is an amazing percussion band with all the children now able to read and follow their own parts in the intricate rhythms Gareth has created and not just bang away chaotically. On top of all this Billy's guitar students are astounding him with their daily progress – and Lulu and the team have come up with their own song for the show's finale that will bring the house down. (We will be recording it and hopefully get it played on Ghetto radio as soon as possible)
Drama this year has become a real contender in the favourite discipline category with new addition to the team, Emma Buckley, storming ahead with her wonderful energy and creativity. She is working along side Trizah from the SAFE GHETTO theatre company and the improvisations and games they have devised are not only allowing the children to express themselves freely and happily but also having serious therapeutic connotations as the children explore the dogmas of this society and the role of women in a community where the acceptance of male stereotypes and the automatic domestic abuse that women are subjected to is seldom questioned . A small revolution is taking place in the drama class - with her girls standing up for their human rights and the boys beginning to understand that if is not their right to assume macho stances and abuse their women. The new constitution has done a lot for children's rights in its charter but the age old male/female dynamic remains horribly intact so the arts are a wonderful way to undermine the assumptions and customs that have made women's lives in the slums so hard, But the Drama workshops are also FUN and not at all a political “exercise” – and the children really enjoy it and are hugely excited about the chance to show their stuff at the performance on the 27th.
The Drama group at Kibera are taught by our long time partners from SAFE GHETTO – Godi & Kades who are an amazing team and have managed to get these first year students to forget their natural shyness and create an intense political analogy about tribal conflicts, using animal imageries. They have also explored the problems of children not being allowed to go to school – so once again Drama is proving a valuable tool in educating these children about their rights and the need to live in harmony – especially relevant with the elections coming up again in 2012..
Art is as usual a class packed with talent. In Mathare, Charlotte Wiseman has joined the group and brought not only her experience with weaving and fabric design from St Martin's School of art to these children hungry for new ideas but also her gentleness and charisma which has thoroughly engaged her class of FIFTY kids!. They are now weaving on proper frames made by the Tree House (who have also made stilts for the circus.) This is an arts commune based in Majengo who I have mentioned before in previous years – but for the record it is literally a multi story shack built in a huge tree - with a visiting monkey and a group of reformed glue sniffers who are now practising artists and musicians. Charlotte's class have also been making exquisite bracelets from plastic bottles and learning other ways of using patterns in design – both on fabric and paper. These craft skills are extremely useful to the children as not only do they love creating their own things to wear, but they can also make items to sell to help support their families.
Charlotte has been joined by Steve Gillon – an art teacher from Dean's school in Edinburgh who came for a two week stint for the last two years and has returned again this year. He has constructed a dragon/crocodile for the final show, which will take pride of place in the performance, from a plastic chair and lots of wire and green tissue!! A magnificent creature whom he has named Gertrude in spite of her masculine appearance, she/he will be completed by Charlotte and will carry as her dragon's scales, the art work of the children from both schools,
The other art teacher who has just returned for another master class “shift” is Olivia Blond, who, like Steve, has had many years of art teaching – in her case 30 – in inner city schools in Liverpool. Olivia is running a project on fabric design and illustration and her class are printing cushion covers (last year it was the cotton bags that you can see on the web site) which are truly stunning in their colours and imaginative animal designs.
We also have Francesca Wilkinson Shaw (our other advanced art teacher from last year) coming out for the last ten days to help with the final show and teach imaginative painting.
The Kenyan partners on the Valley View (Mathare) programme are Edgar and Ben – both artist in their own right. Edgar will be running the Valley View Saturday club for us – with Ben's help.
In Kibera the Art programme is run by Marie Steinmann. This is the first year for Spurgeons School and the classes are packed with 26 in Marie's class and 40 in the class run by Kenyan teacher Ambyo with the input from various visiting artists including aforementioned Steve, who made kites and colour charts with them and two UK new volunteers – Mo and Ross - who are about to embark on a grand programme of banners, posters and printed T shirts.
Marie is exploring all kind of different projects with her class and last Saturday she took them on an outing to the animal orphanage so they could draw the animals from reality in their hand made, cardboard backed sketch books. Marie has become so adept at using “found” materials, that we are starting to call her the “Cardboard Queen” as every day she returns from the shops with her car boot bulging with boxes.
This whole arts programme at Spurgeons School in Kibera is proving extremely popular with the school administration and all the teachers are very pro-active and keen to carry on when we leave.
Marie is also running a new class for street kids at the Hamlet's project in Kibera and this we hope to develop into a permanent Saturday class as well..
The Ballet is as always the most charming class to watch with the children in their donated leotards, skirts and shoes. The Valley view class is now ready to start grade 1 of the RAD course – with 32 girl dancers and the 6 boys previously mentioned. This class is taught by Anna Nygh with the assistance of Mike Wayama who is a wonderful dancer himself and a dedicated teacher who, under Anna's guidance, continues the course all year round at the Saturday clubs, This ballet class is one of the highlights of Anno's Africa as there was no ballet at all in the slums – the only classes being in some of the private schools in the mainly white community. These slum kids are giving their hearts to the dance and are more than ready to perform their intricate dance on the 27th. We are busy sewing feathers and ribbons onto headdresses for them and looking forward to Harry Holm – who arrives next week to make a documentary - to put them on film in all their glorious beauty.
The new class at Spurgeons has started really well with around 40 children who are quick to learn and doing remarkably well for their first year. In this class Anna has started with the pre- primary syllabus and they will performing some of their class exercises at their open day on the 24th,
Anna is also teaching ballet one afternoon a week at the Little Rock Orphanage and day care centre for AIDS affected and traumatised children, some of whom are also suffering from other health issues. . She has one Down's Syndrome girl and two who are deaf in this class and although it's a boisterous and somewhat mismatched group, Anna has noticed their incredible capacity to help and care for each other and the joy that ballet brings to these physically and mentally challenged children. Lily, who runs the centre, was delighted to find us as she had written to me via the website – a letter that must have gone into my junk mail – after reading about our ballet programme in the slums. We happened by when looking for a tree where the circus group could practice their silks and when I introduced myself she just said “Yes you can use our tree but why didn't you reply to my letter!?” So it was a kind fate (Anno?) who led us to her as not only do the circus kids have a perfect practice tree but 24 more children are learning ballet.
In Mathare the circus fascinates the local community as we are practising in the chief's compound where here are trees for the aerial silks and the tightrope and everything is on view. In this school we work with Mdogo, who has his own circus project, NGO Ni Wewe (the NGO is YOU) and his fellow Ni Wewe performers, Karis and Mungi. This year we are really lucky to have from the UK, Natalia Colville who came to teach aerial silks two years ago and Safia Almaghrabi who teaches the hoop. The girls are not only teaching our kids to fly – but also giving lessons at Sarakasi in exchange for Sarakasi sending an acrobat to teach our class in Kibera. (Mdogo and his team only cover Valley View, Mathare) The young man they send us - Samuel - has proved invaluable and we hope to inveigle him into teaching for Anno's Africa next year – along with our stalwart member of the team from SAFE, Irush, who has been working with the circus team for the past two years and is now qualified to teach silks at the Saturday clubs. He is also a fine actor so we are lucky to have persuaded him away from his first love – at least for the time being.
Incidentally, the Friday classes at Spurgeons are run by the whole team but on Saturdays we are split into two groups. Running these double classes on a Saturday proved a bit of a logistics nightmare with the schedule changing daily as we tried to organise the teachers but it was finally sorted out to everyone's satisfaction - and my relief.
Of course we have had the occasional hiccups – like the music school next to the theatre where we are doing our show having exams on Saturday 27th so we will have to make sure our show runs through their lunch break. We have also had Safia's hoop stolen ( a new one is en route from the UK but it's an added expense we could do without) – and Anna and Olivia's taxi was “mugged” and the wing mirror snapped off (for sale), Melissa, was held up at a bus stop at knife point and her bag stolen but apart from that we are all fine and the amazing spirit, energy and open heartedness of our children keeps us all inspired, fulfilled and united
That's it for now – three weeks to go so lots more news I am sure...
Love Beee
xx
ps
One final note – we have been working on the planning of the “Workshops to work “ project for next year so that the school leavers who have participated in Anno's Africa will have the chance to continue in workshops that will be set up in the city centre – at the KNT (Kenya National Theatre) and the Go Down Arts Centre – for a half a dozen of the most talented kids from each discipline to really advance their knowledge – and find work in their chosen field.