The recycling art project is well underway! A professional sculptor from the area is guiding the children in DFC's after school program through the process of creating a large fish sculpture (example shown to the left; fish is 2 meters wide). The scales of the fish will be made out of metal cans and bottle tops. The sculpture will be the group's ongoing project, in addition to its regular activities. Children have asked their neighbors and family to help them with collecting materials, and cleaning community.The ideas and goals for the after school group, "The World is in Our Hands", were presented to the faculty at the Crags Primary School, and we are happy to report that the teachers give their full support and are excited to see the kids involved in a new project. We're crossing our fingers that the Department of Education will get the computer lab fixed and running soon so that the kids can start corresponding with students overseas as planned. A university art department has also shown interest in getting involved with the recycling art project. Hopefully we can get many people on board and really make it a global effort.
The purpose of the group is to get the kids thinking about new ideas that will effect positive change in their own community. Dollars for Change is there to assist in the process and guide them when they need it, but the kids challenge each other in discussing the issues and coming up with possible solutions. They are already talking about leading a march through the village on South Africa's Youth Day, as well as organizing an assembly for their school to demonstrate the role they have in protecting their future.
Every meeting is different and exciting. They have their fair share of serious conversations, but plenty of reasons to laugh, and they're always extra excited on the days I bring them chips. I'm always amazed at the questions they ask and the discussions they share. If the rest of the community could follow the lead of this group of kids, I'm sure the entire village would be a completely different place.
The following pictures are from yesterday's meeting. I brought in a heap of recent news magazines, broke them up into groups, and each group made a collage of words, phrases, and images that illustrate the issues and problems that we have been discussing. When they finish them next meeting, we'll hang them up around the school.
