Projects

Udu Project

How do udu?
A collaborative project in music and global citizenship
'umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu'
a person is a person through other people

'How do udu?' was an innovative, collaborative pilot project in music and global citizenship, focussed on the making and playing of the udu. Traditionally a water carrier from Nigeria, the udu, a clay vessel, has developed into an enchanting musical instrument, which has been used in a variety of healing and creative contexts.

Participants worked with local tutors and with a renowned South African musician, in their own schools and at Commonwork, a study centre on an organic farm at Bore Place in Kent, where there is a tradition of working with Wealden clay, and where environmental and arts education programmes are well-established.

Through the hands-on making and playing of their own udu, participants explored issues around interdependence, co-operation, trade justice, race equality and conflict resolution. Expertise in these issues was provided by Kent and the Wider World.

Elements of symbolism were also explored and woven into the udu decoration. Finally, participants created their own performance pieces and came together to sing, dance and play their udu’s in a shared celebration.

Learning was disseminated through in-service training with teachers and other adults in education.

With the support of Kent and Medway LEAs, the project involved seven schools on this exciting pilot in the academic year 2005-06. The schools are mostly secondary, but also include one primary and two special schools.

Aims:

To explore and challenge stereotypes, particularly of countries of the South
To learn about trade justice issues
To learn about the history of the udu, the communities from which it originates, and its contemporary contexts
To explore conflict resolution issues, and how the udu has been used for healing in this context
To encourage and enable participants to reflect upon social justice issues in their own lives and respond creatively
To develop design and technology/craft skills by making and decorating an udu
To develop musical abilities by playing and listening to the udu

The project was designed to help bring about a spirit of healing, co-operation and celebration, in which participants would develop skills of empathy, understanding, and critical thinking, learning to value themselves and others, in near and distant places.

To find out more about developing a cross curricular project such as the Udu project please contact us on 01622 689498 or email info@kww.org.uk.

Global Citizens Theatre

During the academic year 2006-2006, Kent and the Wider World worked on an exciting project with Theatre Company Thirty Three and a Third and a group of year 10 pupils at Brockhill Park Performing Arts College.

The project which was funded by Oxfam explored issues of Global Citizenship using a theatre technique developed by Brazilian theatre specialist Augosto Boal.

The aim of the project was to support the teaching of global citizenship through the use of forum theatre. It was delivered through a regular period of an hour each week over the course of two terms.

Initial sessions included activities designed to build trust, gauge the young people's knowledge and awareness of global issues, and introduce global citizenship concepts.

We then began the process of theatre using various games and exercises to develop confidence, cooperation and support within the group, spontaneity and creativity.

Forum theatre works most effectively when those involved as the actors and audience have a stake in the piece of theatre and can identify with the issues. The students were therefore encouraged to develop stories based on their personal experiences. These ideas were turned into two short plays, which the students continued to rehearse after school hours.

This project culminated with a piece of forum theatre performed by students at an in-service training day (INSET) held in summer 2006 at Brockhill College with an audience of around 70 teachers, students, development education practitioners and other educators.

The project had a positive impact on the students involved including improved listening skills, increased confidence, better cooperation and team work, greater understanding of and ability to deal with conflicts, and improved behaviour in school and at home. The project formed part of the programme of study of the participants' drama GCSE course.

"Forum theatre allows children to put themselves in the position of others. They consider what they would do or feel when confronted by situations. It allows children to have opinions and say what they feel, there is no right or wrong response and it allows those children who struggle with literacy to articulate their feelings", teacher comment.

Following the project we were able to put together a resource booklet for teachers and workshop leaders on using the technique in a classroom context.

From Spectators to Spect-actors: using forum theatre to explore global citizenship.

A resource booklet for teachers, youth workers and facilitators

From Spectators to Spectactors

This resource introduces teachers, youth workers and others to the concepts of global citizenship and forum theatre. It includes step-by-step session plans with information on getting started, warm-up games, exercises and activities. The booklet is suitable for youth workers and teachers at Key Stages 2-4 in Citizenship, Drama, English, Geography, PSHE, RE and cross-curricular work as well as development education and theatre-in-education practitioners.

Forum theatre as a participatory form of theatre is a powerful tool to explore global citizenship. To receive a complimentary printed copy of the resource booklet (while stocks last) please email info@kww.org.uk or alternatively you can download the resource from our website.

Globetrotters After School clubs

Kent and the Wider World work with three schools each academic year to deliver a series of after school clubs with a Global dimension.

Kent and the Wider World work alongside primary school teachers for seven sessions to host the club in their schools. The teachers attend a training day before the clubs start and clubs are arranged to fit with the schools requirements.

Children are given a passport at the start of the series of club sessions in which they can record information collected and each week must fill in a visa application form which requires them to research the country they will be visiting.

The group then 'travel' to five different countries over five weeks and in the final session create ideas for an assembly to share what they have learnt with the rest of the school.

In each country visited a different theme relating to Global Citizenship is explored, for example Children’s rights, Conflict, Trade justice, Discrimination and Climate Change.

It is hoped that with initial ideas and follow up support, teachers will continue to run the clubs and look into the different themes in more detail.

During the Academic year 2006-2007 clubs were held at Lunsford Primary School, Bligh Junior School and Hunton Primary School.

The Globetrotters After school clubs Project is a three year project run with two other Development Education Centres WEDG (World Education Development Group) based in Canterbury and PIDEC (Pestalozzi International Development Education Centre) based near Hastings. It is funded by the Department for International Development’s Development Awareness fund.

To find out more about Globetrotters or hosting a club please contact us on 01622 689498 or email info@kww.org.uk.

Kent and the Wider World is a Commonwork project.
Commonwork is a registered charity no. 275151.
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