Day Four - The Lamu School

This is the moment we have all been waiting for...the reason why we are all here in Lamu, to build the giant mosaic "In Their Own Voices. 

Today, we saw the kids….yeah.  This is the reason we are here, that is, to bring two cultures together (the culture of Swahili Lamuans and our very own kids from downtown Cincinnati schools).

Here’s how it works: kids from the sixth grade at Hayes-Porter, St. Joseph’s and SCPA are paired with sixth graders from the school in Lamu Island, Kenya.  The culture-sharing occurs via the creation of a mosaic entitled “In Their Own Voices.”  The mosaic’s theme and design was created by a local artist in Cincinnati, Annie Ruth.  If you have not heard of her before, you must now check her out….just google her J. 

The concept of the mural is simple.  The kids in Lamu each have one tile to paint expressing their own individuality of what the cherish most.  They can only use certain colors, but can choose a variety of media.  The mosaic is entitled “Shaping Our Voices” and the unveiling will be in mid-May.  We brought the art supplies (and the artist!), a teacher from each school, and a few other ambassadors (yours truly being on the Advisory Board of the Cincinnati Children’s Museum Center).  We spent the day setting up the room for the kids, explaining the concept of “in their own voices” and proctoring their creativity.  It was such a pleasure working with these delightful kids, and “yes” the girls and boys were separated.  What was the hardest part you ask?  Getting used to sweating, swatting flies, and staying hydrated.  All worth it!

We will take the artwork back to Cincinnati and the kids at our schools will do the same thing some time in March.  The mosaic will be put together and unveiled in May at the Cincinnati Museum Center and our hosts from Lamu will be in attendance.

Here’s a few words from some of the American teachers and our project leader, Dr. Tonya Mathews:

 “I was really struck by how kids are kids no matter what part of the world they are in.  I was so surprised by how much they were like my own students back home.” (Ann Marie –SCPA 6^th grade teacher).

“Sweat!  The kids are so welcoming and polite and were as interested in me as I were in them…deep.” (Laura – Hays-Porter 6^th grade teacher)

“A day that will not soon be forgotten!” (Justin – St. Joseph’s 6^th grade teacher).

“It was an amazing day, it was awesome to see our teachers in their own element working with the students even across the ocean…an amazing teacher is an amazing teacher.  The art project was a huge hit!  Annie Ruth really brought out the creativity in every child.  I couldn’t believe how quickly our community ambassadors mixed into the teaching and the art…it was more than I had hoped our planned in.”

Guarheri ("Goodnight")