LEARNING TOGETHER

Creative Seeds pilot program was an international artistic exchange between students in New York City and The Eluxolweni Boys Home in Port St. Johns, South Africa. Using photography, theatre and yoga, Creative Seeds was a trauma informed program, offering arts based instruction as a vehicle for self–discovery, and sharing of stories. Through the exchange of poetry, photographs, personal stories and video, participants began to identify common aspirations and struggles, while exploring differences. The culminating project was a multimedia performance in both countries, based on the connections formed, ideas shared and the work exchanged

To begin, students in The United States and South Africa were guided through an arts-based curriculum to explore the themes of self, home, homelessness, culture and community. Creating a global classroom via the internet, phase one of the project involved students from Intermediate School 52 and James Baldwin High School engaging in artistic dialogue with the Eluxolweni students. The theatre students at IS 52 wrote an original play inspired by these ideas and exchanges. Over the course of the Winter/ Spring semester 2008, students developed their artistic voices while exploring the notion that people all over the world might have similar hopes and fears concerning the health of their families and the environment, their education and career goals and the realization of their dreams and equality.

The second phase of the project took us to the Eluxolweni Boys Home in South Africa, to collaborate in a hands-on immersion program in photography and theatre. Each day included yoga, an exchange of movement and dance practices and songs to increase connection, awareness and wellbeing. We shared songs and dances and learned from each other and with each other. In addition to the program at Eluxolweni, we offered open yoga classes for the community. We participated in local community events and gatherings. The boys created, wrote and performed an original theatre piece in conjunction with a photography exhibit of their work at the cultural Museum in the center of Port St. John's.