Art for Gorillas

Category: Art of Conservation (AoC) | Date: Feb 11 2009 | By: Julie

The AoC teachers, Eric, Valerie, Fahad, Vince and I, are getting to know our students during these first few weeks of classes. Each week we go over the AoC Code of Conduct for INSIDE the classroom and OUTDOORS. They’re a nice bunch of children. I am happy to be back in the classroom after many months of formalizing the project in Rwanda.

Communication and cultural differences are to be embraced although I constantly remind myself to slow down when I feel myself getting going with excitement about the topics and the amount of knowledge to be shared. Valerie translates my English to Kinyarwandan. Children are receiving English language skills which they crave for as we go along.

Eric asks the students, “What is art?” and “What is conservation?”

I have requested that the teachers who would normally be teaching this group of students at this time of day to be present, take notes and participate during each class meeting. Here, Michel, sitting at the desk, is going over our attendance list with Valerie. Once per week, Michel meets with the other schoolteachers at his school for discussions on what was covered during our class session, what worked, what didn’t work, how it can be applied next year when AoC moves to another school.

Fahad moves about the classroom. Soon he will return to Kampala to continue his university studies. We are happy to have him back when his time allows!
(Please click here for Fahad’s art school in Uganda announcement.)

Two teachers who are participating in our class sessions are pictured above. They make due with lack of desks by sitting on wood panels at the back of the room.

The newest member of the AoC team, Vince, observes and helps during the 3 hour sessions. He is eager to move beyond the basics which we are covering now and proceed to the agronomist side of life. (Please click here for Vince’s introduction at Art for Gorillas)

We’re off to a promising start in nurturing our students and their teachers to be more knowledgeable about the importance or caring and protecting our shared natural world.