We have begun our collaborative project with children and youth with diverse abilities from Bagamoyo, Tanzania, and the Comox Valley, Canada. The idea is simple: Make Art Together!
We aim to bring people of all abilities and from different countries and cultures together, striving to make the creative process interactive and intercultural. We promote learning from, about, and with one another, all the while building vocational, fine-motor, and creative skills for participants in both countries. Also, the project raises funds for medical needs of low-income children in Tanzania.
We started small. The students at Mwambao special needs class in Bagamoyo began our first project by cutting traditional Tanzanian Kitenge fabric purchased at the local market for Tujenge’s Inclusion Lab visual arts classes. It took practice for the students to cut the right shape as it was the first time they used scissors. The whole class cheered for every successful cut, and the children really enjoyed the experience. They will continue working with textiles and learning to cut and sew different patterns in the visual arts classes.
We then took the cut fabric to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, Canada. Kids and youth attending programs at Pixie Dust Support Services harvested, dried, and prepared lavender. Every step involved in making lavender satchels involved new skills for the participants. With guidance to use a sewing machine and iron for the first time, they sewed, ironed, and filled lavender pouches. Support was also provided for stripping the lavender, filling the bags, tying with ribbons, and decorating them with Tanzanian shells. It was more work than anticipated, but everyone was happy with the results!
Ready just in time for Christmas, the pouches sold well and made great little gifts. We raised CAD 380, all of which goes directly to funding healthcare for low-income children with cerebral palsy in Bagamoyo. We are already looking forward to making more art together and new collaborative projects!
