From 24 – 28 Oct FunDza facilitated storytelling workshops with around 360 Early Childhood Development students at the False Bay College Khayelitsha campus.
The aim of the workshop was to take the participants into their inner storytellers in order to encourage them to foster a love of stories within the 0-5 year olds under their care everyday, growing a communities of future readers.
One of the activities took the participants to a childhood memory of when they first came into contact with a story, being told a story or a major event in their family or community. They had to make a drawing of that moment/memory using their non-dominant hand and then explain the drawing to a classmate. For some it was a deeply emotional experience. A few students felt compelled to share their story with the rest of the class. One of the students left a comment on the feedback form: ‘Next time, bring tissues’. In our discussions afterwards we spoke of the power of stories and how much we can learn about each other.
We looked and unpacked some quotes by Ben Okri, one of Africa’s most inspiring storytellers. The students had to choose one of four quotes by him and free write why they preferred that particular quote. The most selected was: “Some people say that when we are born, we’re born into stories. I say that we are also born from stories”. One student had us enraptured with his words: “I know my clan. Because I know my history. Because I know my story. Because I was born from a story.”
It was not all serious all the time. We also sang, danced and drew collective drawings and got to make up silly stories.
Some students expected a lot of stories to be read to them or that they would have been given more practical advice in how to present stories to their classes. The comprehensive course at False Bay College will include things like learning to make puppets, toys, musical instruments and will even get to make up their own big storybook. Most seemed to enjoy the fact that this was a workshop that took them on an inner journey of appreciating their own stories and being made aware of the fact that “We are part human part stories (Ben Okri)”. And that if they understand their own stories and the importance of stories, that they will be better equipped to understand the stories of the thirty or so little people they face every day.
It was a successful workshop, enjoy by all.