A German based theatre arts organization, Cactus Theatre in partnership with Ave Hope club in Damongo and the Catholic Diocese of Munster in Germany has organised an 11days workshop for kids on mental slavery, Gender equality and the prevention of Child Abuse in the form of arts at home touch guest house in Damongo.
The workshop which was climaxed on Friday, 31st March, 2023 brought together groups of children from Ave Hope club who loved to perform and act and
were eager to learn more about theatre arts to help them improve on their skills.
The workshop was led by a team of experienced theatre actors and directors from Germany and Ghana.
The children were excited to learn from such experienced professionals who provided feedback and guidance to help them improve on their performances.
On the final day of the workshop, the children performed their scenes in front of a live audience of family and friends. They were nervous at first, but they quickly got into character and gave outstanding performances.
The audience cheered and applauded, and the children were thrilled with their success.
Speaking to this reporter, Madam Barbara Kemmler explained that the workshop had been a huge success with the children learning so much about theatre arts and
felt inspired and excited to continue their journey in the world of theatre.
According to Barbara, the kids were taken through exercise activities they liked alot which made the training sessions more loose and opened for the kids to co-operate with though the time was limited, but said she was astonished about what the kids were able to say, play about and display during the workshop period.
She also revealed that she was happy with the exercise as it will help the kids gain self empowerment to feel strong to be able to stand before audience to speak out laud.
She explained that for the fact that she is coming from Europe does not mean that she knows it all when it comes to theatre arts and appealed to the managers of Ave Hope club to continue with what the kids learnt even as they return to Germany.
She noted that, it is a bit difficult for them to work in places where they do not have strong partnership but said their doors are opened for dioceses who wish to partner with them in Ghana as the already have partners in Accra and Tamale where they have started operating.
Madam Joana Ewuntomah, founder and CEO of Ave Hope club expressed her excitement over the event and said, the partnership between Ave Hope and Cactus theatre has just started.
She explained that the workshop became a reality after meeting with the team from Cactus theatre in Tamale when the joined to participate in a similar programme where some few kids from Ave Hope club were selected to attend.
Madam Joana said, she was extremely happy to have Cactus Theater in Damongo with a higher population of kids from Ave Hope club participating in the eleven days training workshop which she described as being very impactful especially for the kids in Ave Hope club.
She said although at Ave Hope club, the do programmes and activities for the kids that are a bit related to what the learnt during the workshop, but the style of activities and how the kids were involved was very practical which she loved and enjoyed about the programme.
She also disclosed that she was happy that some of the teachers at Ave Hope participated in the programme which is indication that when Cactus Theater returns back to Germany, they are going to continue with what the learnt since the teachers and kids both participated.
She appreciated the efforts of the team and hoped that it doesn’t end there but will mark the beginning of bigger things to happen and revealed that the will be organising a bigger one in short groups for most of the kids to also benefit from what the learnt.
Amira Akunatu Karim, One of the participants who spoke to Padfm.com.gh expressed her happiness to be part of the programme and said she has learnt and benefited alot from the workshop especially in the theatre arts where they learnt how to project and many other practical activities regarding theatre arts.
She said the entire programme was fun for them and wished for many more of such events.
The Vicar General for the Catholic Diocese of Damongo, Very Rev. Fr. Martin Muosayir who was at the programme to observe things for himself said, it was effective, challenging and beautiful to watch and has learnt a lot from it.
He said after the programme, he has recognised that play acting is another way of the child’s learning processes and called for a lot more of that to be inculcated into their educational programmes to create more room for theatre play acting.
He thanked the team for the wonderful work done and also expressed word’s of gratitude to the Catholic Diocese of Munster in Germany for providing funding towards the programme.
The kids were all presented with certificates for participating in the workshop.
Source: Padfm.com.gh/Kumatey Gorden/0243531604
