Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Redeemer’s Storytelling Project changes the lives of children in Hamilton. The project, which just celebrated the completion of its fourth year at Memorial Public Elementary School in Hamilton, works with underprivileged students struggling with provincial literacy tests.
The members of the storytelling project. Photo by Catriona McHardy
About fourteen Redeemer student “storytellers” work with children between grades four and eight. The goal of the program is to encourage literacy, an excitement in learning and reading, and interaction with positive role models.
Students at Memorial spend about an hour a week, for six weeks, learning how to write and tell stories. Each receives their own notepad and pen and at the end of the program they perform their stories for each other and celebrate with a pizza party.
Ms. Brown, a teacher at Memorial who has had storytellers in her class for two years, is thrilled with the results: “I love this program. I can’t say enough good things about this. It’s great to have the intense support, which helps bring out the kids’ rich stories.”
Ms. Brown points to one of her students, Destiny, as an example of positive growth. “Last year her story was a list of things. This year her story had a beginning, middle, and end. She also had props.”
Fourteen-year-old Destiny was just as excited as her teacher. She smiles as she says “I enjoyed the project. It teaches us about good stories.”
Her twelve-year-old classmate, Sharon, is equally as happy with her own story. “It was ten times better than last year!” she said.
The Storytelling Project was started by Redeemer professor Sharon Klassen as an initiative to help students fight social injustice. As she pointed out in an interview with The Crown last year, “In my mind it’s about social justice. If kids can’t read, they have no hope.”
The Storytelling Project is funded completely by donations. Though it can be hard to raise full funding, Professor Klassen believes God wants the program to succeed. Each year she steps out in faith to make sure kids at Memorial learn how to read and express themselves. “I pay out of my own pocket and trust that God will provide,” she said. So far He has.
Redeemer students who participate in this program can get volunteer hours or a quarter credit of theatre practica. For those who wish to volunteer, donate resources, or find out more about the Storytelling Project, they can contact Professor Klassen at [email protected]
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