Spring Break, 2008, marked our third trip with students and faculty from the Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, New York. Our first trip was March, 2007. This year we brought 10 students and four teachers from Packer. Aside from teaching students during and after school, we added an extension onto the home of one our students so that he could have an art studio and new bedroom. We also made a desk for him to paint and draw on, and painted a mural on the front of the family’s shack.
Packer Collegiate
Institute
Planning for the first trip began in the Fall of 2006, when ArtWorks approached Packer with the idea of a student trip over the summer. It was decided that we would instead plan for a trip a year later. Because it was our first trip with such a large group, we would need more time to organize and assure a successful trip.
The first announcement to Packer upper school families came by way of a summer newsletter that informed them of this and other trip opportunities that would take place during spring break the following school year. By November, we had over 25 applicants. After deciding to limit the trip to students in grades ten through twelve, and once a few students changed plans for the break, our final number of student attendees was 19.
The second trip was easier in many ways because the Packer pioneers cleared the path for the next group but also because just 6 students came. By our third trip, we had gathered a curriculum for the classes that were taught during the school day and added more activities for Packer students.
Packer students pair up to teach two classes during the school day, with a curriculum developed by ArtWorks for Youth and Packer teachers. They also create their own after school curriculum and teach what they have personal experience with (dance, drama, knitting, etc.
Top: Packer students and faculty, and residents of the Westville Township pose in front of a shack they added onto and painted a mural on. Middle: Siviuyiseni and Packer students dancing at our traditional barbeque in the Joe Slovo township. Bottom: the mural.
Clockwise from top left: Annabelle Baylin dancing with lower school students, students in Susan Feibelman’s knitting class, two students with the gesture paintings, and Suzy Storr with some Sivuyiseni students.
Packer students also learned about the struggles people faced during the Apartheid era and tasted some fine traditional Xhosa food.
Packer students brought supplies, clothes, and other gifts to Sivuyiseni students. They were asked to bring an empty suitcase in order that we could bring necessary supplies for the trip without having to spend additional funds on shipping costs. They also donated thousands of condoms to the Ubuntu Education Fund.
Packer students made a huge difference in the lives of the students and faculty members of the Sivuyiseni Intermediate School in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Each night, Packer students and faculty members spent time to discuss the events of the day. It wasn’t an easy trip in all ways as Packer students saw the contrast in living conditions back home and in Port Elizabeth. In the end, though, it was clear to Packer students how resilient our Sivuyiseni students are - that they have so little material possessions but are quite happy and content.
Thanks to the Packer students for giving up their spring and summer breaks to help us at Sivuyiseni. It was great to be able to teach more students than when ever have in one trip!
Thanks to the entire Packer community for their support of our work!
ArtWorks for Youth 226 North 5th Street Brooklyn New York 11211
(917)376-0571
Executive Director, John V. Lombardo
